Mohala Farms

THE MISSION OF MOHALA FARMS IS TO FOSTER HEALTHY LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN HAWAII THROUGH SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, LIFELONG EDUCATION AND CULTURAL & CREATIVE ARTS.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE - AS AN ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE FARM, MOHALA FARM' WORK IS BASED ON A CONTINUAL REGENERATION OF THE SOIL AND CREATING A FARM ECO-SYSTEM THAT IS THRIVING WITH BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. THIS IS BEING DONE THROUGH COVER CROPS, LARGE-SCALE COMPOSTING, CROP ROTATIONS, WORM BINS AND VERMICAST FOLIAR SPRAYS, NATURAL AND ORGANIC PEST REPELLANTS, BEEKEEPING, AND A CONTINUAL EXPLORATION FOR THE MOST ADAPTABLE, DISEASE-RESISTANT VARIETY OF FOOD CROPS TO GROW. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE ALSO FOCUSES ON THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE ON THE SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND THE FINANCIAL. THE GOAL IS TO MEET ALL THREE OF THESE COMPONENTS. THIS INVOLVES THE FARM CONTRIBUTING TO A THRIVING LOCAL ECONOMY, INCREASING THE HEALTH AND VITALITY OF OUR LAND, AND BECOMING FINANCIALLY SELF-SUSTAINING WHILE PROVIDING OUR WORKERS WITH A FULFILLING LIVELIHOOD AND A LIVING WAGE. LIFELONG EDUCATION - WHETHER PLANTING A SEED, INSTALLING AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM OR BUILDING AN ADOBE OVEN, THERE ARE ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES ON A FARM TO LEARN NEW SKILLS AND DEVELOP DEEPER UNDERSTANDINGS OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. AT MOHALA FARMS, WE ARE CREATING A PLACE DESIGNED TO WELCOME VISITORS OF ALL AGES INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES AND OF DEVELOPING PRACTICAL RESOURCES TO HELP NEW AND PROSPECTIVE ORGANIC FARMERS SUCCEED IN THEIR ENDEAVORS. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AT THE FARM INCLUDE OUR FARM INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WORKSHOPS AND RETREATS ON ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, PARTICIPATION IN UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII ORGANIC FARMING RESEARCH PROJECTS, AND HANDS-ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES WITH SCHOOL GROUPS, CHURCHES AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. CUTURAL AND CREATIVE ARTS - CULTURAL AND CREATIVE ARTS PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE LIFE OF MOHALA FARMS. ORGANIC FARMING CAN BE AS MUCH ART AS SCIENCE, AND FARMS THEMSELVES PROVIDE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CULTURAL AND CREATIVE PRACTICES THAT CAN STRENGTHEN AND ENRICH THE LIFE OF A COMMUNITY. ON THE FARM, CULTURAL ARTS ARE PRACTICED THROUGH RE-LEARNING TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE TECHNIQUES, THROUGH FOOD PREPARATION AND DIFFERENT STYLES OF COOKING, THROUGH THE USE OF NATURAL MATERIALS FOR FARM BUILDING PROJECTS, THROUGH THE GROWTH, PREPARATION AND USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AND THROUGH A GROWING NUMBER OF OTHER CULTURAL PRACTICES. ON THE CREATIVE SIDE, THE FARM PROVIDES VISUAL INSPIRATION, SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT AND THE PHYSICAL SPACE FOR BOTH ACCOMPLISHED AND ASPIRING CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTISTS TO PRACTICE THEIR CRAFT. THERE IS A NATURAL, CREATIVE ENERGY THAT EMANATES FROM THE LAND AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK CREATIVELY WITH THIS NATURAL ENERGY CAN BRING FORTH WHOLE NEW WAYS OF LIVING AND BEING IN THE WORLD.