Your Orchard -- The Member-Only Orchard Produce Exclusively for Your Consumption
Currently we are in process of developing another 35+ acres of native agricultural land adjacent to ours in Pahoa, to be completed later this year. The membership program we launch in August and we will apply the exact same organic practice to turn this virgin land to your exclusive orchard -- to produce the macadamia nuts for your own consumption ONLY.
The whole 35-acre land will be divided in 30 sections with same size, approximately 1 acre each. Each acre section will accommodate ONLY new planted 20 macadamia trees, along with the existing native large trees and mature scrubs. There are paths inside each section and alleys to connect all sections.
The control center, as seen on the picture, is already built and ready for occupancy. It is centrally located in this 35-acre orchard, with access to all sections, as well as a single road to link to the outside world by highway. All workers and administrative staff will be working here, and also the production process will be taken place in this single-story, 1,300+ sf building.
The nut processing procedures will be taken place at the east wing inside the control center. Temperature and humidity will be controlled by solar- and wind-powered air-cooling conditioners and natural ventilation. All workers entering the processing area will have to be stertilized and uniformed to ensure that the production is always under the best possible environment.
Above photo: Jack Masters stands in front of agroforestry landscape, Babeldaob, Palau.
All sections will be managed by a team of 60 rotating team of experienced caretakers to ensure all trees are well taken care of since they are planted in the soil. We report all growing conditions of the tree everyday and upload on the website for our members' reviews. The growing process will be monitored by experts in native trees, including representatives and advisors from :
- UH Cooperative Extension Service, Kainaliu
- Kona County Farm Bureau
- Hawaii Homegrown Food Abundance Project
- Uluwehi Farm and Permanent Agriculture Resources
- Hawai'i Island Food Summit
- Permanent Agriculture Resources
Above photo: Craig Elevitch presents at the 2008 Hawai'i Island Seed Exchange about homegrown food self-reliance.
Expert advices and supports from organizations are very important on securing the best practice on macadamia nuts cultivation, especially on our non-commercial approach. We face more challenges compared to the commercial cropping, as well as the constantly climate changes and new invasive species to affect the micro-ecosystem of the Orchard. We have built a very constructive relationship with these organizations and organizers for these years and surely we will have more interactions and exchanges on ideas and practices in the coming years.
In short, your tree in your Orchard is in most capable hands and fertilized by the best soil on earth.
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