LIHU‘E — The most common comment people have about growing their own food is the lack of space, said Ed Kawamura of M. Kawamura Farm Enterprises. In answer to this, Kawamura has come up with a solution for most homeowners
LIHU‘E — The most common comment people have about growing their own food is the lack of space, said Ed Kawamura of M. Kawamura Farm Enterprises.
In answer to this, Kawamura has come up with a solution for most homeowners and people who rent.
Using a wooden pallet (which is free at some businesses) and four bags of potting soil, Kawamura’s latest solution can feed a small family with a variety of fresh vegetables found on most families’ dining tables.
“People always say they would like to grow their own food, but space is a problem,” Kawamura said. “This way, they can have fresh produce and get started in home gardening.”
Using a discarded steel or aluminum can heated with a propane torch, Kawamura quickly and neatly cut holes for six plantings in one bag.
Before placing the bag for planting, he suggests punching drainage holes on the bottom of the bag .
Once in place, starters available at any of the garden shops, or seeds, are planted in the holes.
“You don’t need a lot of plants,” Kawamura said. “Just enough to feed the family.”
As an example, he said lettuce, one of the more popular crops, only needs about two or three plants.
“And when it’s ready, you don’t pull the whole plant,” he said. “Just cut the leaves you need for the salad. That way, the plant will continue to grow and produce more leaves, effectively extending the life of the plant.”
Eventually, the plant will have to be pulled before it bolts.
The same is true for beans (bush types work best for the compact garden) and even bush-type cucumbers can be grown this way.
To ensure continuity of product, Kawamura suggested keeping several of the holes free for future plantings so short-lived plants like lettuce will always be in supply.
“You can plant seeds about a week apart so you’ll always have lettuce,” said Kawamura, who will be hosting the annual M. Kawamura farm and garden expo on May 3 and 4.
As a final suggestion, the wooden pallets, usually created out of untreated wood, will have to be discarded and replaced on a regular basis because it is subject to rot and may attract ground termites.
