KAPA‘A — Tuesday’s blessing of the Friendship House garden is not the end, but just a step along the way, said Paul Massey of Regenerations Botanical Garden. Massey, who partnered with Ken Lindsey of Theobroma Farm in designing the garden,
KAPA‘A — Tuesday’s blessing of the Friendship House garden is not the end, but just a step along the way, said Paul Massey of Regenerations Botanical Garden.
Massey, who partnered with Ken Lindsey of Theobroma Farm in designing the garden, said although ground for the garden was broken in February, the planning process took about a year.
“This was once scorched earth, and it is now producing vegetables and fruits to help feed the members of Friendship House,” Lindsey said.
Despite high winds, salt drift, intense sun exposure and poor soils, both Massey and Lindsey feel confident that by utilizing permaculture principles in their design and implementation, the garden will succeed, states a press release from Regenerations.
Massey said deep tilling, a lot of which was done by hand, and generous application of organic amendments throughout the garden of 20 beds, each 20 feet long, have established the initial plantings of native and
nitrogen-fixing plants, many of which are inter-planted among plants which are being harvested for use in the Friendship House kitchens.
“We have three native plants, including the Pua Kala, or Hawaiian prickly poppy, which should do well in this area,” Massey said. “Then, there’s the Ahu ‘awa, or sedge used to filter the awa juice, and the Mo‘a, or Hawaiian cotton.”
Perennial crops and fruit-bearing trees such as ulu, assorted citrus, Tahitian chestnut and chiku were put in as windbreak protecting the path which circles the garden.
The garden is already producing kale, beets, lettuce, radishes and beans — all of which the Friendship House kitchen uses in preparing meals for its members.
Overabundance of produce is currently being sold to members, which raises money to keep the garden thriving as well as further improves the health of members and their families.
Dave Jordan of Friendship House said the garden is a wonderful addition to the clubhouse program because it not only helps feed the members, it also teaches them skills they can use in their employment.
The Friendship House is a clubhouse for the psychosocial rehabilitation of adults who experience the challenges of mental illness. It provides a positive environment which improves the quality of life through finding meaningful work, positive relationships and the ability to learn new skills, such as permaculture and gardening.
Charlie Song, Jerry Collado, Dacia Mayfield and Frederico Cadiente Jr. are among the key Friendship House members who have assisted in the installation and initial management of the garden.
The garden was launched through the efforts of the Communities Putting People to Work, Hawai‘i grant, the Hawai‘i State Department of Health, Regenerations Botanical Garden and Theobroma Farm.
