Gardeners Cooperative?

[JerryCarr]

We have a constant surplus of collards, mustard greens, and malabar spinich plus occasional surplus of green beans and lilikoi. I would be interested in swapping.

Cheers,
Jerry

[JWFITZ]

Excellent! I'd offhand suggest we need about 50 participants to justify the vehicle, but we're getting closer, and everyone that signs on creates critical mass.

[JWFITZ]

A bit of an update--being successful on getting more people on board. Of course it's a bit like herding cats like always. Certainly I'm getting much more interest from those of us who live closer to Volcano than Pahoa, as a 20 mile drive for groceries is a hassle.

Promote if you want to see it happen!

[Kapohocat]

If any of you come to the PunaWeb party on June 28th here - bring your extras and we can do an exchange table. We should have plenty of pumpkin squash to share!

[Liz]

Great idea about the exchange table at the next Puna Party! Unfortunately, we'll be missing this one too, so please keep this idea in mind for the 'next-next' get-together.

But let's keep working on this gardener's co-op. Even though we're down by Pahoa, we all pass through Kea'au, right? So maybe that could be a place for exchanges?

aloha, Liz

"The best things in life aren't things."

[JerryCarr]

Liz has a great point about Keaau as a nexus for exchange. Most of us do pass through there, and it would bring together Puna Makai and Puna Mauka. Also, I like the idea of participants from different altitudes and rainfall levels because it dramatically increases the variety of produce to swap.

Cheers,
Jerry

[JWFITZ]

Keeau is a good idea, and I'm up to anything if we get the ball rolling, but I'll also point out:

A) There's a farmers market there already, and I believe we ought to be sensitive to not competing with that, and people making a living. Strictly, we aren't, but I'd like to avoid appearances as well.

B) Certainly one vehicle making round trip is vastly more fuel effective than 20 cars making one trip.

But, in the short term, it may be a fine place to start.

[Hotzcatz]

The other option is to share with your local neighbors and keep the farm co-op very localized. If you can walk over to swap your avocados for lettuce you won't be using any gas at all.

It would also encourage local community and in case your house catches on fire or a strange truck is in your driveway, your neighbors will be your first line of defense. May as well get to know them by sharing gardening experiences so when you need your community they will be there.

[Liz]

I guess I was thinking more along the lines of "... I have extra lettuce and basil and will be passing thru Keaau on Wed..." kind of thing. I agree that trading with your neighbors is the ideal, and it often works in real life, too. ;-)
One advantage to swapping further afield is the different crops at different elevations and micro-climates. Yes, driving for 18 miles for a half dozen avos would be silly. However, combining errands on a trip makes sense.


aloha, Liz

"The best things in life aren't things."

[kani-lehua]

i just posted in another thread (aloha airlines cargo)about the price of papays on o'ahu which is $1.09/lb as of today. the co-op is really a great idea. wish i could join in sooner than later.

malia paha o lohe aku

perhaps they will hear