HOW IT ALL STARTED
8 years ago, and fresh out of college, I arrived on a one way ticket to a bed and breakfast on the island to work as a tour guide. My expectation was to spend about 6 months or so and then return to the mainland to find a job in the geology field. Within a month of being here, Mickayla (now wife), arrived with her mom and as fate would have it, stayed at the very same bed and breakfast. After 10 days of exploring the island together she moved here and rest is history.
We married in Alaska in 2016, her home state, and continued our life on the island together
building friendships and soaking up everything the Big Island has to offer.
In 2017 we spotted the farm and were both instantly drawn to it mainly for the space it offered us for privacy, hosting, building opportunity etc. The avocados, honestly, were a bit of an afterthought. We purchased it and soon after realized what we'd signed up for...we were farmers! Or, had to be farmers.
THE LAND CAME WITH a few CHALLeNGES
Every day brought brand new tasks/challenges and we were finding that we actually enjoyed it!
We started filling our audible accounts with podcasts on trees and soil and books written by Michael Pollan and Masanobu Fukuoka. Before we knew it, we were feeding goats, chickens, and delivering fresh, organically grown avos to a handful of restaurants and businesses in West Hawaii.
THE FARM
Our farm is 3.3 acres with 170 trees and 6 different varieties giving us nearly a year round harvest. Yamagata, Ota, Sharwil, are our top producers. We are currently exploring the option of grafting new varietals onto existing trees that aren't very productive, and also researching how to begin avocado oil production on the island.
The story of this farm and it's farmers has certainly had its share of rocky patches, but caring for this place has been so rewarding; a journey that's filled our lives with purpose, our hearts with joy, and our trees, increasingly so, with delicious fruit.
We are thankful to share what this little farm has given us with our community.
Follow our journey
