There are many publications available through the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to help you with care and use of some of the plants you might select. BY NORMAN BEZONA | SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII
BY NORMAN BEZONA | SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY
Although things are getting better, tough economic times, coupled with the rising cost of food, are creating challenges and opportunities for folks in Hawaii and the Caribbean, as well.
Voltaire Moise and I are on the Island of Hispaniola where we are working with farmers both on the Dominican Republic side and Haiti on the leeward side. We have heard a lot about Haiti and the havoc caused by a major earthquake last year, but most folks don’t know that in the rural areas far from Port au Prince, the damage was not as severe. Farmers with plant and animal resources have been able to recover much faster than folks concentrated in the urban setting.
In the Dominican Republic, the lush farm lands, beautiful historic towns and gracious people are attracting visitors in an ever-expanding tourist industry. It will be some time before Haiti is again the beautiful tourist destination it was in years gone by, but it is also a beautiful country. Haitians are a resilient and resourceful people with a culture that has much to offer. Being an optimist, I believe it will only be a matter of time until this country will be a place folks from all over the world will want to visit.
In the meantime, no one knows what the future may bring. Good management of the land in a slump or boom is sure to pay off. What better way to landscape than with something to eat? The wise choice of food- producing plants can cut living costs by reducing food purchases.
In times of emergency, these plants also may act as a reserve food supply. Coconut palms are a prime example. They become a major source of food in most tropical regions when imported supplies are cut off. Reforestation with fruit trees can become a food supply in tough times as well.
In this slower economic period, we have time to observe that rapid growth, if unplanned, is destructive to clean air, sunshine, beautiful beaches and forests. But that growth does not need to mean a sacrifice of all the qualities that make Hawaii or Hispaniola a good place to live. Nor does it mean we have to become even more dependent on imported supplies.
In Hawaii, we depend on our visitor industry. If we destroy the beauty of our land, visitors and residents alike will lose. Growth, with proper planning, can mean having our cake and eating it, too.
Hawaii, for example, is not perfect, but it is certainly one of the finest areas in the world. Unfortunately, without proper planning and the interest of its citizens, our environment can degenerate quickly. However, with proper planning, many of the best areas can be preserved. In towns, more multipurpose park areas need to be set aside and, of course, streets and downtown areas should be planned with landscaping in mind.
Quality landscaping should be encouraged in business and industry. Shopping and living in town is miserable when streets are barren of greenery and congested, parking lots are desolate deserts. Hotels, restaurants and even gas stations that are attractively landscaped with shade trees, shrubs and grass attract customers. Even grocery and department stores are finding landscaping pays off. In Hawaii, efforts of the Outdoor Circle, Nature Conservancy and other environmental groups are on the right track and should be supported.
There is another plus for good land stewardship or landscaping. Most akamai folks know landscaping in a community or neighborhood not only adds beauty and property value, but improves the climate. By planting trees, you can change the microclimate and make your yard several degrees cooler in the summer. If you place your trees just right, you can even create a garden climate that is warmer and less windy in the winter. It’s really interesting when you expand these principles. What happens when everyone in your neighborhood or community plants trees? Well, you can actually change the climate over fairly large areas.
The best place to start is at your home. In selecting trees for shade, consider the hundreds of varieties of tropical fruits that produce food as well as shade. Depending on your taste, available space for planting and location, we can grow almost anything. The more popular types of fruit trees include mango, coconut, citrus, guava, avocado, papaya, lychee, breadfruit and banana. Of course, our number one nut, the macadamia, is also an attractive choice, but don’t forget less known nuts like the pili nut and almond de mer, or tropical almond. In Haiti, we see this popular nut shelled, roasted and sold in the markets.
Besides the more popular edibles, rambutan, carambola, sapodilla, sugar apple, sour sop, loquat, longan and tamarind are others that are ornamental trees.
You don’t have to stop with these. Shrubs like the natal plum, ceylon gooseberry, Surinam cherry or pineapple guava might be used.
Vines often add the right touch on a fence. Passion fruit, ceylon spinach, winged bean and others will produce goodies to treat your appetite.
Even edible ground covers may be incorporated into a garden. Many herbs are tough and attractive as are some of our tropical vegetables, like dryland taro, sweet potato and Tahitian spinach.
There are many publications available through the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to help you with care and use of some of the plants you might select.
