Field Trip to O'o Farm

Over the holidays, I had the privilege of touring an 8.5 acre biodynamic farm and orchard in the Upcountry of Maui.  At 3,500 foot elevation, O'o farm enjoys a unique micro-climate.  Called a "misting forest", it benefits from several hours of heavy cloud mist almost every afternoon.  These weather conditions plus the rich volcanic soil make the farm an incredibly productive oasis.  The farm grows about 60 different seasonal crops, which they carefully rotate through 8 different plots around the grounds.  Soil fertility is carefully managed with cover crops - like buckwheat, fava and clover - grazing chickens, and a robust compost system.  Pests are controlled by rotating crops to different plots and planting flowers that attract beneficial insects.  On our tour we harvested our own lunch ingredients, which were prepared in an on-site outdoor kitchen by a local chef.  It was farm-to-table at its best and an experience I will never forget.  For more information or to schedule a tour, check out oofarm.com.