Concerning the Farmers
Maigee Chang (Farm of the Fearless Monkey) has lived in Hawaiʻi for over 30 years and got here into her farming profession after working on the intersection of native politics and agriculture, the place she met farmers and attended farming workshops.
As her ardour for farming grew, she discovered the land that will turn out to be Farm of the Fearless Monkey and set about getting the coaching and help she wanted.
Maigee started her journey by way of the College of Hawaiʻi’s School of Tropical Agriculture and Human Sources program: GoFarm Hawaiʻi, the place she related with farmers, mentors, and Extension brokers, and continued to strategically plug into help methods.
Supply: Sunshine Farm Basis
The doorway to Sunshine Farm Basis.
Timothy Clark (Sunshine Farm Basis) was born and raised in Florida and moved to Oʻahu in 2012, the place he began farmwork by way of permaculture and permablitz initiatives, working in neighborhood and volunteering to plant meals and forestry yardscapes in Hawaiʻi.
In 2020, he and his companions acquired the 15-acre land web site, which they proceed to develop to supply schooling and, finally, meals for these experiencing starvation. Their first farm, established in 2018, centered on schooling and permaculture practices.
Their present property is structured as a tenants-in-common possession mannequin with 27 farming plots and the aim of at some point changing into an natural farming zone. Working with CSP has represented a supportive bridge within the journey in the direction of wider manufacturing and changing into USDA-certified natural.
We lately spoke to Maigee and Tim about their expertise as natural farmers navigating NCRS help methods. Under, we’re sharing the dialog and their worthwhile perception.
Why Natural?
Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): I don’t like spraying, and I don’t need any of that close to my employees or me. Additionally, chemical compounds are very costly.
I skilled with OMRI-approved merchandise; I’m snug utilizing these, they usually’re rather a lot less complicated. I primarily use cleaning soap, neem, and BT (Bacillus thuringiensis, natural pest management); if one thing’s awry, I pull the plant and toss it. We do loads of crop rotations and companion planting, and I’ve seen the impact of that. With mulching and wholesome soil, my vegetation are stronger.
Tim (Sunshine Farm Basis): Rising up, my father was a medical physician who later moved into various drugs, specializing in supporting sufferers who had cancers with natural diets and homeopathic remedies. We all the time ate natural meals. After I began farming, I didn’t suppose that there was one other method.
And dealing with the permaculture crew and form of studying that methodology, and entering into agroforestry, you recognize, it was by no means a query of whether or not or to not use natural remedies for pests or fertilization.
We attempt to use permaculture and agroforestry designs that make pest administration simpler, similar to attracting helpful bugs and using native vegetation. That is the place NRCS has been useful.
Context & Challenges
Supply: Farm of the Fearless Monkey
Perennial peanut cowl cropping at Farm of the Fearless Monkey.
Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): The fixed pest is the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB), so we’re making an attempt to deal with that utilizing numerous methods. We do netting across the crown of the tree, we preserve our mulch piles lined and rotate them at the least each two months, and ship the chickens in to scratch by way of.
We’re in a spot that hasn’t been hit too onerous by the latest flooding; the water flows off of our space. These storms got here once we have been doing cowl crop, which helped the quilt crop, and we didn’t lose something. The vetiver (cowl crop) is nice and stopped every part from an enormous circulation.
Tim (Sunshine Farm Basis): We had about 100 coconut timber worn out by the coconut rhinoceros beetle. So we’re doing a pilot program to see if we will management the beetle with about 60 dwarf coconuts in excessive tunnels with netting (supported by EQIP).
We had about three or 4 storms this spring (2026), which brought on loads of harm to our property. That mentioned, we’re in a drought space on the island, and water provide and energy are a priority.
Our important focus is planting drought-tolerant crops. Water can exit for a number of days once they’re fixing traces, so we’ve signed up for a backup storage and water-pump program by way of NRCS.
Working with NRCS
Utility Course of
Supply: Farm of the Fearless Monkey
EQIP-funded hoop home with mulching at Farm of the Fearless Monkey.
Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): From working with the agriculture committee after which as secretary of the Waimānalo chapter of the Hawaii Farmers Union, I used to be acquainted with NRCS representatives. I acquired a hoop home by way of the Environmental High quality Incentives Program (EQIP), after which we began engaged on a conservation plan.
Getting by way of the CSP software course of was simple. I knew what I wished to do, it was lined by this system, and my CSP agent walked me by way of every part. It’s been a easy course of; she sends me paperwork and deadline reminders, so it feels manageable.
Tim (Sunshine Farm Basis): I discovered CSP by way of analysis and initially discovered it troublesome to navigate till I related with the primary in a sequence of very useful representatives who helped me start a windbreak program and subsequent plans. It’s a must to persevere. Our first contract part was three years in the past; now we’re within the second 12 months of our second contract.
Implementation
Supply: Sunshine Farm Basis
A row of banana timber and shrubs serves as a windbreak to guard crops at Sunshine Farm Basis.
Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): We’re doing mulching and canopy cropping and crop rotation, paid in bulk on the finish of yearly. For mulching, it was a five-year contract; cost began at $2,000 a 12 months, then jumped to $4,000. Cowl cropping began as a three-year contract, which has been renewed. The reimbursements primarily assist cowl labor prices for practices I’d do anyway.
Tim (Sunshine Farm Basis): Our CSP contract contains $6,000 per 12 months for 5 years ($4,000 cropland and $2,000 homestead), and practices embrace perennial cowl crop (Bermuda grass) and establishing a local forestry zone.
We’re getting compost reimbursements (paying just for the supply costs), and we’ve got a contract to mulch over our orchard. It’s been nice. And I used to be capable of get a tree trimmer as effectively.
Outcomes & Challenges
Supply: Farm of the Fearless Monkey
Mulching and labor was lined by CSP contract at Farm of the Fearless Monkey.
Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): My soil is superb proper now. The vegetation are actually joyful. Mulching has diminished water use, and soil testing confirmed a pH shift from acidic to alkaline, which modified my fertilizer method.
One massive problem is soil testing, not simply getting the checks, however delivery them to the mainland (Oregon) in refrigerated/cooler bins inside 24 hours, and the airport the place we ship them from is nearly an hour away. If we might do this domestically, it will save loads of trouble.
Tim (Sunshine Farm Basis): We get help from everybody at NRCS, they’re nice! They’ve actually helped us navigate applications.
I’m in a predicament, nevertheless, as a result of once they got here out to examine, though I had the animals and I had the orchard, we have been categorized as orchard-only, which means I can’t transition to my unique plan of getting the animal administration care, similar to inner grazing fencing.
So we missed one thing there and may’t return or threat dropping this system and having to reapply. So we’ll full the contract as is after which apply for this longer-term plan.
Recommendation to Farmers
Maigee (Farm of the Fearless Monkey): If farmers are contemplating making use of for CSP, it is best to completely do it. One, as a result of it’s good follow. And two, it’s a great program. For a farm of my measurement, it wasn’t that difficult.
Tim (Sunshine Farm Basis): While you’re getting ready the paperwork, make sure you suppose long run. Think about the following 5 years and what could must be part of your software.
I additionally suggest making use of with as complete a plan as potential, together with a number of conservation practices, to doubtlessly give your software a better rating and chance of success.
And don’t overlook outreach to different farmers, we’ve got to share what applications we’re benefiting from.
Subsequent Steps & Sources
Concerned about transitioning your farm for natural certification within the West/Southwest or past? Discover these key assets and join with mentors, certifiers, and Technical Assist Suppliers (TSP) close to you.
Finding Assist Suppliers and Mentors:
Natural Farming Analysis Basis assets:
USDA assets:
Join with OFRF:
