The Forest Garden Tropical Permaculture with Adam Crowe of ʻĀina Exotics
Nov 26, 2021
Join Adam Crowe from ʻĀina Exotics, a tropical fruit farm in Pāpaʻaloa, Hawaiʻi, as he shares his journey of cultivating rare fruits in a unique climate. Discover the innovative swales and soil management strategies he employs amid local pests and environmental challenges. Adam highlights exotic delights like durian and rambutan and discusses the wellness benefits of ethnobotanical plants. His passion for biodiversity shines through as he navigates the hurdles of enriching sustainable gardening while exploring the delicious potential of edible leaves.
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Choose Tropical-Bred Tomato Varieties
- Avoid heirloom tomatoes prone to fruit fly and disease; try tropical-bred varieties like German Lunchbox and Tropic Boy instead.
- Use greenhouses for sensitive heirlooms if you want classic slicers in humid tropics.
Use Quick-Fruiting Species To Fill Space
- Plant faster-fruiting solanaceous trees (tamarillo, pepino, poha) as interim crops between slow-maturing grafted trees.
- Use quick-yielding species to fill alleys and provide early harvests while longer-term trees establish.
Passiflora Provides Calming Herbal Options
- Passionflower species can be both ornamental and sedative; different species and preparations (flowers/leaves) deliver calming effects.
- Use incarnata or edulis cautiously for occasional anxiety-relief teas after checking interactions.
