Food innovation hub Common Ground has launched weekly tours of its farm, with the goal of raising awareness about local food systems.
Located on an 83-acre campus on Kauai, Common Ground is a multifaceted venture comprised of accelerator and incubator programs, and a distribution channel for food producers and entrepreneurs, in addition to farming operations.
Running from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Thursday and Friday, the farm tours include a walk through the campus’ agroforest, a regenerative agriculture model that’s designed to maximize yields while preserving the natural environment. The tours also include an optional walk to Kilauea’s historic Stone Dam and end with a sunset pau hana.
Common Ground explained in a statement that its “agroforest is planted on a designed rotation with new plantings spread out over the course of several years, allowing for the annually planted species to adapt to the evolving needs of the venture as a whole.” The food forest features Hawaii produce including ulu and taro, as well as other vegetables, along with chickens, and cows.
“All of these diverse elements are woven together into a resilient agricultural ecosystem, a snapshot of what the farm of the future could look like,” Common Ground said.
The tours launched Aug. 11.
“We believe in food as the great connector. Connecting people around food begins with showcasing how our food can and should be grown and creating experiences that teach and inspire,” Jennifer Luck, chief operating officer of Common Ground, told PBN. “Our farm tour leaves visitors to our campus with a deeper understanding of the benefits of regenerative principles and the incredible richness and diversity of Hawaii ingredients.
“We view Common Ground as a petri dish or a lab environment where we imagine, innovate and share the best of Hawaii’s food ecosystem with visitors and residents alike,” added Luck, who was among PBN’s recent Inno on Fire honorees in the food independence and agriculture category.
“We hope participating in the farm tour allows our guests to form a deeper understanding of Hawaii, better understand the transformative nature of regenerative farming and experience the connection that comes from incredible food shared in a breathtaking location.”
For more information, visit commongroundkauai.com.
