On-Campus Clean Food
Written By Asia Howe
“People ‘over-produce’ pollution because they are not paying for the costs of dealing with it.”--Ha-Joon Chang
Take a look around the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus and you will undoubtedly see at least one attempt to do good by the environment. Bins for recycling bottles and cans, bins for recycling paper, containers for making compost, energy efficient air conditioning, and other environmentally friendly practices may be found in and around the college’s buildings. One of the newer additions to this store is located atop the slope between Mo’okini Library and the Student Services Building. The brainchild of Administration of Justice and Psychology double major, Wes Owens, the coop-like structure transforms food waste into a “high quality hydroponic nutrient base” that can be used to grow produce. Entirely off-grid, the system runs on solar power via panels.
The currently in-progress brainchild of Wes Owens, located atop the slope between Mo’okini Library and the Student Services Building. Photo Courtesy of Wes Owens.
The solar panels power an aerator that provides oxygenation for the guppies and beneficial bacteria which live in a compost tea tank. Also accompanying the system are earthworms, which subsist in hydroponic trays beside plant roots. The system can be made into two sizes: Family and individual. When asked why he undertook such a project, Owens replies, “One of my primary goals in moving to Hawaii eight years ago was to grow … food sustainably, even though I didn’t have any previous experience. In that time, I’ve tried soil, raised beds, greenhouse, and aquaponics farming, and was unhappy with them all. They all had significant problems and took too much work in order to do them here in Hawaii, and none were sustainable.” After these errors, the double major affirms, “An innovation was born [by] using natural processes and … [a] standard hydroponics system, minus the chemicals. The challenges and failures I encountered paved the way with experiences and knowledge that proved necessary for the final solution.”
“Things I’m learning now in my Sustainable AG (Agriculture) 230 class,” the double major goes on, “would have helped in developing [my] system, and will help me take it even further.” While Owens did not get the chance to apply what he is learning in AG 230 to his project from the initial stages, because of his efforts, AG 230 students and AG Club members will be able to employ their agricultural knowledge from the very first time they work with the double major’s system. “[Since] the system is in the AG 230 garden, [it] will be cared for by AG 230 students, and maybe the AG Club as well,” said Owens.
The project, however, is not going to be limited to AG students. All students will get an opportunity to contribute, as Owens explains. “In the library garden system, we will use food waste from the dining hall. You will soon see a 5 gallon bucket one day a week with the other … recycling [bins], which will be for this system. Ideally, it [the system] will have a chute where random students can directly add their food waste.” Regarding the waste, the double major concedes, “The more diverse the food waste, the more complete the nutrient source in the system. This also means, however, that if you eat out most of your meals, that you might run into problems if you don’t have food waste. You can of course incorporate food waste from neighbors or work, etc. As long as its food, you can use it.”
Administration of Justice and Psychology double major, Wes Owens. Photo courtesy of Wes Owens.
“You will NEVER use traditional hydroponics chemicals EVER,” Owens writes about his project. “This is a complete ecosystem, and chemicals [or] fertilizers would be detrimental to the beneficial bacteria, guppies, earthworms, etc. and are unnecessary.” The double major is currently producing arugula, beets, bell peppers, carrots, celery, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, onions, strawberries, tomatoes, various herbs, zucchini, and other vegetables and fruits from the system he has at home. “I hope to complete the library system soon, but I’m having difficulty working within the UH bureaucracy to actually use the funds they have allocated to complete the unit.”
When asked what he hopes to accomplish with his library system, Owens declares, “My goal is to share this technology with everyone I’m able to [and] empower people to grow fresh organic vegetables for their families. I built this system by the library so that everyone can easily see and find out about it. Laminated printed materials will be attached to the system, so anyone who walks up to it can find out how it works and I hope, be inspired to grow their own food.”
Owens would like to thank the University of Hawaii at Hilo Agriculture Department, Dr. Sakai for the funding, and Dr. Arancon for his facilitation and encouragement. Students who have a question or are interested in learning more about Owens’ system may contact him at owensw@hawaii.edu. Students who wish to know more about the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM) may visit their webpage.
