We have often said that anyone in Hawai’i who has the tiniest bit of earth or even a place to have a place to put pots of earth has a garden! And most of the time the humblest of gardens are primarily plants that can be used on a regular basis whether they be veggies or herbs.

Of course there are always the cursory orchids or some other flowers that easily grow in Hawaiian soil or Hawaiian climate, and there are those few plants that fend off garden pests, too. Sometimes we learn these things by trial and error or by talking story with your ohana and neighbors sharing their years of what works and what doesn’t.

And then along comes “Hawaii Home Gardens: Growing Vegetables in the Subtropics Using Holistic Methods”!

This new release book improves our common knowledge and helps us become better Hawai’i gardeners.

Authors Evan Ryan and Lehua Vander Velde have over 30 years combined experience growing food in Hawai’i. They have been inspired by their love of clean air, fresh water, nourishing food, and community connection.

Like many of us here, they have a great appreciation for a simple successful garden.

Evan Ryan is an agricultural landscape consultant, designer, farmer, project manager, and educator.

He has inspired the Hawaii Seed Grower’s Network, a marketplace for locally grown seeds!

Lehua Vander Velde worked on her first small organic farm at age 16, and from then on has had a continuous passion to be involved with sustainable food production. She shares her life with her husband Henry, a small menagerie of animals, and an abundance of life giving plants. She lives simply, off the grid, and close to the earth.

If you want a wonderful and abundant Hawai’i garden, then give these local authors a try!

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Ed and Cynthia Justus are owners of The Bookstore in Hanapepe.