If you have been reading my articles, you have some information about moringa, the ‘miracle tree’ native to India. On a visit with Geoff and Misa, owners of the Maruyama Jones Moringa farm in Kona’s ag lots, I learned a lot more about this wonderful plant and its uses.
After 30 years of farming in South Kona, I am very pleased to see so many young people pursuing careers in farming. They are doing it so much smarter than old timers like me. They are using modern technology, they are operating from excellent business plans, they know how to write grants and get awards and their operations appear to be smooth and financially sound.
Geoff and Misa are no exception. After touring their farm, we sat down to a lovely display of their products and a chance to sample beverages made from the moringa they grow right there. I found them delightful and knowledgeable. Both are bright and highly accomplished adults that bring an ability and willingness to explore ways to succeed in their new venture as farmers.
Misa grew up in Hawaii. When her dad was working at a sugar plantation on Kauai, she saw first hand the systems he helped put in place to make the operation run efficiently. When she was eight, they moved to the Big Island.
In 2006 her dad applied for a 5-acre ag lot at the bottom of Kaiminani Road. He successfully turned a noni farm in to a sod farm and has been selling sod from his ag lease for almost 20 years. After a few years the family built a house and moved onto the farm.
Both Misa and her brother Deano were encouraged to get a good education before deciding on a career. Deano did just that and now is running a highly successful compost and soil production business called Organic Matters Hawaii. He started creating healthy soil on part of the sod farm but has recently expanded to his own 5-acre ag lot next door.
Misa was completing her Ph.D. in Communication and Information Sciences at UH on Oahu in 2013 when she met Geoff. She was preparing to launch an academic career in education and research when her dad became ill. He was researching ways to help treat his illness with botanicals and started growing and using moringa as part of this self-designed treatment plan. To support him, Misa also began researching medicinal uses for moringa.
Geoff grew up in Southern California and truly enjoyed the time he spent on his dad’s farm in Paso Robles. He also often helped his mom out in her veggie garden in Los Angeles. He’s no stranger to farming. Through Misa, he also became interested in moringa and the pair began seriously considering moving to Kona and starting a moringa farm.
Though Geoff had an excellent job as an outreach counselor in the Hawaii Department of Education, he started to think about a career in agriculture. This was a bit of a leap for a guy who had been voted State of Hawaii’s “Counselor of the Year” in 2016. After months of research, however, he and Misa felt ready to move to Kona and start a moringa business.
Geoff is a natural educator and wanted to continue his father-in-law’s mantra, “Think global, act local.”
He felt his involvement with HIHO (Hands In Helping Out) was part of his mission and he sees educating the public about the many wonderful qualities of moringa as a continuation of his life goals.
Misa’s moringa research turned up many uses, both traditional and modern for this miracle plant. Although her research started looking at Moringa oleifera, she soon discovered that the African variety known as the cabbage tree or Moringa stenopetela has as many, if not more, qualities to recommend it. They are now growing, selling and creating products from both trees.
Both moringa varieties grow quickly from seeds or cuttings and both are drought tolerant. Moringa trees require very little maintenance. Because they grow quickly, top pruning called coppicing can be used to keep them low and bushy. Few insects or diseases attack moringa. Root rot can occur but only in soil that is too wet or does not drain well.
Moringa trees are grown in many dry tropical locations for their edible leaves, flowers, pods, seeds, bark and roots. It is considered an important crop throughout the world, including in the Philippines where it is known as malunggay.
As you likely know from my earlier article on moringa, its fresh leaves are high in protein and the dried leaf powder contains about 25% protein as well as calcium, minerals, vitamins and amino acids. Fresh or dried, the leaves can add both flavor and nutritional value to any dish.
An article in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Research discusses the ways moringa can mitigate climate change issues. See the article at http://tinyurl.com/mrxdtt6u. Nature also published an article about moringa and climate change which you can access here: http://tinyurl.com/5ynuae3k.
When young and green, the pods can be cooked and eaten like string beans. As they grow older and turn brown, the seeds are ready to eat as a snack or pressed for their oil.
Misa and Geoff have set up a small cold press on their farm to extract very pure moringa oil. Their research has found that the oil can be combined with other oils like lavender and frankincense to add to its properties. In its pure form, it is useful for hydrating skin and hair and can be consumed as part of a sleep formula.
You can check out their online shop at https://maruyamajonesfarm.com to find the oil and other moringa products including a tea for sleep and relaxation that contains the dried leaves and flowers. They also sell trees and products at their farm and at the Waimea Town Farmer’s Market on Saturdays at Parker School. Some products can also be found at Island Naturals in Kona and the Locavore store in Hilo
Among their products are packages of dried moringa leaf in powder and capsule form. Both are named green flash. I asked Misa if the name referred to the color of the product. She then told me the reason behind the name.
According to Misa, “Every night at sunset, my dad stops all work on the farm for us to watch for the green flash which is sometimes visible as the sun sets into the ocean.” It is the ‘green flash’ moment on the farm that inspired the name.
Since the whole plant is useful, you may want to have your own tree or trees. Even the bark and roots, can be used according to a traditional recipe to make a sauce that resembles horseradish.
Misa and Geoff encourage people to grow this plant and use it for both culinary and medicinal purposes. They also offer lots of information to those interested in including moringa in their food and their remedies.
Both Misa and Geoff bring a wealth of knowledge about moringa to the family farm and are happy to share what they have learned with the community. Do go to see them to get your own tree and learn more about moringa. You can email them to request an appointment to visit the farm at hello@maruyamajonesfarm.com.
Gardening events
Saturday: “Native Hawaiian Plant Sale” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden at 82-6160 Hawaii Belt Road across from the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Call the garden for more information at (808) 323-3318.
Tuesday, Feb. 27: “AgCurious Online Webinar” online at 5:30 p.m. Learn more about GoFarm beginning farmer training program that can help improve farming production and agribusiness skills. For more information and to register go to www.gofarmhawaii.org.
Farmer direct markets
(Check websites for the latest hours and online markets)
Wednesday &Friday: “Ho’oulu Farmers Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay
Saturday: “Keauhou Farmers Market” 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center.
Information on their online market: keauhoufarmersmarket.com/onlinemarket.
“Kamuela Farmer’s Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables.
“Waimea Town Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Parker School in central Waimea.
“Waimea Homestead Farmers Market” from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Waimea middle and elementary school playground.
Sunday: “Pure Kona Green Market” 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook.
“Hamakua Harvest” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hwy 19 and Mamane Street in Honokaa.
Plant advice lines
Anytime: konamg@hawaii.edu
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu. Call 322-4893 for information.
Walk in Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Komohana in Hilo. Call 981-5199 or email himga@hawaii.edu for information.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living part time in Kailua-Kona.