In April of 2019, Ocean Grace Farms began our transition to natural farming from using conventional farming methods. Watch a video here documenting the first chapter of our educational journey. We have learned how to make Korean Natural Farming Inputs/Solutions on our farm and have began making Compost Tea Brews and implementing foliar sprays on our cacao and fruit orchard. We continue to have the Chinese Rose Beetle eat a significant amount of our Cacao Leaves-primarily the heirloom varieties. We are documenting our transition in hopes to share with other Conventional Cacao Farmers that there are Natural Farming Solutions to the “Chinese Rose Beetle Problem”.
This topic of “Management of the Chinese Rose Beetle (Adoretus sinicus) Adults Feeding on Cacao (Theobroma cacao)” is one that has been on our radar since establishing our Cacao Farm.
This article explains that when the trees are younger- a common practice is to use “protective hoops” or cages to protect the young cacao from: 1) Sun 2) Wind and 3) That Chinese Rose Beetle. As the trees get older we remove the cages.
Could a KNF Chicken Coop help minimize beetle grubs, provide fertilizer, increase spreading IMOs and provide fresh eggs for our family and friends? That is what we think. I wonder what other benefits a KNF Chicken coop would provide? Are there any cons?
These are the questions we are heading out to explore this coming month. Join Us! On our road trip. We will be posting on @oceangracefarms instagram.
We have read that chickens roam and feed on beetle grubs and as a result may minimize beetle infestations naturally and without using poison or pesticides. It is no longer an option for us to consider poison or pesticides because of the choice we have made: to use natural farming methods no matter what. We know the value of IMO (Indigenous Micro Organisms) from making our own IMO pile, as we implemented other KNF methods, such as: Compost Tea / Liquid IMO .
The first step on our exploration of the KNF Chicken Coop is to tour other Big Island Farms that already have a working KNF Chicken Coop on their farm and talk story with them. Update: Please see video below of our tours…
Big Island Farm Tours: KNF Chicken Coop
- The KNF Farm, Eric Drake Weinert at PureKNF Foundation
- Kulike Forest Farm
- Natural Farming Learning Lab at Ho’ea | Palili O Kohala
We have completed 2 of the 3 tours and posted the video above. We look forward to sharing more of our journey with you! If you have questions you would like us to answer in an upcoming video: please submit it here.
Additional Resources: KNF Chickens and Poultry Farming