Kona Sown cultivates community by stewarding and sharing locally adapted crops and sustainable growing systems
Upcoming Events and Activities:
***Spring Home Gardener Series- April 2026***
***Fall Home Garden Series- October 2026***
Each series starts on the first Saturday of the month and runs for 4 consecutive Saturdays. 7am -9:30.
This series will cover:
*Organic soil care, composting and amendments
*Locally adapted varieties and where to find them
*Seed planting, transplanting, seasonality, garden maintenance and organic pest management
*Safe Harvesting and Processing
Email melissa@konasown.com to sign up or ask a question
***Fall Seed Saving Workshop*** November 2026~ Date TBD One day workshop on seed saving and storage techniques. Learn when seed is ready to harvest, how to process and how to store seeds for future planting.
Email melissa@konasown.com to sign up or ask a question
Grow your own Veggies, Herbs, Flowers and Fruit!
Let's demystify Compost and Soil Care Together!
Explore the value, History and Methods of Seed Saving.
simple techniques for sucessful sowing, growing, harvesting and Safe Processing.
A Word from melissa
Our Story- Joe, Melissa and Kona Sown
Kona Sown has grown out of my love for agriculture and the tremendous support of my husband, Joe. We grew up as friends surrounded by agriculture in Honaunau Valley. Before we got together Joe purchased a "one acre lot" following the 2008 financial crisis. The land had abundant soil and was in an ideal location, close to everything, just far enough away. Shortly after our marriage in 2016 we began transitioning "the lot" to "the farm".
My eye for systems and beauty complimented by Joe's ability to build anything has created the space we enjoy today. Starting with an acre of guinea grass we utilized the "weed" as our first homegrown soil amendment, the foundation of the farm we tend and continue to build.
Agriculture Experience
I have always been a lover of the outdoors. As a child I was always dirty, catching frogs, helping with chores and begging my parents for a horse. My family has always been supportive of my passions, but my mom, Getta Rogers was my champion. Thank you mom! In my teens I became interested in sustainability and gardening. I started my first backyard garden with limited success. Unphased and ready for more, I went on to work with Ellen on the Crocker Family Farm (Honaunau), Harvey and Melinda Sacarob at Sun Bear Produce (Kealia) and ended up mentoring with Nancy Redfeather and Gerry Herbert at Kawanui farm. Working with these legendary Kona farmers not only shaped the trajectory of my life, it propelled me into a life long journey of growing, observing and adapting. Each of these farms were different, but all of them had exceptional systems, phenomenal production and a commitment to sharing what they had learned.
Teaching Experience
Before deciding to focus my energy on Kona Sown I was school garden educator at both Honaunau Elementary and Innovations Public Charter School. I taught a range of students from kindergarten to eighth grade for 11 years. While the class was called "garden" it would have been better named "life skills". Students experienced seed to seed agriculture, cooking, building, conservation practices, nutrient cycling, animal husbandry, art, music, culture and community. While I held the title of "teacher" I learned as much or more than my students in that time. Now, I look forward to sharing what I have learned from my 30 years of gardening experience in Kona with you!
A Passion for Local Food
Having started my life in what would now be labeled a "Food Desert"- the Big Smoky Valley in central Nevada- I was the kid that you could hand any vegetable to and I would gobble it up. It was new, exciting and FRESH! Whole heads of lettuce, raw broccoli, tomatoes by the dozen. So many small rural towns lack real, fresh food. How? At the turn of the century all of the ranches in the valley were largely self sufficient! My grandma peddled vegetables that her family grew as a youth and she recalled the walls of her father's bedroom being lined with jars of seeds. I wish I could have some of those seeds today!
My family moved to Honaunau Valley when I was 6 years old. This small town was the opposite of a food dessert! A food jungle! I loved trying all of the new fresh foods that were in abundance. My stepdad, David a formally trained chef instilled in me a love of cooking. My mom's and my Uncle Gary's excitement for growing and procuring these new fresh foods ignited my passion for local agriculture.
Today I grow much of the produce we eat and what I don't grow I find at the Keauhou Farmers Market! Our family has a freezer full of local beef, sheep and fish.
I love experimenting with traditional recipes using local ingredients. Hawaii is truly a place where one can eat fresh and find the magic of eating the rainbow!
Kona SOwn Offerings
Beginning Gardener Series
Beginning Gardener Series
Beginning Gardener Series
Join a small group to the learn the basics of gardening in Kona. Classes run from 7-9:30 am for 4 consecutive Saturdays. Classes start on the first Saturday of the month.
$250
Drop in Class
Beginning Gardener Series
Beginning Gardener Series
Once you have taken the Beginners Gardening class you are invited to do 2 hour drop class to ask questions, hone your skills, and dive into special projects not covered in the Beginners Class. Email me to schedule.
$40
Consulting
Beginning Gardener Series
Kona Sown Resources
After taking the Beginners Gardening class, lets spend time in your home garden looking at ways to improve your growing experience.
$60/hr.
Kona Sown Resources
Kona Sown Resources
Kona Sown Resources
Kona Sown often has an abundance of seedlings, produce, and mulch. All students receive a 20% discount on all farm grown goodies.
Mulch
Kona Sown Resources
Special Classes
Having a hard time keeping up with your hungry soil? Kona Sown offers a variety of mulches to help your home garden thrive.
Special Classes
Kona Sown Resources
Special Classes
Keep an eye out on Instagram and local bulletin boards for special class offerings like Mother's Day flowers, homegrown tea making, homemade amendments, and more! Have an idea or request for a class, let me know!
Contact Us
Kona Sown
+1.808.895.2686 melissa@konasown.com PO Box 867 Kealakekua, Hi 96750 Find me on social media: Instagram- @konasown Facebook- "Kona Sown"