Evan RyanMy life choices are inspired by my love of clean air, fresh water, nourishing food, and community connection. I have been graced with opportunities to live and work with many indigenous cultures throughout the world. These experiences have instilled n me a great appreciation for the simple, yet successful farming technologies that have been cultivated over many generations. These systems rely on the land as a teacher and a guide for living in harmony with the earth. In 2000, I began gardening and farming on Maui, and am still loving it today as an agricultural landscape consultant, designer, farmer, project manager, and educator. My focus is applying permaculture systems to production agriculture, and integrating these principles into home gardens, orchards, and commercial farms. I am grateful to see how holistic land care practices consistently yield positive results in any landscape or microclimate. The exponential growth of the farm and garden community on Maui inspired my early involvement as a board member of the Hawai'i Farmer's Union United. Working with the Hawai'i Public Seed Initiative, I have been able to offer free seed and plant exchanges as well as seed saving classes. This multi-island initiative has inspired the Hawai'i Seed Grower's Network, a marketplace for locally grown seeds! In 2015, I began Pono Grown Farm Center, a non-profit organization focused on agricultural education with a mission to increase the connection people have to the land, and empower them to better care for it. This diverse 15-acre farm in upcountry Maui has a vibrant intern program, extensive vegetable gardens, hundreds of fruit trees, chickens, and bees. We farm with rainwater catchment, solar electricity, and power our vehicles with locally produced biodiesel. I am blessed to live onsite at the farm with my loving wife, Danielle and our joyful son, Bija. Read More Read Less