Pure KNF Food Canoe Project
The Food Canoe is an innovative way to make gardening easy for everyone, including children, elderly and disabled folks. Food Canoes are customized to any specific height so that your garden is easily within your reach. You don’t have to strain by reaching very far and there is no bending down. There are far fewer weeds and pests.
Food Canoes can be continually used, with no need to let them lie fallow. They make it easy to grow your own food and be self-sustainable year-round! Because you are observing your garden, you know when your harvest is ready and will be at its peak flavor and nutrition.
You are in charge! This DIY method empowers you to choose what you will grow, when you will grow, and how much you will grow. You may find that one or two Food Canoes are just not enough once you discover how easy and rewarding it is!
History and Story of Project
Purpose
The purpose of the Food Canoe is to easily grow your own garden of nutritious vegetables and greens. Food Canoes are an easy solution for everyone to be self-sustainable. They are relatively low cost and last a long time. Food Canoes are renewable and can be continually replanted.
Because it is above the ground it can be built to any height to make it comfortable for any size person to use it. Benefits include far fewer bugs, far fewer weeds, can mitigate diseases, but we still triple wash produce that comes from it.
We believe that in ground garden beds have no drainage and get waterlogged, but the canoe is on a slope so it has good drainage.
It’s so much easier to do because you don’t have to bend over, so the ergonomics make it inviting to use.
A general trend is to be more self-sustainable, yet sometimes this is hard to achieve if you don’t have access to the right environment, but this food canoes lets you make that perfect environment anywhere. The canoe works in a city, in a small home, on a sidewalk, or anywhere that 2×10’ is available.
This canoe also helps to mitigate inflation by making it easy to save money by growing your own food.
Personal story
The idea of a Food Canoe was born when one of our neighbors had horses with a barn and the horse “poo” was collected in trash barrels that we picked up and applied to what was an unnamed raised garden bed. Over time, what is now the Food Canoe, was called a “Poo Taco”. The weekly application of horse poo to the Taco, a great source of fertilizer, resulted in successfully growing lots of lettuce. Soon we thought that we could instead apply Natural Farming Solutions to the soil and plants in the Taco and we began regular applications of the solutions.
Name of the Project: From Taco to Canoe
When the project was first started they were called tacos because of the shape. As the polynesians came to Hawaii, they knew they were going to need nutritious food and that they would have to be self sustainable. They brought with them what are called the canoe crops (sugar cane, coconut, sweet potato, breadfruit, taro, etc). As the local people of Hawaii want to be self-sufficient again, we find the answer once again in a canoe. And so even though we love tacos, we changed the name to canoe, honoring the history of foods brought by canoes and now grown in canoes for self-sufficiency.
As we expanded our collection of Food Tacos (we have 12 now), our enthusiasm for the universal application of this easy to grow method amplified. In conversation with Micah Gauthier, director of Mental Restorations Foundation, the idea of collaboration was born. As the Food Canoe Project evolved, we decided that “Food Canoe” was a better name for our raised food gardens because the name supports the idea of the Hawaiian Canoe crops that were brought to Hawaii for survival by the initial settlers. Although Food Canoes are perfect for many crops, we remember that they represent survival through self-sustainability.
Mental Restorations Foundation Collaboration
The mission of the Mental Restorations Foundation is to work with veterans and first responders, as well as their families. Their aim is to improve mental health through fishing, farming and outdoor pursuits.
In 2021, The Pure KNF Foundation collaborated with Mental Restorations Foundation to fulfill our joint missions and this project helped them achieve their purpose. Ten Food Canoes were built and distributed to selected individuals.
Results
The veterans were supported with weekly forms where they reported on progress and the effect on their mental health restoration. Pure KNF Foundation supported them if they reached out with questions. We supported the veterans in their effort to be sustainable. We provided support to help with the technicalities of growing. We were really able to help them be successful in their growing of food, their personal DIY project.
There were reports of decreased feelings of food insecurity. As food was grown and harvested in their personal Food Canoes, the veterans felt more secure. They also didn’t have to experience as much potential grocery store anxiety from crowds that can be a trigger for veterans.
We did field trips to showcase their canoes to each other and build their self esteem and see the different approaches to how this project was implemented. In sharing with each other there was much more comradery and ideas that were able to flow between the veterans. The fellowship around the Food Canoe system brought the veterans together and they could freely trade their produce and experiences. They were able to share the different crops they grew and the inspiration that grew individually. It was amazing to see the different crops that could flourish in the canoes and the different meals that were made from folks that had never grown anything in their lives before this opportunity.
The veteran’s self esteems were improved by nourishing and caring for their Food Canoes. Their efforts resulted in thriving gardens that they can eat from and live a healthier life- enjoying the highly nutritious greens and vegetables from their personal Food Canoe. From start to harvest, nurturing the plants along the way…it’s like taking care of a puppy!
Application of this project globally
Our partnership with Mental Restorations and its success is proof that Food Canoes are an affordable and easily accessible solution for food sovereignty.
Building the Food Canoe
We built 10 food canoes at one time to make it an efficient use of time. These canoes were distributed to selected Veterans and other stewards. This video shows the process and various steps necessary to complete your Food Canoe. It is not a step by step video, but we have created the Food Canoe Guide which does have the step by step details to help you make a self-sufficient garden bed and be successful.
It was a lot of fun building them. You will have fun too- it’s so easy to build and then you’re on your way to your own DIY “Growing Your Own Food” project!
Plans
Here is an illustration of measurements for your Food Canoe.
Materials List
Here is a complete list of materials needed to build a Food Canoe. It is possible (and recommended) that you use recycled materials when available. Whenever we can be self-sustainable it’s a win!
| Purpose | Material | Amount | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| upright | 2x4x8 | 1 | 3 |
| cross | 2x4x8 | 0.5 | 3 |
| brace | 1x4x8 | 0.5 | 3 |
| bottom plywood | 4×8 | 0.5 | 1 |
| tin | 34″x10′ | 1 | 1 |
| screws | 2 1/2″ | 30 | |
| screws | 1 5/8″ | 18 | |
| paint |
Soil Setup For Your Food Canoe
This is a step-by-step video featuring Dr. Drake that details how to fill your Food Canoe and create a foundation for success before you plant your own garden.
Planting Your Food Canoe
This is a step-by-step video featuring Jennifer Weinert that details how to plant your Food Canoe. If it’s possible to kick start your seeds using Natural Farming Solutions you’re that much more likely to succeed and be on your way to your DIY garden filled with your favorite plant foods. Weekly spraying of KNF Maintenance Solution will keep your plants thriving.
Natural Farming Solutions:
How to make your own resources
There is a wealth of “how-to” information available online!
Natural Farming Hawaii distills in detail what Korean Natural Farming is with shortcuts for reference such as various charts for solutions and applications that can be freely downloaded. You will find the KNF Recipe Book compiled by Natural Farming instructor and expert, Dr. Drake. It is a foundational Bible for all Natural Farmers. It details Core Solutions and Formulas for Application, and so much more. The KNF Calculator App is highlighted which can be downloaded through the App Store.
The non-profit PureKNF Foundation sponsors this website as well as another one to support their mission of “existing to restore life through microbial awareness, education and action.”
Along with this website, the Foundation generously offers support here as well. KNF Support hosts a forum for Questions and Answers and also hosts weekly Office Hours. This extensive collection of recordings is archived for access anytime, worldwide. Office Hours are weekly live YouTube sessions with Dr. Drake. People who tune in may chat and get real time responses from Dr. Drake.
Natural Farming Courses are periodically offered on a beautiful Natural Farm in Hawaii. Participants may learn hands-on from Dr. Drake and become certified in PureKNF.
Here you may buy Natural Farming Solutions from a trusted manufacturer.
Crop Growing Guide
Your key to planting and growing 10 popular crops in your DIY Food Canoe. You choose what to plant and how to arrange your Food Canoe to your style. You choose to be self-sufficient and up your nutrition with the freshest possible harvest, allowing for all the vitamins and minerals to be at their peak.
Examples of Food Canoes in Action
Inspiration for your eyes. Watch the garden grow…from initial planting of seeds to a garden jungle, filled with food, ready to enjoy!
More Food Canoes in Action
There is no “right” way to arrange your Food Canoe. You are the creator, you are responsible for cultivating a caring relationship for your plants. They will selflessly reward you at harvest time. Notice that some gardens are thriving more- this is a direct result of weekly spraying with Natural Farming Solutions and TLC.
