GALANGAL CULTURE Plant Galangal immediately. Pieces will be large as it fares better in transport that way. Best to plant whole and divide after it is actively growing. You will need a sharp knife and gloves. Galangal responds well to fertilizer, like its cousins ginger and turmeric. There is no need to hill as its growth extends laterally under the soil but it will need space eventually. Alpinia galanga, also called Galangal or Thai Ginger, is known as Ka in Thailand, where a few varieties of this plant exist. Here on our farm I sometimes refer to it affectionately as CHAINSAW GINGER. I am pretty sure its roots will be rediscovered by science as a replacement for steel cable. Did I mention it was tough? Luckily, when it's young it's tender enough to be harvested with relative ease. Galangal is slow to start most times...it may take an extra season or some extra care to get it to saleable size in a short season. Galangal is perennial, unlike most edible ginger and turmerics that have a distinct dormant season. No hibernation for this beast – it just keeps growing. Another notable difference (and this is directly related to it's perennial nature) is it's inability to form a skin to protect it from desiccation, which means its shelf life is shorter. A workable solution to this is to trick it into thinking it's still under ground. How? Just provide moist paper and slightly cooler temperatures. Just kidding you can't trick plants silly...they don't care (or do they?) "Galangal grows horizontally through the soil like ever mutating antlers of subterranean spiciness" -d

HAWAII CLEAN SEED Biker Dude does not smoke tobacco. Aloha Friends, This is your old pal Biker Dude. Can you believe it? I am on about the last page of my very own website. Nowhere else to go but to the obits where I will be hanging out with other past icons such as the Marlboro Man and Joe Camel. Ginger Man Unknown Artist <br/> Here are a few slide shows for your entertainment. They span the last four or five years. Some from the field, some from the seed project, and plenty of our co-workers and family. So get herbally enhanced if you like or have a cup of ginger tea and sit back and watch. What you will see here is the common thread that runs through all of us who farm for fun and/or try to scratch out a living farming. SIX SLIDESHOWS OF FIELDS, FAMILY, FARMERS AND FRIENDS SHELF TALKERS AND BOX STUFFERS For twenty years of growing for the fresh market I felt compelled to put a letter or photo in every box. Here are just a few. Feel free to copy and print some if you like. VISIT OUR FRIENDS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS Your Hawaiian Retreat Rick Lejeune Pacific Botanicals TurmericAlive Dr. Schulze Mandy Johnson Big Island Organics Salinity Salts Coco World USA Maui Medicinals