Whats going on?
I’m Joe Benjamin and I'm going on an adventure.
Most of you already know this, but for those of you who are unaware, here is what I did in the last few weeks:
Bought a plane ticket to Hawaii
Bought a one man tent
Bought a 35L backpack
Quit my job
Put everything I could into my backpack
Left for Hawaii
Its pretty extreme and I definitely go from being super excited to super nervous (I haven’t gotten to the islands yet, I am writing this in the airport prior to my arrival).
What am I going to do in a tent in Hawaii?
I have several goals. The first is to have the time of my life; it’s easy to take life too seriously and I want to enjoy the heaven out of it. I also want to learn about aquaponic farming. What in god’s name is aquaponic farming? It’s a combination of hydroponics, growing plants without soil, and aquaculture, essentially fish farming.
Why would you go to Hawaii to learn about aquaponics and live in a tent?
I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii and I hate how short vacations are. A week is not enough time to experience and fully appreciate a location. Hydroponics has interested me for a long time and I believe responsible farming methods are crucial to the well being of the planet and humanity. Am I a tree hugging hippie? No (I don’t have anything against tree hugging hippies). Those of you who know me well would probably agree with me when I say that I have germaphobic tendencies, clean a lot, shower multiple times a day and in general like my standard American creature comforts. This is a massive shove outside my comfort zone in an effort to see new things, learn new things, go to new places and make myself a cooler human. I don’t know anyone where I am going (although I have been given a few contacts from friends) and have never been to Hawaii before.
How am I going to a farm on Hawaii if I don’t know anyone?
There is a organization called WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) that connects people who want to travel with farms who will give them room and board in exchange for work. I found the place I am going through them and encourage anyone who wants to travel around to check it out.
