The rainwater that falls on the roof of Henry Williams' house and farm building in Holualoa, Hawaii, is collected and used to water the 3,000 coffee trees of the plantation he bought in 2000.
Recycling is a big part of the business model of Seven Stars, a plantation that helps to produce 32,000 pounds of roast coffee a year.
To help keep his green agenda, Williams turned to military surplus. Pumps at Seven Stars transport the collected rainwater uphill and when it is released, gravity takes hold and the plants get watered on the downhill run. The two pumps moving the all-important water are used military surplus (circa 1968) and cost Williams a total of $200.
The company, which employs between three and 10 employees depending on the season, makes about $40,000 in revenues annually.
He also uses military surplus trucks, with surplus generators mounted on them as mobile power backup, for his home and business. Williams even beats back the lush wilderness that surrounds his plantation with a zero-turn mower he also picked up at a surplus auction. He even keeps himself in shape to walk his fields by working out on military surplus exercise equipment.
"Being 'green' and working with nature is important to me," said Williams. "Military surplus has let me run my plantation as a true recycling operation," he added.
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