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ALOHA BFFS!

Bougie Farmer Co. is a culinary and lifestyle destination, where farm, flavor, and intention meet — located on the east side of the Big Island of Hawai‘i and created from scratch by Chef Justine Ma (as seen on Food Network and Amazon Prime).

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Rooted in sustainability and small-batch craftsmanship, guests are invited to experience the farm through immersive cooking workshops, intimate chef’s table dinners, and private event rentals surrounded by tropical abundance. The property also offers a boutique farmstay for those seeking rest, reconnection, and real food from the land. Guests can learn to cook directly from the soil, savor multi-course meals crafted with care, or book Chef Justine Ma’s private chef services both on and off the island.

 

Throughout the year, the one-acre farm grows a variety of coconuts, bananas, citrus (oranges/limes/lilikoi), breadfruit, sugarcane, herbs and edible flowers — all of which inspire and appear in Chef Justine’s seasonal cuisine. Her signature Bougie Dumpling line celebrates a zero-waste, farm-to-table philosophy rooted in conscious living, exceptional ingredients, and the joy of gathering around food made from scratch.

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Everything we offer at Bougie Farmer Co. is rooted in food education — and if you find yourself here on the farm, we hope you leave inspired, connected, and full of fresh ideas.

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CHEF + FARM TIMELINE

  • 2016 – Justine left New York City and her celebrity chef life for a Yoga Teacher Training on the Big Island of Hawai‘i where she began learning how to live off-grid.

  • 2017 – She finalized the purchase of one acre of land and started studying plans and permits for the farm.

  • 2018 – When the KÄ«lauea Lava Flow forced her to evacuate her Kalapana rental, Justine temporarily relocated to Hilo while awaiting her building permit approvals.

  • 2019 – During the COVID-19 period, Justine began constructing her off-grid home, overseeing every aspect of the build — from excavation and solar installation, to roofing, plumbing, electrical work, septic, and drilling a water well.

  • 2020 – By summer, she completed the permitting process and officially moved into her home. That same year, she rescued her dog Olena, won the Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Co-op Recipe Contest with her ‘Ulu Pierogies, and began shaping the early vision of the farm.

  • 2021 – Focused on Feng Shui and permaculture, Justine brought in a specialist to help plant fruit trees and flowers. The farm began welcoming guests for the first time, and two rescue chickens. In NYC, she cooked with Hawaii favorite, Chef Mark Noguchi for a Kona Brewing Company event and in Hawaii she cooked for Chef Elizabeth Falkner at the 2022 Hawaii Food and Wine Festival! 

  • 2022 – The farm expanded with ducks, and evolved into a creative hub hosting workshops and community events. Chef Justine also began teaching farm-to-table workshops for kids and parents through Hawai‘i Island School Gardens, cooked for Chef Elizabeth Falkner and Traci Des Jardins at Beaver Creek for Culinary Weekend; and Chef Sherry Yard at the 2023 Hawaii Food and Wine Festival! 

  • 2023 – Chef Justine was featured as the head chef for Outstanding in the Field in Kona, where she prepared an eight-course, fully off-grid dinner highlighting ingredients from her farm. Shortly after she led Chef Sherry Yard's bakery team at the 2023 Prime Time Emmy Awards, and on March 5th, she made her TV debut on Food Network’s Chopped: Taste of China (Season 58). Later that year, her farm received a micro-grant to build a chicken coop.

  • 2024 – To expand her offerings, Chef Justine opened her new lanai event space for celebrations, micro weddings, and retreats. She trained with Chef Sarah Glover in Los Angeles for live-fire cooking experiences and received another micro-grant to enhance fencing to protect her rescue animals from wild pigs. In addition to her private clients, Chef Justine cooked with Chefs Elizabeth Falkner, Anita Lo, Maneet Chauhan, Reem Assil, and more at the 2024 Hawaii Food and Wine Festival.

  • 2025 – The farm is now flourishing — fences are secure, trees are fruiting, and cooking school experiences are available for booking. On May 3, 2025, Chef Justine was featured on Amazon Prime’s America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation (Season 2), proudly representing her farm, and continues to collaborate with the community on island with nationwide spotlights as a featured chef for the Culinary Breeding Network in Kona, launched a limited edition Deconstructed Wonton Pizza at Talula's of Asbury Park, NJ, and cooked for 1200 at the 2025 Hawaii Food and Wine Festival.

CONTACT

Want to host an event on the farm?

Send us a message!

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