Agricultural Learning Opportunities on Hawai'i Island
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Agricultural Learning Opportunities on Hawai’i Island (Compiled by Zach Mermel, July 2008) Introduction This sheet provides various resources for residents of Hawaii Island to learn more about agriculture on Hawaii Island. Know your Farmer Alliance (KYFA) Summary KYFA is a grassroots educational and activist group of farmers, gardeners and others interested in ecological food production and local self-sufficiency on Hawai'i Island. KYFA aims to promote natural growing practices throughout Hawaii Island by lectures, seed exchanges, workshops, farm tours, demonstrations, meetings, networking and our own seasonal newsletters. Interested persons can visit the KYFA website at www.knowyourfarmeralliance.com. In East Hawaii, contact Lynn Howe or Geoff Rauch at 936-7040, or email lynnhowe1946@yahoo.com. In West Hawaii, contact Nancy Redfeather at 322-2801, or email nancyredfeather@yahoo.com. Research Method Howe, Lynn and Geoff Rauch. Know Your Farmer Alliance . 2008. Accessed on July 22, 2008: <http://www.knowyourfarmeralliance.com>. Hawaii Island Seed Exchange Summary The Hawaii Island Seed Exchange was established in 2003 as a way for farmers and gardeners island-wide to share saved seed, cuttings, roots, huli, and plants in order to increase food self-reliance on Hawaii Island. In recent years the Seed Exchange has been hosted at the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens on the Summer Solstice (June 21). Admission is free. Due to the potential danger of unknowingly spreading the “little fire ant” (Wasmannia auropunctata), none of the following are allowed at the exchange: bare rooted plants, seeds in pods or husks, leaf material, or plants in soil. For more information, contact Nancy Redfeather, Hawaii Island Seed Exchange Coordinator, at 322-2081. Research Method “Amy Greenwell Garden Hosts Seed Exchange in June.” Bishop Museum . 2008. Bishop Museum. Accessed on June 15, 2008: <http://www.bishopmuseum.org/media/2008/pr08041.html>. East Side Seed Exchange Summary The East Side Seed Exchange was established in 2005, with “a vision towards helping others grow local foods from locally adapted seed and sharing our abundance and experience with like-minded eco-farmers and gardeners” (www.knowyourfarmersalliance.com). Hosted at La’akea Community every October, all seeds are given for free or traded. Admission is free. All are welcome to attend, whether or not you have seeds to share. Due to the potential danger of unknowingly spreading the “little fire ant” (Wasmannia auropunctata), none of the following are allowed at the exchange: bare rooted plants, seeds in pods or husks, leaf material, or plants in soil. 0b For more information about, and to obtain directions to, the East Side Seed Exchange, contact Geoff Rauch or Lyn Howe by phone at 936-7040, by email at lynhowe1946@yahoo.com, or visit www.knowyourfarmeralliance.com. Research Method Phone and email communication with Lynn Howe, co-coordinator of Know Your Farmer Alliance, on July 20, 2008. Hamakua/North Hilo Agricultural Cooperative Potluck & Seed Exchange Summary 1 Agricultural Learning Opportunities on Hawai’i Island (Compiled by Zach Mermel, July 2008) The Hawai'i Farmers Union and the Hamakua/North Hilo Agricultural Cooperative (HNHAC) co- sponsor a Farm Community Potluck and Seed Exchange on the second Friday of every other month. Located at the ILWU Jack Wayne Hall building in Honoka’a on the Waipi'o, makai end of Mamane Street, the seed exchange begins at 4:30pm, followed by the potluck dinner at 6:00pm. The event is free. Home gardeners, farmers and other community members are most welcome. For more information, call 775-7159, or visit www.hawaiifarmersunion.org. Research Method Phone and email communication with Eden Peart, coordinator of the HNHAC Potluck & Seed Exchange, on July 28 and 29, 2008. Hamakua/North Hilo Agricultural Cooperative (HNHAC) Summary Based in Pa’auhau, just outside Honoka’a, the mission of the Hamakua/North Hilo Agricultural Cooperative is to create a viable, environmentally sound, diversified economy based on agriculture. A legal cooperative entity, HNHAC began in 1994 as a way of empowering former sugar workers and others interested in agriculture with the opportunity to sublease land at an affordable rate for the purpose of farming. HNHAC holds two (2) leases from the State of Hawaii (one from the Department of Agriculture, the other from the Department of Land and Natural Resources) for the aforementioned purpose. HNHAC is also a clearinghouse for workshops and grants that relate to agriculture. HNHAC has approximately 400 members, 90 of whom are currently subleasing land. For more information, call 775-1107, or visit the HNHAC website at www.hamakuaagcoop.org. Research Method Phone and email communication with Eden Peart, coordinator of the HNHAC Potluck & Seed Exchange, on July 28 and 29, 2008. Hawaii Island School Garden Network Summary A program of The Kohala Center ( see glossary), The Hawai'i Island School Garden Network includes garden teachers and active garden programs in all public, private, and charter schools on Hawai'i Island. The goals of the Network are: to help schools connect with community resources and volunteers in order to build school garden ecosystems and composting programs; to find funding opportunities for garden projects; to coordinate with state standards; to share and improve the various garden curriculums; to increase the consumption of locally produced foods, and to expand the number of Hawaii Island keiki with hands-on knowledge of how to produce food. For more information, contact Nancy Redfeather at 322-2081, or email nancyredfeather@yahoo.com. Research Method Phone and email communication with Nancy Redfeather, coordinator of the Hawaii Island School Garden Network, on July 22, 2008. Agricultural Leadership Program of Hawaii Summary Co-sponsored by the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii and UH College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources (CTAHR) (see glossary) , the Agricultural Leadership Program of Hawaii provides training in leadership, collaboration, strategic planning and facilitation to individuals engaged in agricultural enterprises, community development, and organizational development. For more information about the training program, call (808) 956-9712, or email donnac@hawaii.edu, or visit www.agleaderhi.org. Research Method 2 Agricultural Learning Opportunities on Hawai’i Island (Compiled by Zach Mermel, July 2008) Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii . 2008. Accessed on July 27, 2008: <http://www.agleaderhi.org>. CTAHR Master Gardeners Summary The CTAHR Master Gardener (MG) program offers certified training in home horticulture and pest management. There is an application process and requirements in order to become a certified Master Gardener. For information about MG training in East Hawaii (which lasts from late February through mid April), Andrew Kawabata at 981-5199 or email kawabataa@ctahr.hawaii.edu. For information about MG training in West Hawaii (which lasts from late September through mid-November), contact Ty McDonald at 322-4893, or email tym@hawaii.edu. Other activities offered by CTAHR include: sustainable coffee workshops; landscape maintenance training & irrigation school (West Hawaii only); rainwater catchment workshops; and livestock workshops/field days. For further information about the CTAHR programs, contact one of the following offices nearest you: o Komohana Extension Office: 959-9155 o Kona Extension Office: 322-4892 o Kamuela Extension Office: 887-6183 Research Method Email communication with Susan Miyasaka, interim CTAHR administrator for Hawaii County from May 28, 2008 through June 24, 2008. HOFA (Hawaii Organic Farmers Association) Apprenticeship Program Summary HOFA’s Apprenticeship Program is designed to benefit both the apprentice and the farmer. The aim is to connect apprentices-to-be with organic farms/homesteads that can provide room, board, and/or a stipend in exchange for labor. HOFA’s Apprenticeship Program is connected with WWOOF, an international work trade organization (http://wwoofusa.com/), as well as Organic Volunteers (www.organicvolunteers.org), another work-exchange organization. There is the potential for apprentices to interact with particular crops or farms of their choosing. HOFA suggests that the expectations of both parties are lucidly clear, ideally in writing. It is important to note that some of the host farms are in remote locations, with limited transportation. Visit the HOFA website (www.hawaiiorganicfarmers.org) to obtain the HOFA Questionnaire for Farm Apprentices. Research Method “Farm Apprentice Program.” Hawaii Organic Farmers Association . 2008. Accessed on June 22, 2008: http://www.hawaiiorganicfarmers.org/appren.htm Kaiao Community Garden Summary In 2007, Bodhi Searles wrote a proposal to the Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island (BGBCI) in an effort to create a community garden at the Club. The proposal was fully endorsed by BGCBI in early 2008. Since that time, UH-Hilo staff and faculty members, Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners and passionate community members have assisted with enhancing the garden. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 3:30pm to 5:30pm during the school year, the primary focus is on youth projects in the garden. At the end of the day, keiki bring home fresh produce from the garden. Everyone is invited to participate in the weekly Saturday work party, from 9am to 11am. For more information on Kaiao Community Garden, contact the Boys and Girls Club at 961-5636. Research Method 3