Newsletter 56 - October 2013
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Aloha! The GMO debate continues in the Hawai‘i County Council. You’re encouraged to read the report below to help you do your homework about that debate, and make your voice known. In addition, we present a feature about a local farm’s experience with WWOOFers, who can add significant value to many of our local, sustainable food growers, and another feature about the Taro Patch Farm, which grows a remarkable diversity of food crops on a relatively small “patch” of ground. Finally we continue our marketing profile series with an article about Hawaiian Chip Company. Add to that stew upwards of twenty upcoming classes, workshops, festivals and seminars just about local food on Hawai’i Island over the next month or two, along with pertinent announcements and websites, and you’ve got a recipe for inspiration, education and action towards growing and/or consuming more local food! Craig Elevitch and Pedro Tama
EventsSaturday, September 7 to Saturday, October 5, 2013, 01:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Hamakua Friday, September 27, 2013 to Saturday, September 28, 2013, Oahu, Maui, Hawai'i, Kaua'i From Sunday, September 29, 2013 - 09:30 to Monday, September 30, 2013 - 08:30, Maui Tuesday, October 01, 2013, 09:30 am - 05:00 pm, Hilo Wednesday, October 02, 2013, 09:30 am - 08:00 pm, Kona Thursday, October 03, 2013, 09:30 am - 09:00 pm, Kaua’i Friday, October 04, 2013, 06:00 pm - 08:00 pm, South Kohala Saturday, October 05, 2013, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Kapa’au, North Kohala Saturday, October 05, 2013, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, Puna Saturday, October 05, 2013, 10:00 am - 04:00 pm, Puna Saturday, October 05, 2013, 02:00 pm - 04:00 pm, Hilo Tuesday, October 08, 2013, 06:00 pm - 08:00 pm, Hilo Friday, October 11, 2013, 09:30 am - 12:30 pm, Puna Saturday, October 12, 2013, 09:00 am - 04:00 pm, Hamakua Saturday, October 12, 2013, 03:00 - 05:00 pm, North Kohala Monday, October 21, 2013, 07:00 pm - 09:00 pm, North Kona Sunday, October 27, 2013, 02:00 pm - 05:00 pm, Hilo Monday, October 28, 2013, 09:30 am - 05:30 pm, North Kona Monday, November 04, 2013 to Wednesday, November 06, 2013, Volcano Saturday, November 09, 2013, 02:00 - 04:00 pm, North Kohala Saturday, November 16, 2013, 01:00 - 07:00 pm, North Kohala Every Tuesday. 09:00am - 12:00pm, Puna Every Thursday. 09:00am - 12:00pm, Puna View events calendarReportsWelcoming WWOOFers to Your Farm
Innovative local chips by Hawaiian Chip CompanyWritten by Craig Elevitch and Ken Love
Farmer Feature: Taro Patch Farm
Edith (Edie) Bikle started her first garden when she was 15 years old and has been farming one way or another ever since. She bought the present 1,000 foot elevation 1½ acre property 7 years ago and immediately started adding an edible garden and fruit trees to the already established macadamia tree orchard. GMO's: Have you done your homework?
How well do you understand the issues? How much do you know, and how much is guesswork or knee-jerk reaction? Are you applying your critical thinking skills to the arguments from both sides, or are your feet more-or-less mindlessly planted in the concrete of your fellow-travelers? Farmers' Markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)Visit our comprehensive directory of Hawai'i Island farmers' markets and Community Supported Agricuture.
AnnouncementsNew Rules for Shipping Hawai'i Avocados to the Mainland to Take EffectThe USDA Final Rule governing the shipment of untreated "Sharwil" avocdos from Hawai'i to the mainland will take effect on October 15, 2013. For all the requiremnts to satisfy this rule, see http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0008-0036. Farm Bill Conservation Benefits for Underserved Farmers: Hilo workshopA PUBLIC WORKSHOP FOR THE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED FARMERS, RANCHERS AND LANDOWNERS, PROVIDED BY THEUSDA NRCS, NARC&DC, & HSARCDA:
October 28, 2013, 8:30 a.m. to 3;30 p.m., Hilo
The purpose of this workshop is to increase the USDA, Natural Resource ConservationService's (NRCS) outreach to historically underserved farmers and landowners in Hawaii. This includes ensuring that underserved farmers and landowners have access to and understand the
conservation benefits derived from participation in NRCS Conservation Easement, Stewardship,Environmental Quality Incentives (EQIP) and Agricultural Water Enhancement (AWE) programs provided through the 2008 Farm Bill.
Summary:The NARC&DC and its partner RC&D Councils, along with the participation of NRCS, FSA, and RD personnel, will conduct a series of workshops that will focus on underserved farmers and landowners. These groups include (but are not limited to) Asian, Pacific Islander, and women landowners and producers. These are all groups that have traditionally lacked access to the assistance available to farmers and ranchers elsewhere due to their race, gender, ethnicity, or relative lack of language proficiency. The workshop will be conducted at the USDA Pacific Basin Agriculture Research Center, at 64 Nowelo St., Hilo, on October 28, 2013, 8:30 a.m. to 3;30 p.m., with site visits in the afternoon. Limited travel stipend is available.
Register for this workshop by October 14, 2013; or, for more information, please call BigIsland RC&D Council at 1-808-935-8426 Or email at < This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >
Ulu smartphone app highlights Kauai breadfruit
The Talking Trees app is free and features suggested stops on Kauai and Hawaii Island that offer the opportunity to learn about the culture and history of the islands through stories of the ‘ulu (breadfruit). Information is conveyed through photos, articles and video interviews with local cultural practitioners. For people who want to learn how to cook with breadfruit, the app also features award-wining breadfruit recipes. Other links include information about how to cultivate and use breadfruit and Hawaiian mythology. “There are many different drive guides out there, but ours is the only one in Hawaii that takes people on a journey to see the islands and learn about the culture and history by seeking out the breadfruit trees,” says Andrea Dean, Co-Director of the Ho‘oulu ka ‘Ulu project, “It's a fun way to see Kauai or Hawaii Island—kind of like a treasure hunt for ‘ulu trees.” Web ResourcesThis month's web site listings
Supporting OrganizationsSponsorsHawai'i People's Fund and the Hawai'i Community Foundation   Founding sponsorsHawai'i County Resource Center, a program of the County of Hawai'i Department of Research and Development. Hawaii Agricultural Development Program in partnership with the Big Island RC&D Council.
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The Ho‘oulu ka ‘Ulu project has added sites of interest on Kauai to the Talking Trees app for iPhone and Android.
