Newsletter 61 - March 2014
Aloha,
This issue marks the fifth anniversary of Hawaiʻi Homegrown Food Network Newsletter. We thank you, our subscribers, web site community members, friends, and ʻohana, for your interest and engagement in local and sustainable food in Hawaiʻi.
Through the years, particularly through our work to support the revitalization of ʻulu (breadfruit), we have come to realize that local and sustainable food is much more than crops, horticulture, and markets. Itʻs about culture, community, and deep relationship to the natural world where we live.
We realize that the local food landscape has changed greatly over the past few years. As awareness has grown, so have supply and consumption of local foods. Still, a casual survey of any supermarket in Hawaiʻi today shows a continued domination of imported food on store shelves. So where do we go from here for more sustainably grown, local food?
The values, knowledge, stories, and spirit of indigenous Pacific Islanders resulted in regenerative food systems that rivaled todayʻs industrial productivity without use of fossil fuel inputs. Perhaps a foundation for local food sustainability is right before us. We are again reminded of the ʻōlelo noeau:
I ke alo no ka ‘ulu a hala.
The breadfruit was just in front, and it was missed.
[That which you are seeking may be right in front of you.]
Craig Elevitch and Pedro Tama
for the Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network
http://hawaiihomegrown.net
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Events
Saturday, March 01, 2014, 09:00 am - 02:00 pm, Hawi
Blessing of the Palili ‘O Kohala Natural Farming Learning Lab
Tuesday, March 11, 2014, 06:00 pm - 08:00 pm, Hilo
Hilo Natural Farmers Monthly Meeting
Saturday, March 15, 2014 - Sunday, March 17, 2014, Kona
Kamehameha III Celebration, Poke Contest
Monday, March 17, 2014, 07:00 pm - 09:00 pm, North Kona
Tropical Fruit Growers Meeting
Sunday, March 23, 2014, 09:00 am - 12:00 pm, Hilo
Fermenting Vegetables for Preservation and Health
Sunday, March 23, 2014, 02:00 pm - 05:00 pm, Hilo
Let’s Grow Hilo Edible Landscaping Beautification Day
Saturday, April 05, 2014, 09:00 am - 04:00 pm, Maui
Maui County Agricultural Festival
Saturday, April 05, 2014, 10:00 am - 05:00 pm, Kona
Big Island Avocado Festival, Kona
Thursday, April 10, 2014, 02:30 pm - 03:30 pm, Hilo
Mahi’a - Revitalization of the Fishpond Practitioner
Friday, April 11, 2014, 08:00 am - 05:00 pm, South Kohala
Slow Food Annual Meeting and Potluck
Friday, April 11, 2014, 05:30 pm - 07:00 pm, Kona
Mahi’a - Revitalization of the Fishpond Practitioner
Saturday, April 12, 2014, 01:00 pm - 04:00 pm, Hilo
Intro to Organic Landscape Care
Saturday, May 10, 08:30 am - 12:00 pm, Pahoa
Puna ʻUlu Workshops
Every Tuesday. 09:00 am - 12:00 pm, Puna
Hands in the Earth Practicum
Every Thursday. 09:00 am - 12:00 pm, Puna
Permaculture Classroom & Field Studies
View events calendar
Reports
Intelligence, Culture, Food
To be honest, I’m not so interested in food – as a commodity or a resource or even as a way to feed those who are hungry. What I mean is, I’m not so interested in the numbers – numbers of calories, pounds of product consumed, percentage of locally produced products, and so on. All of those are necessary and useful numbers. I have to pay attention to numbers because I have to produce so many pounds of beef each week in order to meet my customer’s needs consistently, or my business fails. So, I’m not saying that numbers are unimportant. Far from it. But the numbers are not what interest me, what keep me going day after day.
Sarah Ili with Hawaiian chili pepper water, seedlings and peppers.Hawai’i Homegrown Food Network (HHFN) correspondent, Rachel Laderman, met with Sarah Ili and talked with her about the chili pepper water she makes. There are many variations of this popular Hawaiian condiment. Sarah’s version is very straightforward – and very delicious. Sarah lives in Pepe’ekeo and works as a substitute teacher, then shares her all-local Hawaiian chili pepper water with family and friends.
HHFN: What goes into your hot chili pepper water?
Sarah: You use Hawaiian hot chili peppers (has to be that kind), limu kohu, and Hawaiian sea salt with red clay, which is called alaea.
HHFN: Does it have health benefits?
Sarah: Yes, it is good for iron, and the limu kohu has iodine. The alaea is good for strengthening and cleansing. It also replenishes your salt.
Locally Processed Foods by Honolulu Gourmet Foods
Honolulu Gourmet Foods restaurant at Paradise Palms Café on the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa campus serves locally grown prepared food at reasonable prices.Balancing being a mom and business entrepreneur, Jill Lee built Honolulu Gourmet Foods upon the counter-mainstream model of sourcing locally grown ingredients and making her products exclusively in Hawai‘i. “The cost of doing business is high in Hawai‘i. At the end of the day, am I proud of my products and our steady customer base confirms that there is a market for high quality, Hawai‘i-made products,” explains Lee.Farmers' Markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Announcements
Stop Imported Bananas to Hawai'i: Comments due March 31st
Ken Love of the Hawai'i Tropical Fruit Growers Association writes: "Once again the federal government is trying to do it to us!
"The importation of bananas from the Philippines directly into Hawaii can seriously jeopardize numerous growers and certainly prevent growth of the banana industry in Hawai'i. Regardless of possible bacteria and other pests, the importation continues to build on the destruction of small family farms selling bananas throughout the state. Its bad enough we have to import tons and tons of bananas from Ecuador but adding these would ruin almost all chances for building a viable banana industry in Hawai'i. The state should be charging a hefty inspection fee on the imports we already have in order to prevent possible contaminations. I urge you to comment on this and make vocal your objections to this proposed rule."
For links to the primary documents supporting the proposed rule, and for space to make comments, see http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=APHIS-2013-0045-0001
Web Resources
This month's web site listings
- Internatinal Year of Family Farming
- Fire Ants in Hawai'i
- Growing Grapes in Hawai'i
- eOrganic
- USDA Allowed-chemicals on Organic Farms
- FoodCorps Hawai'i
- CTAHR on Biotechnology
Supporting Organizations
Sponsors
Current
Founding sponsors
Hawai'i People's Fund and the Hawai'i Community Foundation
Hawai'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.
Subscriptions
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Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network
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Web: http://hawaiihomegrown.net