Tim Head presents information about how to grow and harvest coconut trees at All About Coconut Day, April 13 at the Intergenerational Center."Grow your own future" was the theme of a coconut day program attended by sixty people at the Intergenerational Center in North Kohala on April 13th. The three-hour event offered information, demonstrations, a slide show, exhibits, coconut snacks, coco water, songs, dances, drumming and plenty of community networking about how to plant and use coconuts. Tim Head and Carolyn Mondress, co-chairs of "Coconuts for Kohala" led the event and Forrest Arnold served as group facilitator.

Peter Risley uses French Intensive methods on his farm and was named Farmer of the Year this year by the Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District.On Saturday, April 6, the North Kohala Eat Locally Grown Campaign partnered with 'Iole Hawai'i to bring the Farm to Fork Tour series to the historic Bond district of North Kohala. The Hawai'i Institute of Pacific Agriculture (HIP Ag), Risley Farms and ʻŌhua O Nā Kiaʻi No Nā Keiki O Ka ʻĀina invited the Kohala community, Hawai'i Island residents and visitors to tour -- and taste -- what's growing at 'Iole.

Are you looking to diversify and reduce your farming risks? Come and learn about Fruit Flies, Banana Moth and Korean Natural Farming (KNF). Hawaii has 4 major types of fruit flies that attack various fruit and vegetable crops. Each requires different treatment methods. Dr. Roger Vargas, research entomologist from USDA-ARS PBARC-Hilo, will demonstrate fruit fly identification and the various methods of control including the use of SPLAT. Banana moth caterpillars are a pest of many tropical plants including coffee, banana, dragonfruit, palms and dracaenas. Banana moth damage appears to be increasing. Dr. Mark Wright of UHM-CTAHR will talk about how to identify banana moth, their host plants, and methods of control. KNF incorporates the use of indigenous micro-organisms (IMO) and has been used to help control odors of pig farming wastes as well as improve plant growth of vegetables and tree crops. Drake Weinert will present on KNF and demonstrate the creation of two key components of KNF – fermented plant juice and lactic acid bacteria. Saturday, April 27, 2013. 8:45 am – 4:30 pm (registration starts at 8:15 am)UHM-CTAHR, Kona Research Station, 79-7381 Mamalahoa Highway, Kealakekua. Call Gina at 322-4892 to RSVP or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.