All posts by Hamakua Ag Co-op

Upcoming Events

Seed Symposium April 9

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April 9 Seed FlyerBuilding Resilient Seed Systems for Hawai‘i

FREE EVENT

Saturday, April 9
9 am – 3 pm

NHERC Conference Room
45-539 Plumeria St.
Honoka‘a,Hawai‘i

Seed Exchange & Potluck starting at 12:30 PM

Please respect our NO SOIL policy.

Knowing your goals and how to achieve them when saving seed helps maintain and improve genetic diversity of locally-adapted varieties necessary to build a sustainable food system for Hawai‘i’s farmers and gardeners.

Join locally and nationally renowned seed experts for an informative day of presentations to learn what is necessary to achieve these goals, followed by a potluck, seed exchange, demonstrations and tasting trial varieties.

Featured Speakers:

Forest Shomer

Founder, Abundant Life Seed Foundation and Inside Passage Seeds and Native Plants

Glenn Teves

CTAHR Extension Agent

Moloka‘i

Russell Nagata

Former CTAHR County of Hawai‘i Extension Administrator

Lyn Howe

Farmer/Owner at Beach Road Farm and Director of Hawai‘i Public Seed Initiative

Register at http://resilientseed.eventbrite.com

For more information call The Kohala Center at 887-6411.

This event is sponsored by The Kohala Center’s Beginning Farmer Training Program and Hawai‘i Public Seed Initiative, and the Honoka‘a Seed Exchange, with support from the County of Hawai‘i Department of Research and Development.
The Kohala Center is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Upcoming Events

This Saturday: Fall Honoka‘a Seed Exchange and Potluck

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Fall Honoka‘a Seed Exchange and PotluckHonokaa Seed Exchange Flyer
Saturday, October 17, 2015
12pm – 3pm
NHERC Conference Room
45-539 Plumeria St, Honoka‘a, HI 96727

Farmers, gardeners, and plant enthusiasts are invited to the Fall Honoka‘a Seed Exchange and Potluck on Saturday, October 17th at the NHERC Conference Room in Honoka‘a. The seed exchange will feature donations from seed companies including Baker Creek, Johnny’s Seeds, and Territorial Seed Company. Participants are asking to bring seeds and a potluck dish if possible, or just take home seeds and talk story.

The Honoka‘a Seed Exchange has adopted a NO SOIL policy to prevent the spread of disease and invasive pests like Little Fire Ant. All vegetative material (huli, cuttings, slips) will be subject to inspection before permitted entrance to the seed exchange.

This event is supported by Hawai‘i Public Seed Initiative, a program of The Kohala Center.

For more information, contact honokaaseedexchange@gmail.com

 

Farmers

Farm to School Mixer : June 30 in Pahoa

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Farmers, would you like to talk to distributors directly and showcase your produce? The Kohala Center is seeking farmers to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for our keiki by connecting with distributors and charter schools at the upcoming Farm to School Mixer.

The Kohala Center is working on improving and expanding the local farm to school supply chain on Hawaiʻi Island in order to increase access to fresh food in our schools and expand economic opportunity for local farmers. Together with the Arts & Sciences Center, The Kohala Center is hosting a Farm to School Mixer to connect Hawai‘i Island farmers and food producers to charter schools and distributors.

The event will be at the Hawai‘i Academy of Arts and Science in Pāhoa on Tuesday, June 30 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.  Interested farmers can register online at www.koha.la/f2smixer or call The Kohala Center at 808-887-6411.

The event is free but space is limited so register by June 25th to reserve your spot.
Farmers are invited to bring samples of their produce and contact information for their business. Tables and signage will be provided.

Flyer:

TradeShowCharterSchool_Flyer

Education, Upcoming Events

Free Record-Keeping Workshop on May 12 in Hāwī

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The Kohala Center is teaming with Palili ‘O Kohala to present a free record-keeping workshop for Hawai‘i Island farmers. The workshop will be held Tuesday, May 12 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Kohala Village Hub in Hāwī. Pre-registration is required by May 8; visit farm-record-keeping.eventbrite.com to register and for more information.

May 12, 2015—Farmers frequently need records to obtain loans, file taxes, acquire organic certification, or track yields and profitability. Accurate records are a prerequisite for crop insurance and disaster assistance, can also aid farmers in making better decisions about which crops to grow, and help them operate their farms as businesses. This workshop is for Hawai‘i Island growers wanting to get started with record keeping as well as those who already have a system but want improve their operations.

Dr. Stuart T. Nakamoto, extension economist at the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, will lead the workshop and cover topics such as getting started with record keeping; organizing farm receipts, papers and notes; and using a record-keeping workbook to create or modify existing systems. The workshop is free but pre-registration is required by May 8 at farm-record-keeping.eventbrite.com. Participants who pre-register will receive a free binder of record-keeping forms they may use in their own record-keeping systems.

For more information, please contact Stuart Nakamoto at snakamo@hawaii.edu or 808-956-8125.

Upcoming Events

5th Annual Kohala ‘Aina Festival Nov. 8

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The lovely folks at HIP Ag (Hawai’i Institute of Pacific Agriculture) are hosting their 5th annual fundraiser, the Kohala ‘Aina Festival, November 8th at 1pm at the Kohala Fairgrounds in Kapa’au. This year’s event will feature workshops, fantastic live music including Ooklah the Moc and a buffet that’s 100% locally grown! For tickets visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/881683

5th Annual Kohala ‘Aina Festival

The Kohala ‘Aina Festival marks the beginning of the makahiki season with a celebration of local harvest, young farmers, and the growing movement for island-wide food sovereignty. This year’s festival features a line up of international and local musicians, educational workshops, a 100% locally grown Hawaiian style feast, and family friendly keiki activities.

MUSIC! Live musical entertainment from Nahko, a nationally renowned folk/rock singer with Hawai’i Island roots, and Hawai’i’s own Ooklah The Moc. Other performers include Cas Hayley, Tubby Love, Kaahele and the Isness, DJ Conscious Riddims and other special guests. There will also be hula from Halau Kukui Aloha o Kohala, African Drum and Dance and a Keiki Tent with fun, interactive activities for all ages.

EDUCATION!  This year’s educational workshops are centered around a Permaculture Convergence featuring rotating workshops by island-wide experts in Soil Fertility, Beekeeping, Seed Saving, Community Design, Plant Medicine and Hawai’ian Culture. Attendees can participate in workshops and visit informational tents throughout the day to learn about and discuss critical issues facing today’s small farmers. This year, HIP Agriculture will be introducing the first annual Young Farmers Forum, an event bringing together island youth and working farmers to explore sustainable agriculture as an economically viable career path.

ISLAND CUISINE!  This year HIP Agriculture is preparing to feed 1,000 people with a 100% locally sourced menu. This traditional Hawaiian feast will feature the talents of several well-known island guest chefs including Casey Halpern, Executive Chef at Cafe Pesto, Allen Hess, Chef de Cuisine at the Mauna Lani Canoe House and Executive Chef Donna Maltz. Fresh coconuts, juices and snacks will be available at the Niu Lani Juice Bar.

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The Kohala ‘Aina Festival is the annual fundraiser for the Hawai’i Institute of Pacific Agriculture. 100% of proceeds raised support youth education programs, residential farmer trainings and community education projects island-wide. Donations are tax-deductible through the fiscal sponsorship of the North Kohala Community Resource Center, Hawi, Hawai’i.

Learn more at www.hipagriculture.org.

kohala aina fest 14 flyer

Upcoming Events

Invasive Pest Alert: Little Fire Ant in Honoka’a

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Little Fire Ant Awareness Meeting for Honoka’a

Saturday, November 15

10am-11:30am

NHERC Conference Room

45-539 Plumeria St, Honoka’a, HI 96727

littlefireant1

INVASIVE PEST ALERT: Little Fire Ants have been identified by Hawai’i Ant Lab in a sample from Honoka’a.

If you’ve been stung by a Little Fire Ants (LFA), you know why these little ants are such a major problem. Heather Forester, an invasive ant support technician from the Hawai‘i Ant Lab, will present an informational session including a question and answer session on LFA. She will cover their biology and methods for control. Understanding LFA biology will help you control the ant problem. Proper methods of LFA control can maximize pesticide effectiveness and manage potential resistance, ensuring that effective pesticides will remain effective in the future.

The Hawai‘i Ant Lab is based in Hilo, and they work with people in Hawai‘i to provide solutions for the many impacts caused by invasive ants. Their mission is to protect Hawai‘i from new introductions of invasive ants, prevent the inter- and intra-island spread of existing invasive ant species, provide sound, practical treatment methods for homeowners, natural resource managers and industry, and eradicate new incursions whenever possible.

The Hawai‘i Ant Lab on the web: www.littlefireants.com

 

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photo credit: Eli Sarnat

Education

September HCC Course: Sustainable Production Practices

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Hawaii Community College C3T-1 Program is offering a non-credit course on SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION PRACTICES.

Apply environmentally-friendly methods of farming to our Hawaiian soil

Learn about plant nutritional needs, types of soil, and fertility adjustments to improve your

production as well as quality

Upon successful completion you will receive a Certificate of Professional Development.

Hands-on sessions include:

  • Seed Germination
  • Hydroponics
  • Composting & Compost Tea

Instructor: EDDIE YOKOYAMA

SEPTEMBER 2 – SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

Tuesday/Thursday Classes @ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

FRIDAY Hands-on Sessions @ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

FEE: $59

— Financial assistance is available to those who qualify —

For more information on how to register and questions on financial assistance, contact Jan or Leonard at the Big Island Workforce Development Division Office, 1990 Kinoole Street, 981-2860 ext 226. For more information about the course, contact Amy/Lynnette at the Hawai`i Community College, 934-2687.

Flyer—SSP #2 Flyer---SSP #2

Upcoming Events

Honoka‘a Seed Exchange & Potluck

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white beans

Join fellow growers for the Honoka‘a Seed Exchange & Potluck on Saturday, August 30 from 2 pm – 5 pm at Honoka‘a School Cafeteria.

Anyone can attend to share seeds, roots, cuttings, and huli with fellow gardeners and farmers. There will also be a special presentation on variety trials by Russell Nagata from the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR).

Beginners are welcome! If you have no seeds to swap, come learn about seed-saving basics and mingle with other growers. Attendees may bring a dish for the potluck and materials to store and label seeds.

For more information, contact:

honokaaseedexchange@gmail.com

In collaboration with Honoka‘a High School Ag Program and the Hawai‘i Public Seed Initiative.

Farmers Market

Farmers Market Booth Makeover!

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Have you been to the farmers market lately?  Stop by our booth to check out the new look on Saturdays at the Waimea Homestead Market, or the Midweek Market on Wednesdays at Pukalani Stables. Max and Noa Bowman of ‘Ano‘ano Farms help run the Coop booth and recently they upgraded the display with new stands to better show off their bounty. Great farmers market displays offer a sense of abundance, color, and ease of access for shoppers.

On Saturday, the booth was bursting with color and diversity thanks to the new design.

market display coop booth

Marketgoers filled their bags with ‘Ano‘ano Farms certified organic tomatoes, bush beans, and sweet potatoes, as well as certified organic green onions, beets, cilantro, bananas, and pole beans from Paauilo Forest Farms. The booth also offers herbs, produce, and eggs from other Coop farmers. New merchandise is now for sale too! Pick up a hat, t-shirt, or bumper sticker to show your support for local farms!

See you at the market!