Tuesday November 3,  6 - 8 pm
Event:  Aquaponics systems,  by Tim Mann & Suzanne Friend (Class #8 of series)
Sponsor/Organizer:  Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation and Hawai'i County Department of Research & Development
Description:  contact Donna Mitts, below
Place: NHERC, Honoka'a, makai of hospital 
Cost:  $12; $140 for entire 13 classes plus 6 free field trips.
Contact:  Donna Mitts, program manager, 936-2117,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text40919 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Saturday-Sunday, November 7-8, 8 hours each day
Event:  Natural Farming, with Gil Carandang
Sponsor: Hawai'i Natural Farmers
Description:  Gil Carandang is a full-time farmer, Fulbright scholar, and passionate advocate for empowering farmers to harness the indigenous life of the soil right on their farms. Gil is an engaging, fun, and empowering teacher. A graduate of the Apprenticeship program on Ecological Horticulture, UC Santa Cruz, he is the owner of Herbana Farms and an inspector for the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (OCCP). Gil studied under John Jeavons of Ecology Action on Sustainable Biointensive Mini-Farming, and also under Dr. Han Kyu Cho of Korean Natural Farming Association on Natural Farming Systems for Crops and Livestocks. He brings the technology of using indigenous micro-organisms as another tool for farming sustainably.
Place:  UH Hilo Ag farm in Pana'ewa, South Hilo (see Contact for directions)
Cost:  $200
Contact:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , http://www.localgarden.us/

Saturday, November 7, 10 am - 5 pm
Event:  Volunteer Farm-Aid Day at Milk and Honey Farm
Sponsor:  Puna Small Farm Initiative, Know Your Farmer Alliance
Description: Plant trees, do pasture maintenance, prepare trees for a pole barn (bring a draw shave if you have one). Bring work clothes, gloves, rain gear and perhaps food to share. Most work will be under cover. Farm fresh salad lunch provided (bring plates and utensils).
Place:  Milk and Honey Farm, Puna (see Contact for directions)
Cost:  Volunteer (Salad lunch provided)
Contact:  Geoff, 936-7040, http://www.knowyourfarmeralliance.com/ 

Saturday, November 7,  8:30am to 12 noon
Event:  Amy Greenwell Garden Arbor Day Tree Give-away
Sponsor:  DLNR_DOFAE/Ka'ulunani Urban Forestry Program
Description:  Amy Greenwell Garden will give away 500 native trees and shrubs (one per person). A certified arborist will be on hand to give advice and a presentation on planting and training trees. Cultural and scientific experts will present information about the 200 species of endemic, indigenous and Polynesian-introduced plants here.
Place:  Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, 12 miles south of Kailua-Kona on HWY 11, just south of mile-marker 110, South Kona
Cost:   Free
Contact:  Peter Van Dyke, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.bishopmuseum.org/greenwell  808-323-3318

Saturday, November 7, 9 am - 3 pm
Event: 11th Annual Holualoa Village Coffee and Art Stroll
Sponsor: Holualoa Inn, Kona Blue Sky Coffee; host Holualoa Village Association
Description:  Over two dozen local coffee farms present free samples of their finest Kona Coffee. Music throughout the day by local entertainers Mele Ohana, Hibiscus Jam and Harpist Jim Elliot. A variety of snack food will be available. Visit the morning Farmers Market for local produce and flowers at the Holuakoa Gardens & Cafe where you can also relax with a delicious local food breakfast or mid-day lunch.
Place:  Holualoa, Mamalahoa Hwy, North Kona
Cost:  Free
Contact:  Holualoa Village Association http://www.holualoahawaii.com/ 

Saturday, November 7, 10 am - 2 pm
Event:  More Raw Foods!
Sponsor: Waimea Community Education
Description:  Due to the popularity of our first Raw Foods class, we are offering this new class with brand new recipes for all to enjoy. Menu items will focus on locally grown raw foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and desserts. Everyone is welcome. Prior enrollment in our first Raw Foods class is not necessary to fully enjoy this new class! Come to class hungry. You will be sampling many delicious recipes, including: Pea Salad, Waldorf Salad, Coconut Macaroons, Tacos: Taco “meat”, salsa, sour cream, Onion Bread, Orange Shake, Corn Chowder, Fettuccine Alfredo
Cashew Mayonnaise
Place:  Waimea Community Education Building (see Contact for directions)
Cost:  $60
Contact:  Catherine Youtkus 885-1539, e-mail  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Tuesday, November 10, 9 - 11 am
Event:  Shade-grown coffee for Hawai'i, by Craig Elevitch
Sponsor:  UH CTAHR Cooperative Extension
Description:  This free talk explores the ecological and economic benefits and drawbacks of shade-grown coffee agroforestry systems in North and South Kona. Craig Elevitch will present results from a 12-month USDA-NRCS-sponsored study of twelve shade-grown coffee orchards. Shade- and open-grown coffee were compared based on environmental conditions (shade levels, tree density, plant species present, etc.), soil organic matter, yield and bean size, and pest and disease incidence.
Place: UH Cooperative Extension Service office, Kainaliu, South Kona
Cost:  Free
Contact:  Virginia Easton-Smith, 322-4892,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tuesday November 10,  6 - 8 pm
Event:  Vermicomposting, by Dr. Norman Arancon, UH Hilo (Class #9 of series)
Sponsor/Organizer:  Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation and Hawai'i County Department of Research & Development
Description:  contact Donna Mitts, below
Place: NHERC, Honoka'a, makai of hospital 
Cost:  $12; $140 for entire 13 classes plus 6 free field trips.
Contact:  Donna Mitts, program manager, 936-2117,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Friday, November 13, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Event: Farm Community Potluck and Seed Exchange
Sponsor/Organizer: Hawai'i Farmers Union and Hamakua-North Hilo Agricultural Cooperative
Description: Seed Exchange begins at 5:30 pm; potluck dinner begins at 6:30 pm. Focus this Friday is on the Farmers Union mission and vision, with a guest speaker representing National Farmers Union. Home gardeners, farmers and other community members are most welcome whether you bring seeds, plants or cuttings, or just take some home! E komo mai kakou, kokua kekahi i kekahi, aloha kekahi i kekahi. (Welcome! Help each other, love each other!) Join us in growing community food sovereignty in Hamakua!
Place: Honoka'a's historic ILWU Jack Wayne Hall building (on the Waipi'o, makai end of Mamane Street), Honoka'a, Hamakua
Contact/info:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  , http://hawaiifarmersunion.org, or call 331-3002  

Saturday, November 14,  9 - 11 am
Event:  Hands on Vermicomposting, by Terry Mortenson & Steve Velonza  (Field Trip #4 of series)
Sponsor/Organizer:  Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation and Hawai'i County Department of Research & Development
Description:  contact Donna Mitts, below
Place: Honoka'a, Hamakua (see contact below for directions)
Cost:  Free; $140 for entire 13 classes plus 6 free field trips.
Contact:  Donna Mitts, program manager, 936-2117,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Saturday, November 14  10 am -12 noon
Event: Aston Patterning in the Garden - Effective Comfortable Movement in the Garden
Sponsor: Mala'ai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle school
Description:   Come learn from one of the country’s leading movement pioneers on how to effectively use your body and avoid or change bad habits. “Effective Comfortable Movement In The Garden” is a movement workshop intended to assist adults to move with more strength and balance in the garden.
Place: Mala'ai (email for directions) at Waimea Middle School, South Kohala
Cost: $35 -$45 -sliding scale. This is a fundraiser for the garden offered by Judith Aston  www.astonkinetics.com 
Contact:  Matilda Tompson   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.malaai.org  885-9206

Sunday, November 15, 5 pm
Event:  KCFA Annual Dinner & Benefit Auction
Sponsor:  Kona Coffee Farmers Association (KCFA)
Description:  KCFA will have its Annual Dinner and Benefit Auction as a celebratory close to the Kona Coffee Festival activities on Sunday, November 15th at the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel. Our local businesses have showed their astonishing generosity in donating to the Auction (a list of donations is on the KCFA website. The Annual Dinner is an opportunity for visitors and locals, coffee producers and coffee drinkers to get a chance to meet and talk story. And the Benefit Auction part of the evening is the KCFA’s major fundraising event of the year.
Place:  King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, Kailua-Kona, North Kona
Cost:  Tickets $37.50 are available from any Board member or on the website.
Contact:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or www.konacoffeefarmers.org 

Monday, November 16, 7 pm
Event:  Markets for Hawaiian Fruit in India
Sponsor: Hawai'i Tropical Fruit Growers Association
Description:  Ken Love will lead a discussion of different fruit markets in India, including the Crawford Market in Mumbai. He will also report on the current Ohelo Berry Project. 
Place:  At the UH Kainaliu Experiment station, Kainaliu, South Kona.
Cost:  Free
Contact:  Ken Love, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tuesday November 17,  6 - 8 pm
Event:  Storing Food in the Landscape, by Craig Elevitch (Class #10 of series) (Free Class)
Sponsor/Organizer:  Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation and Hawai'i County Department of Research & Development
Description:  In this free 2 hour presentation, Craig Elevitch will cover ways of integrating plants into home- and large-scale landscapes with the goal of producing abundant, local, and sustainable sources of food, fiber, and medicine. This talk is for gardeners, farmers, homeowners, landscapers, teachers, extension professionals--anyone interested in expanding Hawai'i community food self-reliance.
Place: NHERC, Honoka'a, makai of hospital, Hamakua 
Cost:  Free; $140 for entire 13 classes plus 6 free field trips.
Contact:  Donna Mitts, program manager, 936-2117,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Wednesday, November 18, 6 - 8:30 pm
Event: Growing in a Winter Garden, with Bonny Perata from Kona Earthly Delight Farms  (1st Class in Tropical Gardening Fall Series)
Sponsor/Organizer: Kona Outdoor Circle
Description:  Learn the ideal edible plants to grow during Hawaii's Winter
Place: KOC in Kailua-Kona on Kuakini Highway at the junction with Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, North Kona
Cost: The class is part of an 8 class series that KOC members may attend for $125 ($35 for 1 year membership). Individual classes may be taken for $30 (member price) or $45 (non-member price)  Discounts are available for early registration.
Contact:  Kona Outdoor Circle 329-7286, www.konaoutdoorcircle.org

Saturday, November 21, 9am - Noon
Event:  Xeriscape Gardening, guided tour of Pua Mau Place, North Kohala  (1st Field Trip in Tropical Gardening Fall Series)
Sponsor/Organizer: Kona Outdoor Circle
Description:  Plan for dry season by touring a stunning successful xeriscape sculpture garden and finding out what minimal maintenance plants might work in your garden.
Place: Carpool meets at KOC in Kailua-Kona on Kuakini Highway at the junction with Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, North Kona
Cost: The class is part of an 8 class series that KOC members may attend for $125 ($35 for 1 year membership). Individual classes may be taken for $30 (member price) or $45 (non-member price)  Discounts are available for early registration.
Contact:  Kona Outdoor Circle 329-7286, www.konaoutdoorcircle.org  

Saturday, November 21, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Event:  "Auwae 'Ohana La'au Lapa'au" with practitioners Jeanella and Kehaulani Keopuhiwa.
Sponsor:  Volcano Art Center
Description: Learn simple healing uses for some of Hawai'i's most common native and introduced plant species as passed down from Auwae elders to their expansive 'ohana. The Keopuhiwa's teach traditional plant identification and protocols with the Niaulani forest as the living classroom. Poultice-making activities for aiding in common ailments are also included in the workshop.
Place:  Volcano Art Center, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Puna
Cost:  $60 (financial aid available)
Contact:  967-8222, or register online,  http://www.volcanoartcenter.org/ 

Saturday, November 21, 10 - 11:30 am
Event:  Aquaponic Systems, by Friendly Aquaponics (Field Trip #4 of series)
Sponsor/Organizer:  Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation and Hawai'i County Department of Research & Development
Description:  contact Donna Mitts, below
Place:  Friendly Aquaponics, Honoka'a (see contact below for directions), Hamakua
Cost:  Free; $140 for entire 13 classes plus 6 free field trips.
Contact:  Donna Mitts, program manager, 936-2117,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tuesday November 24,  6 - 8 pm
Event:  GMO Crops -- Facts & Fiction, by Paul Achitoff, Earthjustice (Class #11 of series)
Sponsor/Organizer:  Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation and Hawai'i County Department of Research & Development
Description:  contact Donna Mitts, below
Place: NHERC, Honoka'a, makai of hospital, Hamakua 
Cost:  $12; $140 for entire 13 classes plus 6 free field trips.
Contact:  Donna Mitts, program manager, 936-2117,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Friday, November 27, 5:30 pm - 7 pm
Event:  KALO:  Issues of Genetically-Modified (GMO) Organisms:  A Panel Presentation
Sponsors: Kamehameha Investment Corporation/Kamehameha Schools, The Kohala Center, University of Hawaii at Hilo Kipuka Native Hawaiian Student Center and their Eia Hawai'i Lecture Series, and Keauhou Beach Resort.
Description:  Features Dr. William Steiner, Dean of College of Agriculture, UHH; Dr. Dennis Gonsalves, Director, Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center;  and Jerry Konanui, President of the Association for Hawaiian Awa. This presentation is part of the Puana Ka Ike (Imparting Knowledge) series, an educational forum that offers a deeper understanding of Hawaiian culture, history, tradition and perspective of the environment.
Place: Keauhou (Outrigger) Beach Resort ballroom, Kailua-Kona, North Kona
Cost:  Free
Contact:  808-534-8528, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit http://kohalacenter.org/puanakaike/about.html

Saturday November 28, 9am - Noon
Event: Pruning Practicum, with Diane Duff, KOC Education Events Advisor 
(2nd Field Trip in Tropical Gardening Fall Series)
Sponsor/Organizer: Kona Outdoor Circle
Description:  Bring your tools and learn how to sharpen and care for them before getting some hands on guidance actually pruning shrubs and trees.
Place: Carpool meets at KOC in Kailua-Kona on Kuakini Highway at the junction with Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, North Kona
Cost: The class is part of an 8 class series that KOC members may attend for $125 ($35 for 1 year membership). Individual classes may be taken for $30 (member price) or $45 (non-member price)  Discounts are available for early registration.
Contact:  Kona Outdoor Circle, 329-7286, www.konaoutdoorcircle.org

Tuesday December 1,  6 - 8 pm
Event:  Tropical Fruit Tree Management, by Dr. Francis Zee, USDA/ARS/PBARC (Class #12 of series)
Sponsor/Organizer:  Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation and Hawai'i County Department of Research & Development
Description:  contact Donna Mitts, below 
Place: NHERC, Honoka'a, makai of hospital, Hamakua
Cost:  $12; $140 for entire 13 classes plus 6 free field trips.
Contact:  Donna Mitts, program manager, 936-2117,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Wednesday, December 2, 4pm - 9pm
Event:  Botany: Sex in the Garden, with Bree DuPertuis, KOC Education Director;  and Identifying Plants, with Diana Duff, KOC Events Advisor (2nd & 3rd Classes in Tropical Gardening Fall Series)
Sponsor:  Kona Outdoor Circle
Description:  This special two-class event will also include a "Get Acquainted Pot-Luck" after the first class.
Place:  KOC in Kailua-Kona on Kuakini Highway at the junction with Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway,  North Kona.
Cost:  8-Class Series price - $125 members (membership - $35) Scholarship Available to All Plant Lovers Individual classes  - $30 members / $45 non members. Discount for early registration.
Contact:   KOC, 329-7286, www.konaoutdoorcircle.org 

Saturday, December 5, 9am - Noon
Event:  Compost and Mulch, with Recycle Hawaii and Angela Fryley
(3rd Field Trip in Tropical Gardening Fall Series)
Sponsor:  Kona Outdor Circle
Description:  Contact KOC
Place:  The Donkey Mill, Holualoa, North Kona. Carpool meets at KOC on Kuakini at the junction of Queen Ka'ahumanu, Kailua-Kona, North Kona.
Cost:  8-Class Series price - $125 members (membership - $35) Scholarship Available to All Plant Lovers Individual classes  - $30 members / $45 non members. Discount for early registration.
Contact:  KOC, 329-7286, www.konaoutdoorcircle.org         

Saturday, December 5, 9 - 11 am
Event:  Aerobically Activated Compost Tea, by Bobby Grimes & Koh Ming Wei (Field Trip #5 of series)
Sponsor/Organizer:  Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation and Hawai'i County Department of Research & Development
Description:  contact Donna Mitts, below
Place:  Pa'auilo mauka, Hamakua (see contact below for directions)
Cost:  Free; $140 for entire 13 classes plus 6 free field trips.
Contact:  Donna Mitts, program manager, 936-2117,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tuesday December 8,  6 - 8 pm
Event:  Propagating Fruit Trees, by Mike Nagao, UH CTAHR (Class #13 of series)
Sponsor/Organizer:  Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation and Hawai'i County Department of Research & Development
Description:  contact Donna Mitts, below 
Place: NHERC, Honoka'a, makai of hospital, Hamakua 
Cost:  $12; $140 for entire 13 classes plus 6 free field trips.
Contact:  Donna Mitts, program manager, 936-2117,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Wednesday, December 9, 6pm - 8:30 pm
Event:  Irrigation Design, with Garrett Webb of Leaping Bulldog Nursery (4th and final Class in Tropical Gardening Fall Series)
Sponsor:  Kona Outdoor Circle
Description:  Contact KOC
Place:  KOC in Kailua-Kona on Kuakini Highway at the junction with Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway,  North Kona.
Cost:  8-Class Series price - $125 members (membership - $35) Scholarship Available to All Plant Lovers Individual classes  - $30 members / $45 non members. Discount for early registration.
Contact:   KOC, 329-7286, www.konaoutdoorcircle.org 

Friday, December 11, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Event: Farm Community Potluck and Seed Exchange
Sponsor/Organizer: Hawai'i Farmers Union and Hamakua-North Hilo Agricultural Cooperative
Description: Seed Exchange begins at 5:30 pm; potluck dinner begins at 6:30 pm. Focus this Friday is to honor AQ McElrath, visionary ILWU activist and organizer. Home gardeners, farmers and other community members are most welcome whether you bring seeds, plants or cuttings, or just take some home!  E komo mai kakou, kokua kekahi i kekahi, aloha kekahi i kekahi. (Welcome! Help each other, love each other!) Join us in building community and growing food sovereignty.
Place: Honoka'a's historic ILWU Jack Wayne Hall building (on the Waipi'o, makai end of Mamane Street), Honoka'a, Hamakua
Contact/info:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  , http://hawaiifarmersunion.org, or call 331-3002  

Saturday, December 12, 9 am - Noon
Event:  Kona School Gardens at Innovations Charter School and Ke Kula O 'Ehunuikaimalino  (4th and last Field Trip in Tropical Gardening Fall Series).
Sponsor:  Kona Outdoor Circle
Description:  Contact KOC
Place:  Carpool meets at KOC on Kuakini at the junction of Queen Ka'ahumanu, Kailua-Kona, North Kona.
Cost:  8-Class Series price - $125 members (membership - $35) Scholarship Available to All Plant Lovers Individual classes  - $30 members / $45 non members. Discount for early registration.
Contact:   KOC, 329-7286, www.konaoutdoorcircle.org 

January 5 - 21, 2010
Event: Permaculture Design Course
Sponsor: Uluwehi Farm
Description: Since the first Permaculture Design Course in 1972, people throughout the world have brought permaculture techniques into their homes, businesses and communities. Students will gain hands on experience with small animal systems, perennial food gardens, naturalizing plant communities, and waste water management and food forestry. The experience will offer valuable skills and knowledge from a team of instructors with a broad range of experience in Hawai'i and around the world. Instructors include Nik Bertulis, Tom Baldwin, Craig Elevitch and other special guests. Students will gain an understanding of permaculture theory, knowledge of all the necessary aspects of becoming fully conversant in permaculture design, and by the end, have the ability to create a permaculture design plan. This course is for anyone interested in gaining practical skills and perspective for sustainable living and productivity.
Place: Uluwehi Farm - North Kohala, Big Island, Hawai'i
Cost: $900
Contact: Tom at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / 808.889.5035 / PO Box 910, Kapa'au, HI 96755