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Newsletter 48 - February 2013

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Aloha mai!

One of the big challenges of eating locally grown food in Hawai‘i for those of us who grew up in North America is that the crops that grow best in this environment are not necessarily the same as we were raised on. Temperate climate grains, Irish potatoes, and many vegetables are not easy to grow in tropical Hawai‘i. ‘Ulu, ‘uala, and kalo, for example, do grow well here, but we were not raised on them, so we did not develop a palate for them when growing up.

We’re inspired by the programs schools such as Kua o ka La New Century Public Charter School in Puna are developing to introduce children to growing and consuming the native foods of Hawai‘i. As this month’s article by Kua o ka La principal Susie Osborne says, “it is essential for children to experience the relationship between land, farmer, cook, and food as our ancestors did.” Another article this month introduces the culture of 'uala in North Kohala.

Since our home is Hawai‘i, it is our responsibility to cultivate our relationship with native crops and their culture. And as adults who have established food preferences elsewhere, we feel it is our responsibility to develop a renewed palate for crops that thrive in this place.

Mahalo nui loa,

Craig Elevitch and Pedro Tama
for the Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network
http://hawaiihomegrown.net
visit us on Facebook

Breadfruit tree in South Kona.


Events

Sunday, January 27, 2013, 02:00pm - 05:00pm, Hilo
Let's Grow Hilo Edible Landscaping Beautification Day

Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 02:00pm - 04:00pm, South Kona
Starting an Edible Garden

Saturday, February 02, 2013, 07:00am - 12:00pm, South Kohala
21st Birthday Waimea Homestead Farmers Market

Saturday, February 02, 2013, 08:30am - 12:30pm, North Kohala
Kohala Farm-to-Fork Tour

Saturday, February 02, 2013, 10:00am - 03:00pm, Puna
Beekeeping Bootcamp

Thursday, February 07, 2013, 09:00am, North Kona
West Hawai'i Master Gardener Monthly Meeting

Saturday, February 09, to Sunday, February 24, 2013, Puna
Permaculture Design Course: Designing For Sustainability and Food Security

Sunday, February 10, 2013, 12:00pm - 06:00pm, Hilo
5th Annual Hawai'i Reggae and Agricultural Fair

Tuesday, February 12, 2013, 06:00pm - 08:00pm, Hilo
Hilo Natural Farming Meeting

Saturday, February 16, 2013, 09:00am - 12:00pm, North Kohala
Home Gardening – Seed Saving

Monday, February 18, 2013, 07:00pm - 09:00pm, North Kona
Hawai'i Tropical Fruit Growers Meeting

Saturday, February 23, 2013, 09:00am - 02:30pm, South Kona
Grow Hawaiian Festival

Saturday, February 23, 2013, 09:00am - 11:00pm, North Kohala
Loving Local Foods – Dive In, It's Fresh!

Sunday, February 24, 2013, 02:00pm - 05:00pm, Hilo
Let's Grow Hilo Edible Landscaping Beautification Day

Thursday, February 28, To Thursday, March 28, 2013, Puna
La'akea Permaculture Winter Internship

Saturday, March 02, 2013, Puna
Second Annual Puna ‘Ulu Festival—‘Ulu a Niu

Saturday, March 02, 2013, 10:00am - 03:00pm, Puna
Beekeeping Bootcamp

Saturday, March 09, 2013, 09:00am - 12:00pm, North Kohala
All About Kalo/Taro

Sunday, March 17, 2013, 12:30pm, North Kona
Sam Choy's Keauhou Poke Contest

Saturday, March 23, 2013, 05:30pm - 10:00pm, South Kohala
Big Island Chocolate Festival

View events calendar


Reports

Learning from the 'Aina: Puna Charter School Develops Model Culinary Arts Program

By Susan Osborne | Friday, 25 January 2013

KOKLWinners-032-1Kua o ka La students celebrate their cooking contest win at the September 2012 Breadfruit Festival with their teacher Mariposa Blanco (2nd from right) and Chef Sam Choy (right). Three years ago, Kua o ka La New Century Public Charter School, (KOKL NCPCS) began the formation of an agriculture and culinary class for its middle school students. The idea was an outgrowth of our regular Friday, project-based class for middle and high school students. The class applied the students’ science and social studies learning to projects of daily life relevance and practical skills, with the added benefit of being outdoors and hands-on.


"All About 'Uala" workshop in Kohala

By Karla Heath | Friday, 25 January 2013

UluMauPuanuiworkshop"All About 'Uala (Sweetpotato)" workshop participants at Puanui.On January 19 the first workshop in the North Kohala Eat Locally Grown & Sustainable Kohala's co-sponsored Sustainable Saturdays Series took place at Puanui, one of the many narrow, leeward ahu'pua'a that make up the Kohala Dryland Field System. A group of more than 50 participants came from all parts of Kohala (and from as far as Hilo and Puna) to learn "All About 'Uala (Sweetpotato)" from Kehaulani Marshall and Ala Lindsey of Ulu Mau Puanui.


Sun's Microgreens

By Sonia R. Martinez | Friday, 25 January 2013

SunsMicrogreenshandfullFreshly harvested sprouts at Sun's Microgreens.Sunserene Quevedo is a very enterprising young woman with a mission to teach everyone she meets about the benefits of microgreens in our diets. The project started in a small way with Sunserene's love for gardening and her desire to start eating a bit healthier: she began in her bedroom with a growing tray sitting in a tin pan for drainage, a bit of soil, sunflower seeds and a spray bottle. After a few days the seeds started sprouting and before she knew it, she was clipping tender shoots and adding them to salads, wraps, and sandwiches.


Local chefs desire regional, seasonal, and artisanal products: Chef James Babian

By Hawai‘i Island Farmer’s Guide to Accessing Local Markets | Friday, 25 January 2013

XR0Y8275Chef Babian shows the local produce stored in the chill room at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.James Babian
Executive Chef, Four Seasons Resort, Hualālai at Ka‘ūpūlehu, Kailua-Kona

When Chef Babian came to Hawai‘i Island 14 years ago, he informed hotel management that his style is centered on supporting the local agricultural community through sourcing food “from the region, buying things that are in season, and using products from small artisan farmers, such as Kona coffee, goat cheese, and honey.” The concept of supporting local producers Babian feels is an ancient concept that chefs are rediscovering around the world, bringing the restaurant industry “back to the ground roots” and developing strong farm to table programs.

Continue Reading .


Farmers' Markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Visit our comprehensive directory of Hawai'i Island farmers' markets and Community Supported Agricuture.

Designing For Sustainability and Food Security, Puna

February 9th - 24th, 2013
A unique, exciting, and comprehensive permaculture design course! * Two-week intensive Permaculture Design Course (PDC) format includes complete permaculture core curriculum. * Live and learn in a land-based intentional community. * Acquire skills to achieve food security and create sustainable home systems. * Design for your property or community during the course, with professional support. * Learn underlying whole systems ecological design processes and techniques, tools and methodologies. CLICK HERE for event description.


Web Resources

This month's web site listings

Other web resources

Supporting Organizations


Sponsors

Hawai'i People's Fund and the Hawai'i Community Foundation

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Founding sponsors

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.

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Agroforestry Net

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This newsletter is published by:

Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network
PO Box 5
Holualoa, Hawaii  96725  USA
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: http://hawaiihomegrown.net

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