Newsletter 27 - May 2011
Aloha!Last week our subscriber list grew past 1,000 subscribers. We're very pleased with the slow and steady growth of the Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network.
Enjoy eating local & sustainable! Mahalo nui loa, Craig Elevitch and Pedro Tama EventsEvery Thursday, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm, Hilo Every Friday, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm, Hilo Tuesday, April 26 & Wed, April 27, 2011, 08:30am - 03:45pm, North Kona Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 05:00pm - 06:00pm, North Kona Saturday, April 30, 2011, 10:00am, North Kona Saturday, April 30, 2011, 10:30am - 12:00pm, South Kohala Saturday, April 30, 2011, 01:00pm - 06:00pm, Hilo Wednesday, May 04, 2011, 03:30am - 05:00pm, South Kona Saturday, May 07, 2011, 09:00am - 12:00pm, South Kona Sunday, May 08, 2011, 09:00am - 02:00pm, North Kona Tuesday, May 10, 2011, 06:00pm - 08:00pm, Hilo Sunday, May 15, 2011, 01:00pm - 03:00pm, Puna Monday, May 16, 2011, 07:00pm - 09:00pm, North Kona Saturday, May 28, 2011, 10:00am, North Kona Wednesday, June 01, 2011, 03:30am - 05:00pm, South Kona Saturday, July 30, 2011, 10:00am - 05:00pm, North Kona Monday, September 12 -- Thursday, September 15, 201, South Kohala Saturday, September 24, 2011, South Kona Friday, September 30, 2011, South Kohala Saturday, October 29, 2011, 09:00am - 03:00pm, Hamakua
View events calendarReportsWritten by Tane Datta | 26 April 2011 
"Everything is connected...The solution to these problems can be found in your gardens and the plates you fill with the food you grow." (photo from Mala`ai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School)
A talk given by Tane Datta on March 26, 2011, at the first Localvore Dinner at the Keauhou Beach Resort, sponsored by the Kona County Farm Bureau. FreedomThere just may be a connection between the thousands of people in almost every Middle Eastern country willing to die for freedom and self-determination, and the localvore movement in Hawai’i and other parts of the country. The obvious connection is that our demand for oil has greatly contributed to the strength of oil tyrants of all political ideologies. The production and transportation of food create a significant portion of our oil demand. Our food system accounts for over 15% of our total energy use. To put this in perspective, on the mainland each person uses the energy equivalent of 400 gal of gasoline a year for the food they eat. It has got to be much more to get food to Hawai’i. Written by Colleen Carroll | 27 April 2011 
"Grow Your Food, Grow Your Future"
Sylvia Partridge moved to Kaua`i eight years ago, and is best known for her musical talents with two CDs out–Heaven is Waiting and Walking Home. She joined the Kilauea Community Garden to learn the answer to her question, “Where does my food come from?” Sylvia, like many of us, has easily navigated through the food pyramid, creating hundreds of meals, while maintaining a distance from the origins of the food on her plate. Today she has set about changing that. By immersing herself in the soil of Kauai’s north shore she is learning to distinguish between the weeds and the small papaya plants that she hopes will soon be lining her breakfast table with their fruit. One of Sylvia’s greatest pleasures is spending time with the other gardeners. “They are inspirational. They come here with a deep seated passion for the garden, the plants, and the land.” Written by Sonia Martinez | 26 April 2011 
Mid-Week Market at Anna Ranch, Waimea.
The Mid-Week Market at Anna Ranch opened in mid January of this year and it has already become a destination as well as a landmark. Located on the grounds of Anna Ranch in Waimea, in just a couple of months the market has almost filled to capacity. Vendors are selling locally-grown fresh produce, coffee, fresh baked bread, refreshing fruitsicles; Peruvian tamales and made-on-the-spot French style crepes from Le Magic Crepe Pan with fillings of your choice; Nancy Botticelli is offering beautiful handmade cards, another vendor has colorful homemade aprons in several styles as well as locally produced honey; and ‘The Orchid People’, Jennifer Snyder & Bob Harris, have a beautiful display of their blooming plants. Written by Virginia Easton Smith, Shawn Steiman, and Craig Elevitch | 27 April 2011 
Shade grown Kona coffee berries.
The coffee seed, referred to as “bean,” is processed, roasted and brewed for beverages. The roasted beans and brewed coffee are also used in candies, desserts and savory dishes. Many uses for the fruit, seed, and by-products can be found. The fruit pulp can be dried and used to make tea, which contains caffeine and antioxidants. The fruit pulp is high in nitrogen and potassium and is used, fresh or composted, for fertilizer and to add organic matter to the soil. The parchment skins also add organic matter and are used as mulch in coffee orchards and around other plants. AnnouncementsMala'ai School Garden Students Grow Herbs for New Iced TeaWhen chef/owner Edwin Goto opened Village Burger Waimea a year ago, he staked his culinary reputation on a personal belief that the most delicious, wholesome foods are grown close to home. His tiny fresh-from-scratch restaurant boasts a “low mileage” menu and even posts the miles to the farms and ranches that provide fresh hormone-free beef, locally caught fish, lettuces, tomatoes, mushrooms, strawberries, breads, and more. His newest addition – an April special – is Mala’ai “Simply Herbs” Iced Tea, made from Moroccan mint, Hawaiian Mamaki, lemongrass and Mexican tarragon that were cultivated at Mala’ai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School. Sixth, seventh and eighth grade WMS students grow the herbs at Mala’ai, a ¾-acre organic garden and outdoor living classroom where core curriculum is integrated with environmental and cultural stewardship, nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices. Mala’ai is, literally, 450 steps away from Village Burger Waimea so it was a natural fit for Chef Goto to support the not-for-profit’s educational program by contributing all proceeds from the sale of “Simply Herbs” Ice Tea to Mala’ai throughout April. 
Cindy Walsh of Kona Ulu nursery in her 7-year-old orchard of 'Ma'afala' breadfruit trees.
Breadfruit trees will be available in quantity from Honaunau nursery Kona Ulu starting the middle of June. The variety of the trees is 'Ma'afala', a Samoan favorite that grows shorter and broader than the Hawaiian variety. At the nursery location in Honaunau, 'Ma'afala' has a track record of producing high-quality fruit for up to 9 months out of the year. Kona Ulu's breadfruit trees will also be available for purchase at the Breadfruit Festival on September 24, 2011. Field-ready trees in one gallon pots sell for $35.00. Email Cindy Walsh at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to order trees or visit Cindy at the Green Market in South Kona in June. A percentage of proceeds goes to the Ho'oulu ka 'Ulu - Revitalizing Breadfruit project. Call Steve, 756-7945
Kassie and Mark Rogers in Waimea have several yearling sheep and a 28 month old healthy cow for meat, along with some young sheep and a milking goat, and will soon have eggs. To contact them, call 927-4068 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ohia Fields Spring CSA SeasonOhia Fields Farm in Ahualoa has a few shares remaining for their Spring Season CSA, which begins April 15th - twelve weeks of fresh vegetables and other goodies (including chicken and lamb with the "deluxe" selection) plus a newsletter with recipes delivered to your door in most locations. They deliver to Waikoloa, Waimea and Honoka'a and all the way down to Hilo, where they have a pick-up point. Call 430-3847 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information and the options available, or join them on facebook (search "Ohia Fields Farm") to see what they're up to.Send your local and sustainable food announcements to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Other announcementsFarmers' markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)Please visit our comprehensive page dedicated to Hawai'i Island farmers' markets and Community Supported Agricuture.
Web ResourcesNew web site listings
Other web resourcesSupporting OrganizationsSponsorsHawai'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.
 Hawai'i People's Fund and the Hawai'i Community Foundation  Agroforestry Net  New subscribers: Subscriptions to this newsletter are free and welcome from the general public. You can unsubscribe at any time. We will not share your name with anyone without your prior permission. Click here to subscribe This newsletter is published by:Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network |
