HFBF Organic Symposium was held at the Ag Sciences Building, UH Manoa on May 27, 2011. The featured speakers included Sylvia Yuen, the UH CTHAR Interim Dean; Russell Kokubun Hawai‘i Dept of Ag Chair; and Jim Hollyer Food Safety Coach, as well as several prominent organic growers. Puanani Burgess (Oahu conflict-transformation facilitator) provided the Keynote address, and Myrone Murakami (Hawai‘i Farm Bureau president) provided the welcome.

The Adaptations CSA operation has been farming and providing locally grown organic produce to chefs and families since 1984. Owners Tane and Maureen Datta’s operation combines produce grown on their Adaptations Farm while also acting as a distribution center for produce and fruits grown by over 100 other organic farms all around Hawai’i Island. The 7.5 acre certified organic farm at 1,500 foot elevation in Honaunau, South Kona, has been in operation for 15 years growing micro mix, edible flowers, herbs, salad greens, avocadoes and medicinal plants -- and experimenting with crops not usually seen on the island.

Church of the Pacific Po‘oku Community Garden (Part 1)

"The first thing we give away is aloha, then love, then food." John Burkhouse, Garden Coordinator

Quietly and steadily the Church of the Pacific Food Pantry, in Po‘oku, Kaua’i, fed over 8000 people last year and fed them well. Fresh basil, kale, green beans, chard, sweet potatoes, papayas and citrus are just some of the food items offered at this food pantry. It doesn’t sound like what you’d expect from a typical food pantry and, well, that’s because it’s not. The goal is to provide balanced and nutritious food for families in need.

EXTENSION-LEVEL SUPPORT FOR INCREASING FARM INCOME AND PRODUCT DIVERSITY
 
NORTH KONA, HAWAI'I -- From Bamboo to Black Pepper, Cacao to Coconut and Tea to Taro -- Specialty Crops for Pacific Islands provides detailed cultivation, value-added, and marketing information for 27 of the most important specialty crops for Pacific Islands and other tropical locations.

Kuaiwi Farm, a certified organic, diversified farm in Captain Cook, South Kona, is currently looking for two vegetable gardening interns.  The potential candidates would be folks interested in learning organic gardening from owner, Una Greenaway, a farmer w/ 34 years of gardening expertise.  Requirements: time on farm - one day per week.  Work would include 5-6 hours in gardens. Topics include; composting, turning beds, planting seeds and transplanting, weeding, mulching and harvesting.  In return the intern would gain valuable gardening knowledge specific to our mauka South Kona microclimate, and also go home with an assortment of vegetables and fruits.  Some reading and memorization of handouts would be required. This is not a live-in position.  preferred commitment 6 months. Please call Una at 328-8888 to apply.