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Newsletter 56 - October 2013

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Aloha!

The GMO debate continues in the Hawai‘i County Council. You’re encouraged to read the report below to help you do your homework about that debate, and make your voice known.

In addition, we present a feature about a local farm’s experience with WWOOFers, who can add significant value to many of our local, sustainable food growers, and another feature about the Taro Patch Farm, which grows a remarkable diversity of food crops on a relatively small “patch” of ground. Finally we continue our marketing profile series with an article about Hawaiian Chip Company.

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Welcoming WWOOFers to Your Farm

WoofersTaylorandHeidiTaylor and Heidi washing taro and sweet potatoes - and having a bit of fun with it, as usual!We are feeling extra productive and on top of our chores these days and the reason is that we have HELP! For the last month we have had our first real experience with WWOOF, that is, Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (also known as Willing Workers on Organic Farms).

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Farm Bill Conservation Benefits for Underserved Farmers: Hilo workshop

A PUBLIC WORKSHOP FOR THE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED FARMERS, RANCHERS AND LANDOWNERS, PROVIDED BY THEUSDA NRCS, NARC&DC, & HSARCDA:
October 28, 2013, 8:30 a.m. to 3;30 p.m., Hilo
 
The purpose of this workshop is to increase the USDA, Natural Resource ConservationService's (NRCS) outreach to historically underserved farmers and landowners in Hawaii. This includes ensuring that underserved farmers and landowners have access to and understand the
conservation benefits derived from participation in NRCS Conservation Easement, Stewardship,Environmental Quality Incentives (EQIP) and Agricultural Water Enhancement (AWE) programs provided through the 2008 Farm Bill.
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Farmer Feature: Taro Patch Farm

TaroPatchFarmEdieTony1Edith 'Edie' Bikie and Tony Dela Cruz of Taro Patch FarmWedged between the road from Honoka'a to Waipio Valley in front, and the Hamakua Ditch in back, Taro Patch Farm is one busy little farm.

Edith (Edie) Bikle started her first garden when she was 15 years old and has been farming one way or another ever since. She bought the present 1,000 foot elevation 1½ acre property 7 years ago and immediately started adding an edible garden and fruit trees to the already established macadamia tree orchard.

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Innovative local chips by Hawaiian Chip Company

CI0A9212-EditJimmy Chan of Hawaiian Chip Company at his made-to-order chip outlet in Kalihi.Jimmy Chan went into business after graduating from college in 2000. After two important learning experiences with businesses that did not take off, Chan found success in his chip company, which is now 20 employees strong with distribution throughout Hawai‘i. As his business grew, he found that focusing on product quality was the key to success in selling to bigger and better accounts. Every new account challenged him to continue maintaining quality, while a track record of high quality led to additional accounts.

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