Our ag program at Honokaa HS would like to start an orchard production component of our program. Please contact me let me know if you can assist in getting some donation of fruit trees. Thanks, Manuel Jadulang, Honokaa HS Ag Teacher, http://www.kohalacenter.org/HISGN/honokaa.html. 775-8800, ext. 289.

Waimea, known for ranching and farming, is an upland community poised on the saddle between the Kohala Mountains to the north and Mauna Kea to the south. Wind is a constant companion in the Waimea area, but rainfall, elevation and soils are quite varied.On Saturday May 18, Māla'ai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School hosted "Home Garden Tour of Waimea from the Wet Side to the Dry Side." The aim was to show people good examples of the diverse ways we can grow food in our home gardens in the distinctly different environments around Waimea. Our group met up at the Waimea Middle School garden and got examples of critical factors to look for in any garden. Folks on the tour were encouraged to look for several things besides elevation and annual rainfall, including inherent strengths and challenges at each site, as well as soil fertility strategies and how much care each garden requires on a daily basis. We then visited three gardens, examples of interspecies systems, intensive food growing, and permaculture techniques for gardening on very dry land.

The original "The Plant Doctor" app for Android devices and iPhone is available for free download.

Download it at iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/app/the-plant-doctor/id349613537?mt=8
Download it at the Google store (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.adelante.theplantdoctor

This popular app allows users to take photographs of sick plants anywhere in the world; enter descriptive text information about the problem; and request a free diagnosis of the problem and effective management recommendations. The diagnoses and recommendations are provided at no cost to users by e-mail from Dr. Scot Nelson at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

CTAHR and the Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council have just published a basic guidebook for starting or improving your small farm business.  Called the Hawai'i Agribusiness Guidebook, it provides an overview of fundamental tasks for small farm businesses, especially in the area of finances, marketing and regulations.  For a free downloadable copy of the 94- page guidebook, Click Here.