Author: bigwave

October 24, 2020 Agriculture Grants, General Ag News and Notes, Webinar Post a Comment

State to receive fed funds for small-scale ag

By The Garden Island

HONOLULU – The State of Hawai‘i has been awarded $1.9 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase the quality and quantity of locally grown foods in food-insecure communities that import a significant amount of food. The funds will provide grants to qualifying communities over a three-year period.

“This grant program will help support small-scale farming, ranching and agricultural operations so farmers can increase food production in their communities,” said Gov. Ige. “If we can boost food production in more remote areas where there is a greater need, Hawai‘i agriculture and entire communities will be strengthened.”

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) applied for the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program in August 2020 and was awarded a total of $1,938,556.80. The award was announced yesterday.

The grant program is not connected to the CARES Act and was established under the 2018 Farm Bill to provide support for small-scale gardening, herding and livestock operations to help produce food in areas that are food insecure.

In applying for the USDA grant, HDOA used data from the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to demonstrate the need in each county. The total grant amount will be distributed accordingly, to each county.

Those eligible for the grants include Hawai‘i-based individuals and organizations, commodity associations, agricultural cooperatives, producer groups, and other non-profit organizations related to agriculture.

Individuals (farmers, ranchers, producers, home gardeners, hunters) may apply for a maximum $5,000 per year for a maximum three years.

Organizations – Maximum $10,000 per year for a maximum of three years and must provide a 10 percent cash match.

A statewide Request for Proposals (RFP) will be issued in early November 2020 and posted on the Hawai‘i State Procurement website. A panel in each county will be appointed to review and approve eligible proposals.

Examples of the types of activities that may be funded under this grant include:

Small-Scale Gardening – purchase tools or equipment, soil, seeds, plants, canning equipment, refrigeration, composting equipment, towers, hydroponic and aeroponic farming.

Small-Scale Herding and Livestock Operations – purchase animals, buy, erect or repair fencing for livestock, activities or supplies associated with setting up or equipping a slaughter and processing facility, including purchasing mobile slaughterhouses.

Expanding Access to Food and Knowledge of Food Security – create or expand avenues for the sale of food commodities – includes paying for shipping of purchased items related to growing or raising food for local consumption.

HDOA’s Market Development Branch will be scheduling webinars in the near future to guide interested parties through the application process. The webinar schedule will be posted at: http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/add/md/

October 24, 2020 Gardening, General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Educating farmers

West Hawaii Today
Diana Duff

Getting the latest information about natural and sustainable farming practices and specific techniques can be challenging during our current shut down.

Following up on a lead from a friend, I contacted Alex Dant at Kalakupua Farm to find out what he was doing that other farmers or gardeners might find interesting. Alex is in the process of transforming a traditional coffee farm that has been in his family for more than 30 years into a more sustainable operation.

His parents purchased an 8-acre Kamehameha Schools lease in 1988. They were growing coffee and fruit largely to supply Fairwinds, their tour boat business.

Alex’s parents moved off the farm about a year ago and Alex and his family are on the farm now taking advantage of the lull in tourism to focus full time on making the farm less chemical dependent and more crop diverse. His goal is to become a naturally sustainable organic farmer.

Alex was initially inspired to farm more sustainably after reading “The One Straw Revolution” by Masanobu Fukuoka. Fukuoka promotes a farming methodology that requires imitating nature by not tilling the soil and allowing for natural fertilization and pest prevention of your crops. The natural farming methods that he describes as “do nothing farming” appealed to Alex.

To get there Alex knew he needed to do a few things, however. He soon began seeking local information on adapting Fukuoka’s natural methodology to Hawaii

He describes his process saying, “We are going a quarter-acre at a time, planting a diversity of crops and learning to create our own fertility and pest control on site.”

Early in his search for information, he came across the Institute of Natural Farming that was teaching Korean Natural Farming methods. He started taking workshops through the Institute and met the founder, Logan Silsley.

Logan had recently completed his certification as a Korean Natural Farming teacher and was anxious to share KNF techniques with Kona farmers. He began running workshops in 2017. He soon formed the Haile Selassie Institute of Natural Farming and Higher Education offering memberships to local farmers dedicated to learning ways to farm and live more sustainably.

Logan was also inspired by Fukuoka’s book and it became required reading for members of his institute. Beyond farming naturally, Logan found that he agreed with many of Fukuoka’s beliefs. He quoted Fukuoka as the basis of his work with farmers. “The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings,”

Through the Institute, Logan hopes to encourage natural farming as part of a lifestyle that considers and involves life beyond the farm including extended families and the community.

As a practicing Rastafarian, Logan also reveres the work and beliefs of the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie and shares the Rasta belief that “agriculture is a sacred task.” That belief inspired him to honor Selassie when naming his institute.

Today, the Institute of Natural Farming has adapted its programs to adhere to Hawaii’s current social distancing guidelines. It offers free videos of previous workshops as well as fee-based ongoing workshops with limited enrollment for farmers and farm workers. Videos of previous workshops are available on the Institute of Natural Farming youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnf4_VR1AhyEn24JYQrv2eg.

Workshop topics still include Korean Natural Farming practices as well as, Permaculture design, crop diversity, no-till farming and on site soil improvement. Worm composting and compost tea making are often included in the workshops as well. Certified practitioners in their field teach all of the workshops.

When I asked Alex what he had learned through his membership at the Institute of Natural Farming, he was quick to respond. “The Institute has helped me learn new ways to recycle farm and kitchen waste through various composting methods as well as ways to create super soil amendments and effective pesticides using on-farm inputs.”

As part of his study of Korean Natural Farming, Alex collected indigenous microorganisms from a forest floor near him. These often appear as white mycelium growing under the forest leaf litter. He uses these to inoculate a cooked starch like rice and grow out more IMOs. From his mycelium reproduction, he is able to grow a collection of on-farm IMOs that are the basis for creating fertility and pest control for the farm. More information on the creation and use of IMOs can be found at some excellent on line you tube videos, including those offered by the Institute of Natural Farming.

Alex is delighted with his new knowledge. These are all major steps toward his goal of farming naturally and organically while creating a sustainable lifestyle for his family.

To learn more about the Institute’s current offerings and take advantage of the agricultural education it offers, go to their website at www.instituteofnaturalfarming.com or contact them by calling their office at (808)333-2177 or sending them an e-mail at esotericfarming777@gmail.com.

You can also go to their website and sign up to hear from them about upcoming trainings, courses, seminars and farm tours. Logan also invites interested parties to stop by the Institute of Natural Farming during normal business hours at 81-6372 Hawaii Belt Road in Kealakekua.

If you are interesting in expanding your knowledge of natural and sustainable farming practices for Hawaii, do check out the Institute of Natural Farming.

Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living part time in Kailua-Kona.

Gardening Events

Every Saturday: “Work Day at Amy Greenwell Garden” from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Garden Visitor Center across from the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Come with a mask and be prepared to practice social distancing. Volunteers can help with garden maintenance and are invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Water and snacks provided. Call Peter at 323-3318 for more information.

Farmer Direct Markets – check websites for the latest hours and online markets

Wednesday: “Ho’oulu Farmers Market” at Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay

Saturday: “Keauhou Farmers Market” 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center

Information on their online market at keauhoufarmersmarket.com/onlinemarket

“Kamuela Farmer’s Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables

“Waimea Town Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Parker School in central Waimea

“Waimea Homestead Farmers Market” from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Waimea middle and elementary school playground

Sunday: “Pure Kona Green Market” 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook

“Hamakua Harvest” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hwy 19 and Mamane Street in Honoka’a

Plant Advice Lines

(Check for updates on hours of operation) Anytime: konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu – 322-4892

Mon., Tues. & Fri: 9 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Komohana in Hilo 981-5199 or himga@hawaii.edu

October 23, 2020 General Ag News and Notes, Stock Market Post a Comment

The Fed: 39 US States Saw Their Economies Strengthen in September

HEFFX
By Paul Ebeling

In September the output strengthened in 39 US states up from August with some of the best gainers concentrated in northeastern territories including Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey, a Fed proxy showed.

Readings weakened in 8 states, with the steepest fall in tourism-dependent Hawaii, and remained stable in 3 as Q-3 closed, according to the Philadelphia Fed’s State Coincident Indexes report released Friday.

Longer term, several states have almost fully rebounded back to their pre-Covid-19 marks. Nebraska, Utah and Missouri came back in September to within 1% of their February readings, while Georgia, Kentucky, Montana and Oklahoma were less than 2 pts away.

The indexes combine 4 state-level indicators: payroll employment, manufacturing hrs worked, the jobless rate, and wages paid to summarize current economic conditions.

Over the past 3 months, the Fed’s national index has increased by 2.3% as 48 states showed improvement and just 2 saw declines: Hawaii and New Mexico.

Friday, the benchmark US stock market indexes finished at: DJIA -28.09 at 28335.51, NAS Comp +42.28 at 11548.21, S&P 500 +11.90 at 3465.39

Volume: Trade on the NYSE came in light at 722-M shares exchanged

HeffX-LTN’s overall technical analysis for the major US stock market indexes for the week ended 23 October 2020 is Bullish with a Very Bullish bias.

NAS Comp +28.7% YTD
S&P 500 +7.3% YTD
DJIA -0.7% YTD
Russell 2000 -1.7% YTD
Looking Ahead: Investors will receive New Home Sales for September Monday.

Have a healthy weekend, Keep the Faith!

October 21, 2020 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Kula Country Farms hosts annual pumpkin patch festival despite pandemic’s challenges

KHON2
by: Kristy Tamashiro

Hundreds of pumpkins, views for days and family fun. Kula Country Farms is giving Maui residents something to look forward to this fall.

The pumpkin patch festival has been a fan favorite for 15 years.

This year, the Coronavirus pandemic has brought on a much different event, but the fourth generation farm is implementing safety measures in order to keep the tradition going.

“They’re going to get temperature checked, they’re going to be social distanced in here,” said Chauncy Monden, Owner of Kula Country Farms. “They’re going to be asked to minimize their time in the patch to about 15 minutes so other families can get in there and enjoy.”

Take a stroll through the 80 acre property and guests will find pumpkins of all shapes and sizes.

“We have about 20 different varieties of pumpkins and we got some goodies like strawberry lemonade and strawberries that we grow on the farm.”

Kula Country Farms says, like many other farms, it’s been a tough year. They’re depending on their pumpkin patch festival to give them a boost in the right direction.

This year’s pumpkin patch means much more to the family farm than any other event.

“It’s really rewarding for us, because I know a lot of people have been cooped up in their houses with nothing to do. So just to have them come up here and just get this fresh air and get out of their houses and the concrete and be able to get some dirt on them is rewarding.”

To support Kula Country Farms, check out their fruit stand year-round.

Their produce are also in stores like Whole Foods, Times Supermarket, Foodland and Costco.

To learn more about Kula Country Farms, click here.

October 21, 2020 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Azeka Shopping Center Hosting Virtual Pumpkin Carving and Painting Contest

Maui Now

It is the Spooky Season at Azeka Shopping Center. But due to the ongoing safety concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kihei shopping center is celebrating Halloween virtually with an Azeka Pumpkin Carving & Painting Contest.

Families who are carving and designing pumpkins for Halloween are invited to submit a photo of their creation by using the hashtag #AzekaPumpkinParty in the Facebook or Instagram caption and tagging @azekamaui. The contest runs Oct. 24-31.

Entries are open to all families and all ages with a chance to win $50 in “Azeka Gift Card Bucks,” as well as garnering bragging rights.

Winners will be chosen for two prize categories: “Spookiest Pumpkin” and “Most Creative Pumpkin.”

The keiki can create their own masterpieces by painting a miniature pumpkin. Please ensure your profile page privacy is set to public in order to enter the contest. More information can be found by calling 808-879-5000, visiting www.azekashoppingcenter.com or on social media at @azekamaui.

October 21, 2020 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Waimanalo Country Farms 2020 Drive Thru Pumpkin Patch

Waimanalo Country Farms Home

This Year Will Look A Lot Different Than In The Past, But We Have Been Working Really Hard To Make Sure We Can Provide A Safe And Fun Experience For Everyone. Reservations Are Required.
Open Everyday From October 17Th Through October 31St!

First Car In At 9Am, Last Car In At 4Pm.

A leisurely drive around our farm with beautiful mountain and ocean views! Includes a cup of your choice from our famous beverages, a unique pumpkin patch experience with various photo prop ops, drive by farm animal visit, a scarecrow contest display, and additionally you may be able to sneak a peek at our sunflowers (they are growing right now, should start blooming late October). This option is an in-vehicle only option. You will not be exiting your vehicle, except for a few optional stops where you will pull off the path so you can pick your own pumpkin in the fields and snap your photos at the photo ops. (We ask that you are mindful of others around you and ask that you quickly take your photos and move on). Thank you for understanding. (Please note that there is a 9 1/2 foot vehicle height clearance.)

***PUMPKINS ARE NOT INCLUDED WITH YOUR DRIVE THRU FEE***

Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in. It is very important that you arrive ON TIME so you do not miss your start time. Due to the current pandemic we are limited to only a certain amount of people per start time.

Check in at the Farm check-in stand, and a friendly employee will check you in and direct you on where to start! Afterwards follow the exit signs directing you to the Drive-Thru Country Market Stand to purchase other farm fresh, Waimanalo Country Farms items.

You will have a total of 20 minutes in the pumpkin patch itself. This will give you time to pick and purchase your pumpkin(s) as well as utilizing the photo ops. When the horn sounds, you will have to exit the patch and finish the rest of the drive thru course around the farm. (Please note that we must set a time restriction on how long you occupy the actually pumpkin patch to follow guidelines and government rules on social distancing).

Rules:

Please bring your own masks. All persons 3 years and over are required to wear a mask when visiting Waimanalo Country Farms. Masks are required, whenever interacting with a farm employee. This includes those in vehicles using the Farm Check-in Stand, Drive-Thru Market Stand and those exiting their vehicles for pumpkin picking and photo op usage.

Social Distancing rules apply. Please keep 6′ away from other guests.

No eating while in the field.

While driving through the neighboring subdivision, please drive SLOW and be mindful of our neighbors.

Speed limit while on the farm is not more than 4MPH.

If you touch it, please pick it. Please look carefully before you pick.

Additional Covid-19 Steps We are Taking to Ensure a Safe Visit:

Currently with the government mandate, not more than 5 persons within a group are able to be together (if you have more than 5 same household members present, you are able to participate in the drive thru pumpkin patch but not permitted to exit the car (at the time of pumpkin picking) with more than 5 people at a time; see reservations page for instructions for booking).

In keeping with CDC guidelines, and for the safety of our employees, we ask that you please wear a cloth face covering, or mask, when visiting the farm. Our team will also be wearing masks to protect you.

Disclaimer: In the event of bad weather, unforeseen crop loss, new regulations due to Covid-19, or in any event we have to cancel, we will send you an email and refund your money as soon as possible.

NOTE: All persons 3 years and above are required to pay in order to participate. Children 2 years and under are FREE but do not receive any items.

*Following strict social distancing rules will allow us to continue to offer these events. Please only arrange to pick with immediate members of your household to protect all participants and employees. This is NOT a social gathering and we will enforce strict social distancing protocols.

*Upon completing your reservation, you are agreeing to these rules, regulations, and terms stated above. If you are unable to follow these rules, regulations, and terms, you will be asked to leave immediately without a refund.