"Mottainai - don't waste what Nature gives you..."

MOTTAINAI, don't waste what Nature gives you is a saying I can get behind. 

If there is one thing I hate to do, it's throw away anything that can be reused.

Reduce

Re-Use

Recycle

With that in mind, here is a video with music and lyrics by

NOBUKO

Introduction To Aquaponics on Maui

Glenn Martinez, owner of Olomana Gardens on Oahu and Lokelani 'Ohana a non profit organization on Maui, will be holding an Introduction to Aquaponics workshop on Maui.


The workshop will be held on December 10, 2011 from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm. The cost for the class is $100. The workshop will be held at the Lokelani'Ohana Farm, 2315 Kahekili Hwy, Waihe'e, Maui 96793.  
Contact Natalie Cash at 808-551-8442 to sign up for the class.


What's Good About Aquaponics?

Recycles water and nutrients environmental friendly.

Uses 90% less water than ground crops.

Eliminates chemicals and pesticides.

Eliminates soil-bourne diseases.

Is a sustainable source of fish and vegetables at your back door.

Is a family activity that promotes healthy eating and helps to stretch food budgets.

Provides a great way to teach children how to grow food and care for living things.

Vegetables can be organic from day one, instead of waiting several years to certify land where herbicides, pesticides and non-organic fertilizers have been used.

Fish can be organic if natural feeds like soldier fly larvae or azolla are used as feed.
Can be scaled up to a small or large profitable, production.

Glenn Martinez is the creative impulse and owner of Olomana Gardens on Oahu, a
five-acre permaculture wonder that has received many honors. Mr. Martinez is the
President of the Hawaii Farmers Union and is legislatively active in insuring the
livelihood of farmers in our State. He is a recognized teacher of permaculture and
aquaponics throughout the entire Pacific Rim. 

Olomana Gardens, 41-1140 Waikupanaha St. Waimanalo, HI 96795, 808-259-0223 www.olomanagardens.com

Lokelani 'Ohana is a non profit organization running programs in organic gardening, weaving/ creative arts and housing for people with developmental disabilities. Our goal is to expand our services in providing safe, loving, fulfilling homes and programs. 

We are located at 2315 Kahekili Highway, Waihe'e, Maui 96793, 808-249-0254, www.lokelaniohana.org

LOKELANI OHANA FROM MAUI TO YOU from Tony Leone on Vimeo.

Occupy WallStreet and then OccupyFarms again

Taking back the economy from the banks to the communities requires understanding the past and how the banks and corporations managed to own the farm lands.

Maui Farmers Union United October Meeting Agenda

Here is the agenda for the October Hawaii Farmers Union United Meeting.

This Tuesday we have a very special guest attending who will speak to the "Future Prosperity of Hawaii....."

Make it a point to be on time for this presentation at 6:45.....with Q&A

Dinner will be at 6:30 sharp.

Maui Farmers Union United Meeting

Tavares Center Pool Room Oct. 25, 2011

Tuesday nite doors open 6:00pm

Dinner opening circle 6:30 pm sharp

LocaVore Potluck & Produce Swap

Share your Maui Abundance for dinner...

Bring something you grew and go home with someone else's produce...

Great Business donations to go home with from DTE, Hawaiian Moons, Whole Foods, Mana Foods, Maui Bio-Char, Greenleaf Farm.

(If you have a business that wants to donate a prize to the cause please contact Melissa at) windspiritm@mac.com

Meeting Agenda

6:30pm-7:00pm- LocaVore Potluck Great Meal!!! Be creative and

add to the abundance, your the event!!!

"Its all about growing, sharing and being nourished by our food"

6:45pm-7:00pm Special Guest- Future prosperity of Hawaii
7:00pm-7:10pm Chefs Corner-Suki Bergeron-Squash in season

7:10pm-7:20pm Produce Scoop-Ryan Eareheart - Mana Foods

7:20pm-7:30pm Astronomy in Agriculture- HarrietteWitt-

www.passengerplanet.com/

7:30pm-7:45pm MFU Website Update- Lehua VanderVelde

http://mauifarmersunionunited.weebly.com/

7:45pm-8:00pm Education- Greg Hopkins- Making Compost

8:00pm-8:30pm Member Input- Share Ideas & Direction

8:30-pm-9:00pm Member Network/Meeting Pau

PRODUCE SWAP:

Bring your home grown farm produce, seeds or plant starts to share and swap with others.

"Remember its all about celebrating our communities food"

MauiPonics Experiments in Aquaculture

While my MauiPonics version of Aquaponics may not feed the world, or even a family, the on-going knowledge is great. 

It is also interesting and the sound of the water cycling, quite soothing.

 Still trying to figure out the whole nutrient issue, but at about 15 inches, this cucumber was a surprise to me.

I never really let lettuce go to seed before and I would not have recognized my lettuce gone to seed (by the cucumber above) as the one I got from an aquaponics workshop below. I did get a few dollars worth of my own seed out of it.

Various experiments going on with plants, fish, ebb & flow systems using water and air pumping.

Maui Farmers Union United September Meeting

Maui Farmers Union United Meeting (Advocating for the rights of our small farmers)

Tavares Center Pool Room Sept. 27th

Tuesday nite doors open 6:00pm

Dinner 6:30 pm

Our State President and NFU facilitator will be present.

The Maui Farmers Union United meetings are a LocaVore Potluck & Produce Swap

Share the Maui Abundance of what you prepare and grow!!!

Sign up for membership and get a free meal* tonight!

$15-Individual Non Voting Member

$30- Individual Voting Member

$75- Ohana Membership up to 4 Voting Members 

*Normally there is a $10 charge for non members and $5 for members if unable to bring food and want to eat. It's potluck, so bring a dish to the meetings and you eat like royalty for free. Where else can you get a huge variety of locally grown and produced foods, prepared with the love and passion that Maui's farmer's, gardeners and people put into these meals. It's all about the food, so while you can pay, sharing your food with neighbors is always so much better. 

Please bring a locavore dish exhibiting to our mainland guest on how we value our locally grown food.

Helping the Maui Farmers Union United through their generous and consistent giving back to Maui are the following merchants and people. Support them when ever you can. 

Support the Maui Farmers Union United tonight and you may go home with some of the following goodies: 

Gift cards from DTE & Hawaiian Moons

Basket of local produce. Mana Foods, Whole Foods!

Basket of produce from Greenleaf Farm Marta & Bill

Feather Meal- Crop Production Service

Bio Char- Maui Bio Char

Large Jackfruit- Whispering Winds Bamboo

This is a trash free event please bring your own eating and drinking vessels.

Meeting Agenda
6:30pm-7:00pm- LocaVore Potluck Great meals!!! Be creative and

add to the abundance,your the event!!!

"Its all about growing, sharing and being nourished by our food"

6:45pm-7:00pm Evening Agenda-Vincent Mina - www.MauiGrown.com
7:00pm-7:10pm Chefs Corner-Chef Jason Skandunas - Maui MacroBiotics-(Jan. 2011 article on MauiTime)

7:10pm-7:20pm Produce Scoop-Ryan Eareheart - Mana Foods

7:20pm-7:30pm Astronomy in Agriculture- HarrietteWitt -

www.passengerplanet.com/

7:30pm-7:45pm Education- Jenna Tallman - Making Bokashi

7:45pm-8:00pm State of the State HFU - State Board of Directors

Report on our Strategic Planning session on Kauai

8:00pm-8:10pm MFU Website- Lehua VanderVelde

http://mauifarmersunionunited.weebly.com/

8:10pm-8:40pm Member Breakout Groups - Legislation, Education

and Cooperation.

8:40-9pm Meeting Pau

PRODUCE SWAP:

Bring your home grown farm produce, seeds or plant starts to share and swap with others.

"Remember its all about celebrating our communities food"

I thought this presentation by Charlie Price on aquaponics was a good place to start this page. He runs through all the aspects and thoughts around an aquaponics system.

Water, Cool Clear Water.

I was reminded of the song from a commercial or Disney show or something that the words were "Water, cool clean water". With a meeting that the DLNR is holding tomorrow to take input on a company that wants to take water from wells on it's Wailea property and ship some to Japan or at least off Maui, I tend to wonder why Maui doesn't ever seem to have a plan that is comprehensive and looks at all the angles.
Issues about having water for Mauians is one thing, but the issues extend into the depletion of the aquifer and the infiltration of the brackish salt water. This process could destroy a system that has taken lifetimes to achieve in nature.
In addition, we have only a few wetlands left that are part of the natural water filtration systems that make water available to Maui.
Granted not all of them are as obvious as the rain forest, but marshlands like Kealia Pond, Waihee, the areas behind Longs in Kihei, Olomalu, what was once Lahaina and Kanaha pond are examples that have been disturbed, destroyed and have further plans under way to alter.
The Kanaha Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area under the national wildlife protection. For some reason a medical building seem to be a good choice to build in an industrial tsunami zone that would require the removal and disturbing of the Kanaha Wetlands, but they plan to put work into the Waihee wetlands to make up for it.
That doesn't seem right to take one away for any reason.

I spent time documenting the water run-off canals from their beginning in the Kahului industrial park, all the way to the edge of Kanaha Pond and on into the ocean.
Combinations of various tilapia, mosquito fish and a lot of snails abound. Today I even caught a foot long algae eater that obviously was released from someones aquarium.

If nothing else, I will have dozens of pictures before it changes to an after.

The are many good movies with dire warnings out and all good movies that should be watched. I thought this old 1953 movie on water was pretty interesting and between the music and the narration it was classic. It's a bout 10 minutes long and easy watching. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Mahalo.

Evan Ryan, Maui Farmers Union Does Compost Tea Demo

Evan Ryan, is also a great landscape gardener/farmer and member of the Maui Farmers Union board. For the August meeting, Evan did a detailed demo on making Aerated Compost Tea. There are some open question points around the inputs required and how they can be more locally sourced. Maybe an opportunity for someone on Maui. Please leave comments if there are any points around making or using compost tea on your plants. Video testimonial would be great, submit what you have and I can approve it to display. Or if you have a youtube or video site with more, please let us know.
Mahalo & Aloha.

Jim Hall

P.S. Evan Ryan puts on edible landscape and other workshops pretty often. Check him out on Facebook.

Maui Farmers Union Discussing Composting and Food Safety.

The topic of Food Safety and how the waste system through the sewage finds it's way into the compost, along with medical wastes and everything else from the dump was discussed at the August Maui Farmers Union Meeting. School gardens, edible landscapes and concerns around the composting involved also came up.

Maui Farmers Union has a regular feature they call the "Produce Scoop". Ryan Eareheart, the produce manager of Mana Foods in Paia did a great job, as usual, for the August meeting. As a farmer himself, he is very knowledgeable and can help the Maui farmers figure out the best crops to grow and sell to Mana Foods, as well as the best foods for the consumer. I just saw on Mana Foods Facebook page they are hiring a dynamic produce person to help Ryan.

Maui Farmers Union August "Chef's Corner"

One of my favorite portions of the Maui Farmers Union meeting, besides the pot luck, is the Chef's Corner. The August meeting featured the return of a regular guest chef.
Chef Justin Pardo of Market Fresh Bistro in Makawao town on Maui is a big supporter of local farmers and gardeners through his restaurant. Serving nearly everything that was within a day or two of being harvested.
This meeting he did a demo on how to prepare Kalo to make real quick Kalo and Kula Onion Cakes. Also variations on the recipes.
Always a lively, fun and informative presenter, I have quite a few videos on his presentations for the Maui Farmers Union.

The Maui Farmers Union August meeting had an announcement by Jonathan Starr of the closure of Laulima Farms by the health dept for using non-County water in there food preparations. The story was published in the Mauitime (see www.mauitime.com) previous to this, but it was a concern among many attending the meeting.

Maui Farmers Union opening announcement and David Fisher on the local stock exchange movement.

Maui Farmers Union August 2011 Meeting

Maui Farmers Union

Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 6pm - 9:00pm

New Location (One time only...)

Downstairs in the back behind Pukalani, Tavares Center

Follow signs after turning into the center (Pool room was not available this month)

Localvore Potluck!

Prepare a dish to share for dinner!!!

Produce & Seed Swap:

Bring your home/farm grown produce for display.... then swap produce, seeds, cuttings and starts at the end of the meeting!

Get into the running to go home with:

Gift cards at DTE & Hawaiian Moons

Basket of local produce. Mana Foods, Whole Foods!

Basket of produce from Greenleaf Farm Mahalo Marta & Bill Greenleaf,

Feather Meal-Mahalo Crop Production Service

Bio Char-Mahalo Maui Bio Char

Doors Open to public 6pm

6:30-7:00 - Farmers Feast

"It's all about the food"

All are welcome & encouraged to participate in this festive meal of good will

Be Creative its your event!!!

Grow, prepare and share a local grown dish, if you can't bring anything to share to eat, then either donate $5, or come early and set up or stay after to clean up.

This is a trash free event,

please bring your traveling cup, plate and fork!

7:00-8:30 - General Meeting

8:30-9:00 - Open Dialogue "Talk Story"

Meeting Schedule:

7:00-7:10 - Welcome, Announcements: Vincent Mina MFU Board Member, www.MauiGrown.com

7:10-7:25 - Chef's Corner: Justin Pardo Market Fresh Bistro-"Taro Cusine", marketfreshbistro@gmail.com

7:25-7:35 - Produce Scoop: Ryan Eareheart-Mana Foods Produce Manager, vegihead@hotmail.com

7:35-7:45 - Origin of Agricultural Wisdom: Harriette Witt- (Maui Astrologer) harriet@passengerplanet.com

7:45-8:00 - Aerated Compost Tea Demo-- Evan Ryan MFU Board member, kalalaukai@hotmail.com

8:00-8:30 - Define Priorities- Member input for our upcoming state board "Strategic Planning" session on Kauai Sept 19-23

8:30 - 9:00 Talk Story/Network - Pau!

Maui Board of Directors:

Melissa Ebeling,

Jennifer Chirico,

Greg Hopkins,

Evan Ryan,

Vincent Mina

Hawaii State Directors:

Bill Greenleaf

Wayne Axelson

Vincent Mina 

Thinking about Water

Working with my backyard aquaponics project and trying to avoid using too much water in my yard, it led me to some sites on water. I thought I would add a few videos on groundwater.

Ken Love of Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers on Adding Value and Profit to Your Farm Operation

On August 2, 2011 California FARMLINK put on a tour and workshop called "Adding Value and Profit to Your Farm Operation." Held on the island of Maui, the group visited Alii Kula Lavendar, Watanabe Vegetable Processing and finished up at the Market Fresh Bistro for presentations and delicious locally farmed produce.

Ken Love of Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers came over from the island of Hawaii and gave a presentation. He had some fantastic information to provide. I would highly recommend sitting back and watching all 2 videos, about 50 minutes worth. Anyone farming, thinking about farming or don't even know they are thinking about it, will want this info.

Ken Love Part 1


Ken Love Part 2


Ken Love Part 3

Aquaponic Lettuce in the House

It was nice to wake up to my very much alive lettuce that Mike Dreschler gave me after the Aquaponics workshop held last night in Pukalani thanks to Maui's UpCountry Sustainability group. I'm inspired to have more living food around the house.

Every month, the Maui Farmers Union United has a segment that has been really well received and called the "Chef's Corner."

A local Chef is invited from one of Maui's restaurants, or in this case an independent Chef. The guest Chef will provide the membership with tips, recipes, cooking or food demonstrations, great education and just plenty of fun.
The July meeting has the pleasure of Raw Vegan food advocate Chef Ali Kat, www.GetRaw.net, do her presentation on a fruit and veggie smoothy.

Enjoy and please leave comments or suggestions and any Chefs that might want to do a presentation or that you would like to see present, leave that info too, Mahalo!

Maui Farmers Union July 2011 Meeting introduces the new board members

An interesting passage from Newman Turner

"In modern farming, both crop production and livestock feeding, we have been concerned with the provision of prepared nutrients imported to the farm, instead of making full use of the complete provisions of nature. The result is that we have burdened farming with the colossal cost of chemical fertilizers, sprays, insecticides, vaccines and medicines, while nature quietly continues to beat us, in the matter of both abundant production and healthy crops and animals, at no cost.

The earth is the permanent possessor of all things contained therein and which grow therefrom; they are loaned to the human and animal kingdom for bodily sustenance for the duration of life, but nature decreed that they shall, after use, be returned to the earth. No plant, animal or human being can claim the right of destruction, or of permanent possession, of any of the ingredients of its food or physical body. They must return to the earth to sustain new life and to ensure the continuation of the universe when life, for us, is ended. We are but the tenants of life, having on loan the physical from the earth and the spiritual from God. What happens to our spiritual being and its inspiration remains to be discovered after we lay down the physical life. But our duties regarding the physical body and its means of natural sustenance are clear to all. It must be returned, together with all organic matter derived from the earth, back to the earth.

Problems of so-called soil deficiencies-certainly as far as the main elements are concerned-have only arisen with the increasing failure to acknowledge and act upon this law."

---------------Excerpt taken from Newman Turner's book titled Fertility Farming.

Maui Farmers Union United July Meeting

 

Tavares Center Pool Room July 26th, Tuesday night doors open 5:45pm

 

{LocaVore Potluck and Produce Swap} Share the Maui Abundance of what you prepare and grow!!!

Meeting Agenda

6:30pm-7:00pm- LocaVore Potluck we have such great meals be creative and

add to the abundance "Its all about growing, sharing and eating

the food"

7:00pm-7:10pm- Evening Agenda-Vincent Mina- www.MauiGrown.com

7:10pm-7:20pm- Chefs Corner-Chef Alikat-www.getRAW.net (Raw Treats)

7:20pm-7:30pm- Produce Scoop-Ryan Eareheart Mana Foods

7:30pm-7:40pm- Astronomy in Agriculture- HarrietteWitt-

www.passengerplanet.com/

7:40pm-8:00pm- Meet Maui Board Members and what their interest is being

involved in MFUU-Maui Farmers Union United.

{Melissa Ebeling,Jennifer Chirico, Evan Ryan, Greg Hopkins}

8:00pm-8:10pm- State of the State HFU-WayneAxelson{HFUU}

www.HawaiiFarmersUnionUnited.org

8:10pm-8:40pm- Member Breakout Groups- Legislation, Education

and Cooperation.

9pm Meeting Pau

"Remember its all about our communities food"

Bring your home grown farm produce, seeds or plant starts to share and swap with others.

Having missed the June meeting of the Maui Farmers Union United I am going to make this post just to hold a place on the blog in case I can post more on it later.

Maui Farmers Union United May Meeting

Empowering & Interactive Meeting Ahead... Hele Mai Come Your the Event!!!


Live Link to watch and interact  http://www.gvolive.com/conference,empowermaui 

Maui Farmers Union United
Tuesday, May 24, 2011, 5:45 - 9:00pm
Pukalani, Tavares Center Pool Room
Localvore Potluck, Bring a dish to share for dinner!!!

Sorry, no cooking contest this month.

There is going to be something special about this meeting besides the monthly locavore potluck,seed exchange, produce swap, along with our short and substantive presentations.

This month is about hearing from you our members and guest as to what you want your organization to be, while expressing your engagement in creating it.

We will have the survey results from last months meeting.

Those that didn't get a chance to fill one out will be given one Tuesday nite.

This is a living dynamic document that will be a tool to assist in guiding our way actualizing food sovereignty here on our island.

Produce & Seed Swap:
Bring your home/farm grown produce for display.... then swap produce, seeds, cuttings and starts at the end of the meeting!

Gift cards from DTE & Hawaiian Moons!

Basket of Local Fruits. Mahalo Mana Foods!

Basket of produce from Greenleaf Farm Mahalo Marta & Bill Greenleaf!

Feather Meal Mahalo Crop Production Service!

Bio Char & "IMO" Indigenous MicroOrganisms
Mahalo Maui Aloha Aina!


Doors Open to public 6pm
6:30pm - 7:00 - Farmers Feast   "It's all about the food  "
All are welcome & encouraged to participate in this festive meal of good will
Be Creative its your event!!!
Grow, prepare and share a local grown dish, if you can't bring anything to share to eat, then either donate $5, or come early and set up or stay after to clean up.
This is a trash free event,
please bring your traveling cup, plate and fork!

7:00-8:30 - General Meeting
8:30-9:00 - Open Dialogue "Talk Story"

Meeting Schedule:
6:50-7:00-Announcements- Vincent Mina- maaevents@hawaii.rr.com

7:00-7:05-Welcome, Opening- Bill Greenleaf -gleafs@hawaiiantel.net
7:05-7:15-Chef's Corner - Marta Greenleaf Greenleaf Farm gleafs@hawaiiantel.net

7:15-7:25-Produce Scoop-Ryan Eareheart-Mana Foods Produce Manager, vegihead@hotmail.com7:25-7:35-Origin of Agricultural Wisdom: Harriette Witt- (Maui Astrologer) harriet@passengerplanet.com

7:35-7:45-HFU Update: Wayne Axelson- Moving Forward State Elections in July, By-Laws-waxelson@mac.com

7:45-8:30- Survey Results, Interactive Q &A regarding the pro-active future of the Maui Chapter of Hawaii Farmers Union United Bill Greenleaf, Wayne Axelson,Vincent Mina

8:30 - 9:00 Talk Story/Network - Pau!



Meeting Organizers:
Jim Hall
Bill & Marta Greenleaf
Wayne & Lynn Axelson
Vincent & Irene Mina

Maui Aloha Aina, 1768 Kalawi Pl, Wailuku, HI 96793, USA

IMO Indigenous Micro Organisms Workshop

Maui Aloha Aina Association's IMO Workshop with Dr. Hoon Park.

Invasional Meltdown

The April 2011 meeting of the Maui chapter of the Hawaii Farmers Union, was honored to have Art Medeiros, PhD. speak about his work at Auwahi. Art is a Research Biologist with US Geological Survey's Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center on Maui.

Art is one of the few people that had a vision of what the lands on Maui should be like and was able to create that vision, if only in a small area. It's important to note that what he has accomplished and proven could be done, is a blueprint for what should be done before Maui hits the point of what was coined as "Invasional Meltdown."

Here is my take on "Invasional Meltdown."  See more on them here.


A couple of scientists named Daniel Simberloff and Betsy Van Holle, put together the theory that "Invasional Meltdown"is when alien species work together to by creating conditions that cause both to thrive.
This type of relationship between the alien species can happen in different ways. One invasive species can could prevent a species that is native to the area, from being able to hold off another invading species. They may do this by either overtaking the native species or killing it altogether.
Some invading species may provide food or shelter for other types of invading species. They may "pave the way" through the environment to help the intruding species gain access to the area occupied by the native species. Invading species, plant to plant or plant to insects or animals, can work in unison to spread through the spreading of seeds, pollination and food supplies.


Art Medeiros talks about this and more in his presentation. 


Bringing these thoughts together with what I learned from being around Dr. Hoon Park in the Maui Aloha Aina Body & Soil Conference, as well as the Maui Aloha Aina Associations IMO, Indigenous Micro Organisms workshop, is that any given area has a whole host of indigenous microbes that work in a symbiotic relationship with the plants from that area.


This made me think about how we have not only introduced invasion species of plants and animals, but we have brought in invasive species of microbes too.
While the indigenous microbes may have evolved to be better adapted to our islands, it seems that in many cases, adapted or not, the invading species often will overtake the native just through sheer numbers. 


As the relationships between the plants and animals within an ecosystem change, so does the relationship that the microbes has with the plants and animals.


Fortunately, through efforts of the people like Art Medeiros with plants and people like Dr. Hoon Park with Indigenous Micro Organisms, there is hope and a way to prevent reaching an "Invasional Meltdown."

Two Day Workshop with Dr. Hoon Park on IMO

    Produced jointly by Tri-Isle RC&D and Maui Aloha Aina Association.

        We are pleased to announce the a two day workshop with Dr. Hoon Park

                 (Presenter at the Body & Soil Conference this past January).

  (IMO) Indigenous Micro-Organisms or Korean Nature Farming by Master Cho.

            Dr. Park is Master Cho Hawaii Natural Farming Representitive

    More info on Hawaii nature farming at: http://naturalfarminghawaii.net/

     

 This workshop is a pre-requisite for those that wish to become certified in natural farming methods.

     Both for gardeners and farmers this is a way to grow the soil in producing nutrient rich food.

This two day workshop will cover a Natural Farming Overview and the making of preparations/fermentation's

* Concepts of IMO (Indigenous Micro-Organism) & Nutritive Cycle

* Soil Prep, Seed & Seedling Prep,

* Special Agricultural Medicinal Water

* Natural Pesticides: Soap / Chilly Pepper / Egg Yolk Seed Oil Plus others

* Natural Farming Livestock (Chicken & Pig Farming)

* * Hands on Practice of Natural Farming Inputs (Materials Covered) :

FAA(Fish Amino Acid) /CaPO4(Calcium Phosphate) /WSCa (Water Soluble Calcium)

/LAB (Lactic Acid Bacterium)/Ocean Water / Egg Yolk Seed Oil/Egg Yolk Oil etc.

 Attendees will receive a pint of natural pesticide & gallon bag of IMO #4 fermentation.

                                           Available for sale at the event:

             50# bags of IMO 4 IMO Text Books ($30) Recipe Books($20) CDs($5)

             When: Friday and Saturday-April 29, 30^th 9 to 5pm

            Where: Kumulani Farm Olinda ( Body & Soil Conference site)

            Cost : $80 with Irenes localvore lunch included for both days

                      $60 bring your own lunch for both days

                                                 Limited Seating Register Now!

                                                         This will sell out.

                   Call Vincent Mina (808- 357-4999) or MaaEvents@hawaii.rr.com

                        Mail Check to: Ma'a 1768 Kalawi Pl. Wailuku Maui 96793

"Whether Gardening or Farming it is essential that we understand and see what we are looking at when the goal is to build soil vitality & plant health. Inoculating the soil with indigenous biology using locally produced fermentations and preparations is a viable way to achieve these desired results.".Vincent Mina

Hawaii Farmers United Hosts It's First Locavore Cook-Off Contest

The Maui Chapter of the Hawaii Farmers Union hosted a Locavore Cook-Off Contest on the evening of March 22, 2011. With Chef Justin Pardo of Market Fresh Bistro in Makawao and Melissa Panzarini, they had the tough job of sorting through ten food entries that had the hungry audience, salivating and wishing they had signed up to be one of the judges, at least that's how it was for me...

Chef Justin as a regular to our meetings, always has some inspiring and taste bud tantalizing ideas on cooking to share.

Since this was the one year anniversary meeting since this group formed and falling on the Summer Equinox, it was decided to add some special events. So with the generous donations of Mana Foods with two great hand picked food baskets, some Bags of Feather Meal from Crop Protection
Service, and even some Bio-Char made by Ricky Apana, there was a donation raffle that everyone seemed very pleased to win.

The winners in three places were:

3rd place winner--Angelika Hofmann, who received a $45.00 gift certificate from Whole Foods.
2nd place winner with 52 points went to Evan Ryan, along with a $60.00 gift certificate from Down To Earth.
1st place winner with 56 points went to Keith Ranney. As 1st place winner, Keith received a $75.00 gift certificate from Hawaiian Moons, as well as a two year subscription from Edible Hawaiian Islands magazine.

The winners seemed to be overjoyed at the recognition for their cooking skills, but of particular note was that Evan Ryan's Green Papaya Salad that took 2nd place was literally picked off his trees and prepared right before he came to the meeting, just showing good food can be fast food.

The 3rd place winner Keith Ranney said after winning that "I never cooked nothing before."

Along with the popular Chef's Corner, the various great speakers, the community updates, the very popular pot luck meal, it seem that the Locavore Cook-Off was especially popular and may become a regular event. I sure hope so. Anyone wanting to see it continue can always help out by soliciting some great prizes and donations from friends, families and business.

I can't wait for April's meeting. I stay hungry already!

Jim Hall

Hawaii Farmers United Still Pictures

Two Day Workshop with Dr. Hoon Park to cover Natural Farming Overview and the Making of Preparations/Fermentations

    Produced jointly by Tri-Isle RC&D and Maui Aloha Aina Association.

        We are pleased to announce the a two day workshop with Dr. Hoon Park

                 (Presenter at the Body & Soil Conference this past January).

  (IMO) Indigenous Micro-Organisms or Korean Nature Farming by Master Cho.

            Dr. Park is Master Cho Hawaii Natural Farming Representitive

    More info on Hawaii nature farming at: http://naturalfarminghawaii.net/

     

 This workshop is a pre-requisite for those that wish to become certified in natural farming methods.

     Both for gardeners and farmers this is a way to grow the soil in producing nutrient rich food.

This two day workshop will cover a Natural Farming Overview and the making of preparations/fermentations

* Concepts of IMO (Indigenous Micro-Organism) & Nutritive Cycle

* Soil Prep, Seed & Seedling Prep,

* Special Agricultural Medicinal Water

* Natural Pesticides: Soap / Chilly Pepper / Egg Yolk Seed Oil Plus others

* Natural Farming Livestock (Chicken & Pig Farming)

* * Hands on Practice of Natural Farming Inputs (Materials Covered) :

FAA(Fish Amino Acid) /CaPO4(Calcium Phosphate) /WSCa (Water Soluble Calcium)

/LAB (Lactic Acid Bacterium)/Ocean Water / Egg Yolk Seed Oil/Egg Yolk Oil etc.

 Attendees will receive a pint of natural pesticide & gallon bag of IMO #4 fermentation.

                                           Available for sale at the event:

             50# bags of IMO 4 IMO Text Books ($30) Recipe Books($20) CDs($5)

             When: Friday and Saturday-April 29, 30^th 9 to 5pm

            Where: Kumulani Farm Olinda ( Body & Soil Conference site)

            Cost : $80 with Irenes localvore lunch included for both days

                      $60 bring your own lunch for both days

                                                 Limited Seating Register Now!

                                                         This will sell out.

                   Call Vincent Mina (808- 357-4999) or MaaEvents@hawaii.rr.com

                        Mail Check to: Ma'a 1768 Kalawi Pl. Wailuku Maui 96793

"Whether Gardening or Farming it is essential that we understand and see what we are looking at when the goal is to build soil vitality & plant health. Inoculating the soil with indigenous biology using locally produced fermentations and preparations is a viable way to achieve these desired results.".Vincent Mina