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.

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.