Natural Farming Hawai’i
http://naturalfarminghawaii.net
Monthly Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, December 14th 2010
6pm @ Komohana Ag Research Center, Hilo
~35 people in attendance
Current and Recent Events
- Steve Chang reports that IMO4 will be available at Garden Exchange and Farmers Co-op. Orders of a ton or more call him directly at 989-4968
- Dr Park says KTA will sell IMO4 in January. 10 lb size. It will be Mountain Apple Branded.
- Breadfruit Festival Sept 24, 2011 @ Amy Greenwell Botanical Garden. Mark your calendar and come out. Eventually want to have a festival on all the major islands. working with Peter Vandyke to provide 500-1,000 breadfruit trees to buy, estimated cost is $35 each in 1 gallon pot.
- Tanya - Haboucha Japanese Tea: brought all the stages and finished product. Wants to maintain it here on the island, she is planting the 3rd generation. To prepare: dry seeds then cook w/rice. when rice gets brown, it’s cooked enough. spring is good time to plant. she also brought some purpler sweet potatoes
- Drake reported that his kalo garden is getting choked out the Wainaku grass. He had to dig it up in this next bed to get out the deep nodes. Would be a good time to mix in biochar. Drake has been planting every day. Things are growing really well even in the middle of Winter. check out the garden at http://webcam.hungrychild.org
- David Ikeda reported the artifices of incorporation are being reviewed by a lawyer. Making an appointment with accountant to see what will happen as a non-profit. Taking longer than expected and process is more complex than anticipated.
- Dr Park reported that Mr. Cho came and gave seminar in HNL on Dec 7&8 in oldest Korean Church. David Wong was sucessful dairy farmer but went bankrupt. saw cho last feb. and started taro and thai basil. CGNF. on Nov 30 KHON interviewed him on TV and his taro is so tall they had to walk through like a tunnel. Usually thai basil takes 5 months to harvest, but with NF can harvest in 3 months and harvest twice as often, 10 to 12 times a year, all of his produce is exported. he used to send 100 lbs a week, now he sends 1,500 lbs a week, there is demand for 5,000 lbs a week. He followed exactly what Mr. Cho said, and this is the first evidence Korean natural farming works in Hawai’i. Initially only 8 people registered for the workshop, after the interview, 50 people showed up. 3rd day was hands on at organic farm that is going to transition to Korean natural farming.
- Dr Park shared that Cho said instead of pulling up the wainaku grass, just spray the tips with undiluted brown rice vinegar and the grass and nodes will die. Has to be done on on a sunny day.
- Dr Park reported that then Cho came to Kohala and saw Mark Kinoshita. Said that State land that can be dedicated to Korean natural farming institute, on the ocean. Cho happy this will be the site. met with mayor Kenoi and other important people and described what’s going on. Kenoi says energy is the most important - crisis coming, energy and food go hand-in-hand, gotta do this. Mayor Kenoi pledged $50,000 of County Taxpayer money to Korean natural farming institute. Kenoi offered County land in Hamakua, Shipman offered land as well, Cho wants Kohala and it will be 1st Korean natural farming institute site. Cho wants an officer training course with different degrees. Have to have a black belt to teach, official certification. Institute will promote Korean natural farming and also wants leaders of poor countries to get experience here and take it back. Hawai’i is ideal because one diligent farmer can grow many crop rotations a year. OK to share info but know that Mr. Cho is the master, keep learning and sharing.
- Wed December 29th. Dr. Lee is coming from Korea. He’s the one that knows about 1 apple to now 40 apples to keep the doctor away. He is a chemical analyst examining NF produce. Hope he can prove the difference of NF compared to commercial growing.
Presentation on GRuB
4mb mp3 is online here: https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6Qxm1ta1frxNDI1ZDY0YTMtYTZhYy00ZjVlLTk3ZDgtNzE0OTVmMjY1NzRj&sort=name&layout=list&num=50
Presentation by Breadfruit Institute
40 minute presentation viewable online at:
Crop Discussion of Cassava
7mb mp3 is online here:
Banana will be the crop open for discussion next time.
Next Meeting January 11th 2011
1/11/11. ooh. Same place, same time. Email drake@localgarden.us for more info.
+ May the Microbes be with you.