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Beginning Farmer Training Program accepting applications

KAMUELA, Hawai'i—December 12, 2013—Ku I Ka Mana, a beginning farmer-rancher training is accepting applications from prospective students for its third cohort. The 18-week course is conducted in Honokaa and begins on Friday, January 31. Application materials may be downloaded at http://www.kohalacenter.org/farmertraining/application.html. The application deadline is Friday, January 10. Although no previous farming experience is required, preference is given to veterans and to applicants who have taken steps to become agricultural producers but would benefit from a comprehensive, hands-on curriculum. Persons interested in learning more or applying to Ku I Ka Mana are encouraged to visit http://www.kohalacenter.org/farmertraining/home.html or contact Derrick Kiyabu at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 808-220-2312.

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Hawai'i Island Goat Dairy

HIGoatFarmCheesecave2Hawai'i Island Goat Farm cheeses.The Hawai'i Island Goat Dairy is a small goat farm and dairy that produces all handmade "Farmstead Goat Cheeses" the old fashioned way.

The farm is located in Ahualoa, above the Honoka'a area at about 1800 feet elevation, nestled into the flanks of Mauna Kea on a beautiful 10-acre property that was at one time a macadamia nut tree farm. The macnuts trees are still there but are not harvested commercially.

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Newsletter 57 - November 2013

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Aloha

This newsletter's purpose is to keep local and sustainable food events, activities, and information in the spotlight. This is the time of year when the number of local events swells to a surprising number involving all segments of the agricultural community: individuals, educational organizations, crop interest groups, etc. And as you will see from the four new articles below, this is a good time to be immersed in the world of local food in Hawai'i.

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Grow Grubs! Farming Black Soldier Fly Larvae

soldierflybinBlack soldier fly bin outside of chicken area.

The self-harvesting, antibiotic-excreting, protein-rich larvae of a beneficial insect could be the answer to cutting our dependence on imported animal feed.

Every time a new guest visits our chicken area, they ask about the big orange and purple bin with tubes hanging out the back. “That,” I say proudly, “is our black soldier fly larvarium. Want to see inside?”

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Harvest! Puna Makai Locavore Store

Locavore-store1Harvest! Puna Makai Locavore Store.

There is a new storefront on the boardwalk in Old Pahoa Town. You can find it tucked in between Paolo's Italian Restaurant and Mike's Pizza, almost right across the street from Luquin's Mexican Restaurant. Harvest! Puna Makai Locavore Store opened in early August. It had been doing business for the last 13 months out of a small fruit stand in an outdoor market space just two doors from the present location.

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Korean Natural Farming with Pigs

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Pigs – you gotta love ‘em. Or hate them. Kama-pua’a was a pig-god to old Hawaiians, associated with Lono, the god of agriculture, and also was a lover of Pele. He was a shape shifter, capable of appearing as a handsome young man or randy, rascally hog with super powers of fertility. The epic story of Kama-pua’a is a wonderful example of ancient Hawaiian’s oral mythology and literature. Pigs were a special food for ancient Hawaiians and are still the centerpiece of a baby luau or graduation imu.

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