Past Events

Winter/Spring Events 2014

National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
Dates: April 15-18, 2014
Location: Austin, Texas
The National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Powering Up will convene a diverse group of stakeholders from across the farm to cafeteria movement—more than 1,000 food service professionals, farmers, educators, youth leaders, policy makers, advocates, state/federal agency professionals, entrepreneurs, public health professionals and others—working to source local food for institutional cafeterias and foster a culture of food and agricultural literacy across America. Together, we have the power to affect great change! Cafeterias in schools, universities, prisons, hospitals and childcare centers serve more than 40 million Americans every day during the school year, placing the farm to cafeteria movement at the forefront of the fight to end obesity and strengthen local food systems. Join us in Austin, April 15-18, for inspiring field trips, workshops, speakers and networking.
Registration Fees: Early bird rate (deadline March 4): $350, Regular rate (deadline April 1): $400, One-day rate: $170, Half-day rate (Friday only): $80 How to Register: http://farmtocafeteriaconference.org/7/registration/
For more information:
Tracey Starkovich
Email: registration@farmtoschool.org
Phone: 630-207-3855
http://farmtocafeteriaconference.org

Hawai‘i Farm to School and School Garden Hui Spring Statewide Meeting - O‘ahu
Date: Wednesday, March 24-25, 2014
The Hawai‘i Farm to School and School Garden Hui meets quarterly to advocate for and support farm to school development and school gardens. 
For more information, please contact www.hawaiischoolgardenhui.org.

Healthy Schools Day Festival
Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Time: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Location: Hawai‘i State Capitol Rotunda, 415 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu
Healthy Schools Day 2014 will be celebrated through interactive demonstrations at the Capitol Rotunda. The demonstrations will showcase the policies and programs in Hawai‘i K-12 schools that support healthy students. Highlights will include Excellence in Wellness Awards, school gardens, and promising practices for health and physical education (PE). 
For more information, email Jennifer.ryan@doh.hawaii.gov.

FoodCorps Hawai‘i Mid-Year Teacher Training
Date: March 14-18, 2014
Time: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
FoodCorps Service Members will be meeting on Moloka‘i to continue their training in farm to school advocacy and school learning gardens.
Please contact Nancy Redfeather at nredfeather@kohalacenter.org.

Seedy Saturday: Papaya Testing, Tasting and Talk Story
Date: February 22, 2014
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Location: Pāhoa Neighborhood Community Center
Dr. Richard Manshardt from UH-CTAHR will discuss types of varieties, papaya genetics, cross pollination and gene flow, maintaining seed purity, seed sources, seed selection, and seed saving. Bring your own papaya leaf sample for testing. Free if you participate in a gene flow mapping study, otherwise testing is $3.00 per sample. Leaf samples should be gathered using a baggie. The leaf should be the size of a quarter and light green. 
For more information, please contact Lyn Howe at seedproject@kohalacenter.org.
»Download the Flyer

‘Ai Pono Project: Making Traditional Cordage with Fiber Artist Gary Eoff
Date: February 15, 2014
Time: 1 – 3 p.m.
Location: West Hawai‘i Civic Center, G Room Hale, Kailua-Kona
In the Spring of 2014, Hōkūle‘a and Hikianaliʻa will leave from Hilo on the Worldwide “Mālama Honua” Voyage 2013-2017. Connecting students to this voyage of discovery, can happen in many many different ways. For the next four years, the Hawaiʻi Island School Garden Network and our Voyaging Partners and Collaborators will work with teachers and in School Gardens on Hawaiʻi Island to grow food, dry and preserve food, experiment with recipes, learn some of the ancient fiber arts, and create food products that can be shared with the crews on some of the legs of the voyage. http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2013/11/18/video-aipono-workshop-teaches-cooking-for-the-canoe. The next workshop will be on “The Art of Drying the Fruits of Hawaiʻi.” Stay tuned for date and time.

Hauʻoli Mau Loa Convening
Date: February 6-7, 2014
Time: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Waimea, Hawaiʻi Island
Hau‘oli Mau Loa Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established by Helga Glaesel-Hollenback who, in her words, “found great happiness in the islands of Hawai‘i” and sought “to return the generosity of the islands.” As such, the Foundation is grounded in Hawai‘i’s cultures and values. The Foundation holds an annual convening of partner grantees with two goals in mind: to provide a space where they could share and learn from one another, and to help them feel excited and renewed. This year's convening will be hosted by Mālaʻai, the Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School in Waimea, Hawaiʻi Island.
The convening is not a public event.

Kū ʻĀina Pā Winter Session
Date: January 25 & 26, 2014
Time: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Mālaʻai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School
Kū ʻĀina Pā is a yearlong garden teacher certification program. The second cohort of teachers is currently in session. The Kū ʻĀina Pā winter workshop will be held in the Hāmākua area of Hawaiʻi Island. 
For more information, please contact nredfeather@kohalacenter.org.

Kaiser Permanente's 4th Annual Martin Luther King Day of Service
Date: January 20, 2014
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 12:30p.m.
Location: Mālaʻai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School & Kealakehe Middle School, Kona
The HISGN and FoodCorps Hawaiʻi will once again partner with Kaiser Permanente to create the 4th Annual MLK Day of Service to Hawaiʻi Island School Gardens on Monday January 20.  Kaiser will generously close its Hawaiʻi Island Clinics and Doctors, their families, and Staff will join the HISGN and FoodCorps Hawai’i to all participate in a Day of Service at the Mālaʻai Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School and Kealakehe Middle School in Kona.  
To volunteer for either site please pre-register with dmitts@kohalacenter.org.


Summer/Fall Events 2013

Composting & Worm Composting Workshop
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2013
Time: 9:00 a.m.–Noon
Location: The Boys & Girls Club, 100 Kamakahonu Street, Hilo
Turn yard and kitchen waste into garden fertilizer. Learn how to build a backyard compost pile and your own worm bin. Participants will need to bring two matching opaque plastic storage bins with lids to build a worm bin and some kitchen waste. Worms and shredded paper provided.
To register for this workshop, please contact Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org

Composting & Worm Composting Workshop
Date: Saturday, November 30, 2013
Time: 9:00am – Noon
Location: Waiakea Elementary School Garden, 180 W. Puainako Street, Hilo
Turn yard and kitchen waste into garden fertilizer. Learn how to build a backyard compost pile and your own worm bin. Participants will need to bring two matching opaque plastic storage bins with lids to build a worm bin and some kitchen waste. Worms and shredded paper provided.
To register for this workshop, please contact Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org

11th Annual West Hawai'i Seed Exchange
Where: B.H. Amy Greenwell Garden - Captain Cook
When: Friday, November 1, 2013 from 2:30-6:00 p.m.
We invite the home gardening community of West Hawai‘i, students and their teachers saving seed in school gardens, and all visiting gardeners to attend the 10th Annual West Hawai’i Seed Exchange that has become a “tradition” at the Amy Greenwell Garden.
Come bring saved seed (seed, roots, huli, and cuttings) of food, medicine, flower, or native plants that do well in your home gardens and share your knowledge with your community! Please bring envelopes and a pen for your seed. Please I.D. the seed you bring with name, date collected, and place grown.
For more information or to RSVP your student group(please let us know the number of students you will be bringing), please contact:
Nancy Redfeather at nredfeather@kohalacenter.org or call 808-322-2801.
Download the flyer

Getting Started: Creating a School Learning Garden
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2013
Time: 9:00 a.m.– Noon
Location: Hilo Union Elementary Library & School Garden, 506 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo
School gardens provide a natural outdoor classroom for exploring STEM based learning as well as other core curriculum. Please join us as we discuss steps to start incorporating garden based learning at your school. To register for this workshop, please contact Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org

Kohala Mountain Farm Pumpkin Patch
School tours for the pumpkin patch are available in October by reservation.
Open Saturdays and Sundays in October 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please contact Stacy kohalamountainfarm@gmail.com for reservations.

East Hawai‘i School Gardens Ant Management Clinic
Where: Hawaii Department of Agriculture Conference Room, 16 E. Lanikaula St., Hilo
When: Friday, October 11, 2013, 12:30–3:30 p.m.
STOP THE SPREAD OF LITTLE FIRE ANTS! Topics will include: Ants as Pests with Species of Concern, Pesticide Safety and Reading Labels, and Treatment Methods. Presented by the Hawai‘i Ant Lab at the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture.
How to Register: Please RSVP to Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org by October 4th.
For more information: www.littlefireants.com


Summer/Fall 2013

Giant Pumpkin Contest
Where:  Waimea Town Market at Parker School
When: Saturday, October 5, 2013, 9:00 a.m.
Registration begins at 9:00 a.m.; Pumpkin Weigh In begins at 9:30 a.m.
School gardens and community gardeners have been trying their hand at growing giant pumpkins. Join us to see how they did! Contact dmitts@kohalacenter.org for details.

Second Annual Kohala Mountain Farm School Garden Corn Maze Design Contest
Event Description: All high school and middle school students enrolled in a school garden program are invited to help design and theme the 2013 Corn Maze located at Kohala Mountain Farm. Students are welcome to seek help from parents and siblings if they choose to but, we are not judging on professional design appearance. Only one design entry per student will be accepted. We are looking for themes & ideas that are simple, yet inspiring. The contest involves two parts... the overall theme and the design of the maze itself. Win a $1000 gift certificate for your school garden program from Crop Production Services Hilo, Hawaii’s largest supplier of agriculture products. The winner of this year’s design contest will be awarded the opportunity to preview their design from the air on a trip for two via Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. The runner-up will be awarded a Kohala Zip Line Adventure for two compliments of Hawaii Forest & Trail. All students who submit a maze design will receive two complimentary passes to this year’s corn maze.
Contact: For design contest guidelines and entry forms please contact Stacy Hasegawa at kohalamountainfarm@gmail.com or by phone 808.345.6323.

East Side Seed Exchange & Harvest Festival
When: Saturday, September 21, 2013, 9:00am - 2:00pm
Bring your favorite dishes using only locally grown food for the 2nd Annual 100% LOCAL FOOD COOK OFF AND POTLUCK!!
Optional competition for best savory and sweet dish
Bring Seeds, Plant Cuttings and Bare Roots (Please Check for Fire Ants)
- Exchange and give away localized plant material (bringing not required)
- Hear a panel on Preparing & Preserving the Food We Grow
- Enter the Local Cook Off!
- Try new taste delights at the Local Food Potluck!
- Meet your neighbors, other gardeners and innovative thinkers.

This event is free.

Schedule:
8:30 A.M.: Set up, bring your own tables and chairs, and scrap paper for small packets for seeds
9:00 A.M.: Opening Circle
9:15 A.M.: Plant Material Swap
10:00 A.M.: Panel Presentation
11:45 A.M.: 100% Local Food Contest
12:30 P.M: Local Food Potluck, bring your own plates, utensils, etc.

To enter the local foods cooking competition or to present your favorite local food please contact Tracy@permaculture-hawaii.com
Topics to be presented in the panel are: Fermentation, Medicinals, Milk & Meat Products, Flours, Perennial Greens

Help! I am also looking for presenters and recipe contributors. If you have a favorite local recipe, that is 100% local, and you want to share it, please email it to me and I will compile a booklet for folks attending the seed exchange. I will be asking for financial contributions to cover the cost of the printing and I will happily give you the credit for your contribution by attaching your name to the recipe if you want. Please contact me, Tracy, for more information.

Kū 'Āina Pā Fall Workshop - September 20-22, 2013
Cohort 2 will meet in Kona at Kawanui Farm, Ginger Hill Farm and Innovations PCS. Topics covered include:
- Creating a Zero-Waste Program for your School
- Seed Saving for School Gardens
- Composting in School Gardens
- Garden Based Nutrition - Hands on
- Food Safety for School Gardens
- Incorporating Natives into School Gardens
Contact: Nancy Redfeather nredfeather@kohalacenter.org

FoodCorps State Training
Date: September 17-20, 2013
Event Description: To welcome our eight new FoodCorps Service Members/Garden Teachers, we will holo around Hawai'i Island visiting all our FoodCorps sites for 2013-2014:
- Honaunau Elementary
- Na'alehu Elementary
- Kua O Ka La PCS
- Mala'ai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School
- Kohala Elementary
Contact: Nancy Redfeather nredfeather@kohalacenter.org

Hawai'i Public Seed Initiative "Train the Trainers" Workshop
Location: Amy Greenwell Garden
Date: September 12-15, 2013
Event Description: HPSI will offer an advanced three-day “Train the Trainers” Workshop in Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i Island. It is designed to help dedicated individuals from each island broaden their seed production skills and continue to advance and promote seed work in their respective locales.
This training will focus on:
- Furthering seed-saving skills
- Crop selection
- On-farm breeding programs
- Crop diseases and building soil health in the garden to increase disease resistance
- Social media networking tools and protocol
- Developing working models for seed education and seed networks on each island
- Envisioning future goals and requirements
We are inviting people who have experience in seed saving and are willing to make a commitment to working in their locale to help to create and further island seed networks.
Please look over the self-assessment points below to determine if you qualify. A committee will select a few applicants from each island. Travel scholarships will be available.
If you feel you qualify please download and complete the application and return via e-mail to seedproject@kohalacenter.org. The application deadline has been extended to June 30, 2013.
Contact: For more information contact Lyn Howe - lynhowe1946@yahoo.com

School Garden Community Work Day
Date: July 31, 2013 8:30-10:00 a.m.
Location: Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School
Details: Come help us get the garden ready for students. Join us in the lower garden located next to the Library. Bring tools and ideas to help with tree trimming, weed pulling, planting, fixing irrigation and nursery benches. We are also looking for volunteers for the next School year to help with our school garden and farm to school program. For more information, please call 808-640-0278.
Download the Flyer

School Garden Volunteer Training
Date: Saturday, September 14, 2013
Time: 9:00 a.m.–Noon
Location: Kalanianaole School, 27-330 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Papaikou
Gardens are thriving and growing at many Hawai‘i Island schools, and many hands are needed! School Garden Volunteers are very important to the overall success of our island programs whether it is guiding children during garden time or helping to maintain the garden in other ways, volunteers help teachers use garden based learning to teach valuable lessons in science, nutrition, and environmental education. Hands on, experiential learning is an important way for children to learn. At this workshop we will discuss gardening basics as well as how to best support your local school garden.

Community Work Day at Kalanianaole School Garden
Date: Sunday, July 28, 2013 — 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Location: Kalanianaole School, 27-330 Old Mamalahoa Highway, Papaikou
Please bring gloves and a water bottle. Lunch provided for registered volunteers.
To register, please contact Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org or 808-936-2117

For questions or to register for any of these events, please contact Donna Mitts at
dmitts@kohalacenter.org

Spring Seed Exchange for South Kona
Date: Saturday, June 22, Noon to 3:30pm
Location: Tropical Edibles Nursery, 83-5696 Mamalahoa Highway, Captain Cook (south of mile marker 108)
Details: Bring a dish for a noon potluck lunch and seed talk story. Exchange starts at 1:30pm. Come with information about your seeds & envelopes to collect seeds
For more information call or write: 808-328-0420 or tropicaledibles@gmail.com
Click here to view the flyer


Winter/Spring 2013

Ku ‘Aina Pa Summer Intensive: Teacher Training for School Learning Gardens in Hawai‘i
Date: June 9-14, 2013
Location: HPA Elab and Mala‘ai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
For more information, click here.

School Learning Gardens and Sustainability Education: Bringing Schools to Life and Life to Schools
Dates: June 7-8, 2013
Location: Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy and Mala‘ai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
For more information, click here.

Delicious Community Workshops Hosted by Mala‘ai School Garden
Dates: 9:00 a.m.-Noon on four Saturdays; see dates and details below.
Location: Mala‘ai: The Culinary Garden at Waimea Middle School, Waimea
Details: Free and everyone invited, RSVP requested please to alethea@malaai.org.  Donations welcome. Made possible thanks to a Richard Smart Fund/Hawai‘i Community Foundation grant.

Raising Heritage Poultry for Profit and Pleasure
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2013 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Location: Kahua Ranch, 59-564 Kohala Mountain Rd, Waimea
Details: Presented by the Sustainable Poultry Network. More information and links to registration here.
Cost: $89.00 + service fee if registered by May 4.

Connecting Core Standards with Garden-Based Learning
Presenters: Ting Ortiz, 1st Grade Teacher, Kaumana Elem. & Wendy Baker, 8th Grade      Teacher, Hawai‘i Academy of Arts & Science
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2013 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Location: Kaumana Elementary School, Hilo 
Cost: Free

Culturing Garden Vegetables with Ryan Peters
Presenters: Ryan Peters, Cultured Foods Hawai‘i
Date: Saturday, May 4, 2013 9:00 a.m.-Noon
Location: Mala‘ai: The Culinary Garden at Waimea Middle School, Waimea
Cost: $10 materials fee. Participants will be asked to bring 2-4 lbs. of vegetables per person and one or two wide mouth quart canning jars. Proceeds to benefit Mala‘ai. 

Grant Writing for School Gardens
Presenter: Dr. Koh Ming Wei
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2013 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Location: Innovations PCS, Kailua-Kona 
Details: Please bring a lunch. Participants can work on their grant proposals during lunch.
Cost: Free

Waimea Country School Plant Sale
Date: Saturday, April 20, 2013 9:00 a.m.-Noon
Location: Waimea Country School, St. James Circle, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
Details: Vegetable starts, herbs, flowers, landscaping plants, fruits, garden crafts, and more! All proceeds directly support the WCS school garden. For more information call 885-0067.

Earth Day Celebration and Environmental Science Symposium
Date: Saturday, April 20, 2013 8:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Location: Ulu Malama HPA Terrace Farm, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
Details: Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy and The Hawai‘i Island School Garden Network announce a special Earth Day Celebration and Environmental Science Symposium for students from Hawai‘i Island high schools (9-12 grades), public, charter, or independent on Saturday, April 20th at the HPA Upper Campus. This Symposium is designed for students to meet one another and share their work this year in a presentation form. Student groups will present as a team, one from each high school attending. Student presentations will follow the Welcome and Keynote, and will take place from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Please RSVP your school team with Ming Wei at mwkoh@hpa.edu and turn in the completed Registration Form. The Symposium is free.

Grant Writing for School Gardens
Presenter: Dr. Koh Ming Wei
Date: Saturday, April 13, 2013 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Location: Hilo Intermediate School, Room L5. Park in lot mauka of main entrance. 
Details: Please bring a lunch. Participants can work on their grant proposals during lunch.
Cost: Free

Body and Soil Farm-Health Conference 2013
Date: April 11-13, 2013
Location: Maui Tropical Plantation, 1670 Honoapi‘ilani Highway, Wailuku, Maui
Details: Visit http://www.mauialohaaina.org/2013-body-soil-conference for more information and to register.

Honaunau School Garden Celebration
Date: Saturday, April 6, 2013 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Location: Honaunau Elementary School, 83-5360 Mamalahoa Hwy, Captain Cook
Details: The Honaunau School Garden cordially invites you to its first school garden celebration! There will be plenty of fun for all including:

Come and meet garden teacher Melissa Chivers and check out the Honaunau school learning garden, including the new rain catchment system, and the students fine work this year, all surrounded by the beautiful Honaunau Valley. We hope to see you there!

Monthly STEM in School Gardens Meetings for Hilo/Waiakea Complex schools
Date: Friday, January 11, 2013, 3:00-4:30, Junior Master Gardeners Program overview with CTAHR Extension Agent Becky Settlage and tour of the Boys & Girls Club youth garden.
Location: Hilo Boys & Girls Club
Date: February 8, 2013, 3:30-4:30
Location: Kaumana Elementary
Topic: Linking Curriculum with Learning Gardens with Ting Ortiz

Garden Based Nutrition Basics for Teachers, Part II
Date: Saturday, Jan 12, 2013 Teacher Nutrition Workshop, 9:00-1:00
Location: Kua o Ka La PCS, Kapoho
Date: Saturday, Jan 26, 2013 9:00-1:00
Location: Innovations PCS
Details: Please join us as we continue learning about nutrition basics and how we can help reduce health risks for our students and ourselves. Nutrition experts from Hawaii Island will be sharing their expertise and tips for incorporating healthy lifestyle changes.

Ku ‘Aina Pa, Winter Session
Date: January 19-20, 2013, 8:30-3:30
Location: University of Hawaii, Hilo
Details: Ku ‘Aina Pa is a yearlong teacher training program for school learning gardens in Hawaii

Bee the Change: What Is Happening to Our Honeybees?
North Hawaii News article
Date: Friday, January 25, 2013, 6:00-9:30pm
Location: Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Gates Performing Arts Center
Details: What is happening to honeybees? That is the question facing our island, our state and a significant portion of the planet as bee colonies are weakening and dwindling. Join us as we learn about what we can do to help our important pollinators. Critically acclaimed film Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling Us?, a panel discussion with local bee experts and honey tasting.

The Foundations of Garden Based Nutrition, Session #2
Date: Saturday, January 26, 2013 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Location: Innovations Public Charter School, Kona
Details: Please join us as we continue learning about nutrition basics and how we can help reduce health risks for our students and ourselves. Nutrition experts from Hawaii Island will be sharing their expertise and tips for incorporating healthy lifestyle changes.

STEM Education in the School Garden
Date: Friday, February 8, 2013, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Location: Kaumana Elementary School
Details: First grade teacher Ting Ortiz will share some of the many ways she incorporates curriculum into the school learning garden. Ting leads an after school garden club which is very popular with students. Discussion followed by a tour of the Kaumana Elementary student learning gardens. Refreshments provided as well as free plants and seeds to share.  All welcome! Please RSVP to Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org.

Composting & Vermicomposting Workshop
Date: Saturday, February 9, 2013
Locations: Waimea Country School, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Pa’auilo School, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Details: Learn the basics of backyard composting and how to create and maintain a composting worm bin. This two hour workshop is a great way to learn how to divert kitchen and yard waste from our landfills and turn them into a nutrient rich soil amendment.

Home Gardening: Seed Saving
Date: Saturday, February 16, 2013, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Locations: Wishing Well (the old chicken farm), 55-230 Ho‘ea Road, Hawi
Cost: Free

Loving Local Foods – Dive In, It’s Fresh!
Date: February 23, 2013, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Location: Kohala Elementary School Discovery Garden, 54-3611 Akoni Pule Highway, Kapa‘au
Cost: Free
Contact: Karla Heath, 808-224-1404 or karla@andreadean.com

Ninth Annual Grow Hawaiian Festival
Date: February 23, 2013 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Location: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Captain Cook
Details: Celebrating Hawaiian plants, culture, and mea la‘au. Lei making, hula, plant sales, and more. For more information call 808-323-3318.
>Download the flyer

Backyard Chickens
Dates and Locations: February 23, 2013: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon, Hawaii Community College-Manono Campus
March 2, 2013 9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon, University Ctr. West Hawaii
Details: Raising a healthy backyard flock can be simple and rewarding. Learn how the right breed, coop design, and daily maintenance regime can provide you good food and chicken friends. This class will give any beginner the tools they need to start and maintain a healthy flock while also providing resources for dealing with problem behaviors.

Nahelehele Dryland Symposium
Date: Friday, March 1, 2013 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Location: King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, Kailua-Kona
Details: The 2013 Nahelehele Dry Forest Symposium will highlight dryland forest ecology and restoration efforts in Hawai‘i. On Thursday, February 28th, there will be daytime field trips to Pohakuloa Training Area and Ka‘upulehu Dryland Forest Reserve, and an evening film about Joseph Rock at the Aloha Theater in Kealakekua at 7:00 p.m. 
>Download the Flyer
>Download the Registration Form Beekeeping from the Bee-ginning
Dates and Location: March 5, 7, 12, 14, 2103 5:00–7:00 p.m., Hawaii Community College-Manono Campus
Details: Great course for people interested in hives for honey and increasing agricultural production with enhanced pollination of flowering trees and vegetables. Learn more about this class, call us to get the buzz! 934-2700

Edible Landscaping for Backyard and Beyond
Date: March 9, 2013 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Location: University of Hawaii Center West Hawaii
Transform your lanai and lawn, your field and fence, into an abundant oasis of edible and multifunctional plants. Learn the do's and don'ts of edible landscaping, and gain hands-on experience creating a basic landscape plan for your home. A handout of practical readings and resources for further learning is included.

Garden Workday at Mala?ai
Date: Saturday, March 30, 2013 9:00 a.m.-Noon
Location: Mala?ai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School
Details: Please join us for a Garden Workday at Mala?ai! We will be installing roofing on our old chicken coop, turning it into storage. We are also installing irrigation in some of the perimeter berms, hauling some items to the dump, and generally freshening up the garden. We could use some volunteer help with this as we get ready for summer. Please bring a dish to share for a potluck lunch to follow and your own utensils to make it "green." No need to bring garden tools or equipment, but bring your raincoat and water bottle. If you have any questions, please contact our Garden Leader, Holly Sargeant-Green, at hols.green@gmail.com. Mahalo for making time to volunteer at our mala!

Fall 2012

Eat Think Grow: Garden-Based Nutrition for School Garden Educators

The HISGN will be offering a series of Garden-Based Nutrition Education Workshops for School Garden and Class Teachers in both East and West Hawai‘i. The workshops will focus on the "Foundations of Nutritional Education" especially for Garden Teachers and Class Teachers who work in school gardens. For more information, go to the Web site. The Presenter will be Vivienne Aronowitz. Vivienne holds a Masters of Public Health and is a Registered Dietitian and a Certified Diabetes Educator. She is the Nutritionist for all Kaiser Permanente Clinics on Hawai‘i Island.

The workshops will be limited to 15 in order to have a true hands-on experience, and a stipend of $40 will go to each participant at each workshop. Check back for Workshop Agenda by September 1, 2012. Please RSVP with Donna Mitts to secure a place in the workshops.

Workshop Section #1
East Hawai‘i
Date: Saturday, November 10, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Hawai‘i Academy of Arts and Sciences (HAAS), Pahoa
Meet in the School Garden.
Includes lunch from locally grown ingredients, made by participants.

West Hawai‘i
Date: Saturday, September 15, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Kahakai Elementary School, Kona
Meet in the School Garden behind the Cafeteria.
Includes lunch from locally grown ingredients, made by participants.

Workshop Section #2
West Hawai‘i
Date: Saturday, January 26, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Innovations Public Charter School, Kona
Meet at the picnic tables under the tent.
Includes lunch from locally grown ingredients, made by participants.

East Hawai‘i
Date: Saturday, January 12, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Kua O Ka La Public Charter School, Puna
Meet at the tables under the tent.
Includes lunch from locally grown ingredients, made by participants.


Ku ‘Aina Pa Cohort Fall 2012 Workshop Weekend

"The Foundations of Garden-Based Nutrition for School Garden Educators and Class Teachers"
Date: Saturday, September 22, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: The Mala‘ai Culinary Garden at the Waimea Middle School

The Study of Native Hawaiian Plants in the Ahu'pua'a: Bringing Natives Into the School Garden
Date: Sunday, September 23, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden - Captain Cook

For Cohort Members who live at a distance, overnight accommodation on Saturday evening September 22 are available at Nancy's Farm at Kawanui in Honalo. Both futons and camping space are available. Please RSVP with Nancy Redfeather.

Winter/Spring/Summer 2012

“The Greatest Infection of the Sea” by Captain Charles Moore, Scientist and Activist
Captain Moore discusses detailed in his acclaimed new book Plastic Ocean
Date: January 4, 2012 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Location: West Hawaii Civic Center
Learn the shocking truth about the unintended consequences of the “Age of Plastics”- how we got here, & what we must do to stop adding to the millions of tons of plastic choking the world’s oceans.
Download the flyer

A Workshop for Sustainability Educators with Jamie Cloud, The Cloud Institute
Date: January 10, 2012 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Location: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Captain Cook
No Cost for Educators and Administrators
Sustainable Local Lunch to follow
The Cloud Institute: www.cloudinstitute.org
RSVP a must: dmitts@kohalacenter.org

Garden Chef with Chioke Mims, Garden Educator, and Wendy Baker, Social Studies Teacher, Hawai‘i Academy of Arts & Sciences (HAAS)
Date: Saturday, January 28, 2012 9:00 a.m.–Noon
Location: Hawai‘i Academy of Arts & Sciences, Pahoa
Description: HAAS students will present their video of Garden Chef activities and host a cooking demonstration and garden tour. If you haven’t visited HAAS yet, this is an excellent opportunity to do so.

"Gardening as Academic Support at School and Home"
A Special Presentation by Dilafruz Williams
Date: February 8, 2012 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Location: Energy Lab, HPA
Fee: $15/family (kids are welcome)
This presentation is for teachers, parents, and community on the value of gardening as an academic subject. The presentation will be followed by a worm hands-on activity where participants can collect worm castings to take home to use in their own gardens or to start their own worm farm. Books will also be for sale. Dilafruz Williams was President of the Portland Public School's BOE. She founded Portland Public Environmental Education Middle School and the Learning Gardens Program at Portland State University.
Download the presentation

Food Safety for School Gardens with Nancy Redfeather, Coordinator, Hawai‘i Island School Garden Network (HISGN)
Date: Thursday, March 1, 2012, 4:00–5:00 p.m.
West Hawai‘i Location: Nancy Redfeather's Kawanui Farm, Kona
Description: Food safety is on everyone’s mind today. The HISGN has published a new poster for school gardens to simplify the rules. Please Join Nancy Redfeather at her farm in Honalo for a discussion of food safety guidelines and receive a free poster for your school garden.
Date: Thursday, March 22, 2012 4:00–5:00 pm
East Hawai‘i Location: Kea‘au High School, Kea‘au
Description: An overview of food safety guidelines for school gardens and how to use food from the garden to safely prepare student snacks. Participants will receive a free poster for their school garden.

Puna ‘Ulu Festival
Celebrating Breadfruit!
Date: March 3, 2012 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Location: Kua O Ka La Charter School Campus at Pu‘ala‘a, Puna (next to ‘Ahalanui county park (warm pond)
Cooking contest and demonstrations, ‘ulu trees for sale, cultural uses, cultivation and care of ‘ulu trees, quilting, poi pounding, Kapa making, keiki crafts, food (featuring ‘ulu) and music all day.
Download the flyer.
For more information call 808-965-5098, or visit the Web site.

Cooking Traditional Hawaiian Foods with Clare Loprinzi, Garden Educator, Ke Kula ‘o Ehunuikaimalino
Date & Time: Thursday, March 8, 2012 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Location: Ke Kula ‘o Ehunuikaimalino
Description: Garden educator Clare Loprinzi will share her successful strategies for teaching students how to grow and prepare traditional Hawaiian Foods. A garden tour and cooking demonstration will be included.

Energy In and Out: How to Capture and Conserve Energy in Your Home
‘Ohana Night at the Energy Lab
Date: March 14, 2012 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Location: Energy Lab at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy
Featuring: Dr. Bill Wiecking, director of the Energy Lab at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy
Download the flyer.

Cooking From the Garden with Chef Susan Tauson at Mala‘ai: The Culinary Garden at Waimea Middle School
Date: Saturday, March 31, 2012 9:00 a.m. - Noon
Location: Mala‘ai Culinary Garden, Waimea
Registration limited to 25 people
Description: Tour Mala‘ai and then join in harvesting to cook, using ingredients fresh from the garden. Help to prepare the food in their outdoor classroom under the instruction of Chef Susan. Experience the whole cycle, harvesting, preparing, sharing and eating healthy, delicious, fresh and local dishes.

A Spring Tour of Student Learning Gardens
Date: April 14, 21 and 28, 2012
The Kohala Center welcomes you to tour several Hawai?i Island school gardens and enjoy the produce that students, teachers, and volunteers have cultivated and prepared for your enjoyment. On three Saturdays in April, we will be offering free hour-long tours of a handful of the 63 school and community gardens in the Hawai?i Island School Garden Network, a Kohala Center program. Meet the people who use them as outdoor learning labs, hear the stories from children whose lives are enriched by garden work, and sample the bounty that comes forth from these plots big and small.
Go to the Web site.

Waimea Country School Plant Sale
Date: April 21, 2012 9:0 a.m.-Noon
Location: Waimea Country School , St. James Circle
All proceeds go directly to the WCS school garden program, and will be used to match a $2,500 garden grant awarded by The Kohala Center in December. There will be vegetable starts, flowers, herbs, landscaping plants, and more. Please come by!
Download the flyer and find us on Facebook.

The Weight of the Nation Special Documentary Screening
Dates/Locations: May 7, 2012 at Parker School Theater, Waimea OR May 11, 2012 at Palace Theater, Hilo
Time: 5:00 p.m. Registration; 5:30 p.m. Screening & Panel Discussion
Kaiser Permanente is holding a special advance screening of the HBO Documentary Film Series The Weight of the Nation: Confronting America’s Obesity Epidemic. Watch the trailer. For more Information e-mail: wotn-hilo@pathhawaii.org or call: 326-7284. Reservations recommended. RSVP by May 2 for Waimea and May 8 for Hilo.

Free giant pumpkin plants (for youth and school gardens) while supplies last!
Date: May 14 at 3:30 p.m.
Location: Komohana Extension Office, 875 Komohana Street, Hilo
OR call 969-8213 to reserve yours
**Limited to 2 plants per family/school group**
Download the flyer.

Ku ‘Aina Pa: Teacher Training for School Learning Gardens in Hawai‘i
Date: June 10-16, 2012
Location: HPA Elab and the Mala‘ai Culinary Garden of the Waimea Middle School
For more information click here.

Statewide Summer Farm to School Conference 2012
Date: June 1-2, 2012
Location: O‘ahu
The 5th Annual Hawai‘i Farm to School Conference “Growing From the Ground Up” will be held on O‘ahu, on June 1st and 2nd, 2012. This year’s conference is hosted by Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation, Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools, and Waikiki Elementary School and will include visits to other farm to school sites on O‘ahu. Plenary sessions, workshops, and field trips (Huaka‘i) will focus on hands-on topics relevant to establishing thriving school garden and farm to school programs, including such topics as soil building, curriculum connections, fundraising, community building, and more.
For more information, click here.

Art & Sol: A Benefit Auction for Mala‘ai Culinary Garden of the Waimea Middle School
Date: June 10, 2012 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Merrimans Restaurant
Art and Sol is taking place again, featuring delicious pupu and wine, along with tantalizing items at the silent and live auctions. Buy your tickets today! This is our most important fundraiser of the year featuring an amazing selection of Art, health centered items, and experiences. Please stay tuned for more information on auction items. Thank you for your support!

Backyard and Worm Composting Workshops
Saturday July 21 from 10:00 a.m.-Noon at Waimea Country School, School Garden
Saturday July 21st from 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. at the Pa?auilo School, Cafeteria
Workshop materials fee: $10/adult. Keiki are free.
Please join us for a fun, interactive and informative 2-Part workshop on basic home composting. The first half of our workshop will focus on backyard composting. The second will discuss worm composting. A voucher for a free Earth Machine home composter will be given to each family participating. Help us keep Hawai?i green by composting home and yard green waste. Backyard composting doesn't have to be back-breaking or sweaty work. Learn how to do it the easy way and reap the benefit of improved soil! Composting with worms is an easy and fun way to save money and turn your kitchen scraps into garden "gold" or free fishing bait. Highlights include a "How To" demonstration on setting up your very own Worm Condo. We will also explore basic worm management, harvesting methods and more. Join us to learn about composting and worms in Hawai?i. Worms and some commercial units will be available. Call the instructor for more info. For more information, please e-mail Ann Hassler, the instructor: crazy4compost2@gmail.com or call 937-1100.

6th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
Date: August 2-5, 2012
Location: Burlington, Vermont
Visit the Web site.
Farm to Cafeteria began with the common goal of building strong communities, healthy individuals and resilient local farms. Across the country great progress has been made connecting farm-fresh foods with K-12 schools, pre-schools, childcare settings, colleges, universities, hospitals, prisons and beyond – now we are Digging In!

Energy Efficiency Training Workshop
Date: Friday, August 24, 2012, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: Aupuni Center Conference Room, Hilo, Hawai‘i
If your farm energy cost is too high and you want to reduce it but aren’t sure where to begin, this workshop will get you started. This workshop will educate you about energy efficiency and how to participate in various government cost-share programs.
Topics of the workshop include:
- How to better understand your utility bill
- Where energy is used on your farm
- Tips to save energy on your farm
- How to receive farm energy audits
- Various Federal programs that offer financial assistance for farm energy audits and energy efficiency improvements on your farm.
This workshop will be presented by energy experts from EnSave, Inc. Representatives from federal agencies will be on-hand to help you start saving more of your energy dollars. For more information contact Kawika Marquez at 808-987-9101 Don’t miss out register now!
Download the flyer.
Download the registration form.

Family Nutrition Nights: Special Evenings for families in East and West Hawai‘i
“Getting Back to Your Roots: Raising Healthy Keiki in Today’s World”
A special evening of nutritional information for the whole family with Vivienne Aronowitz. Please join us for an early evening of fun, facts, recipes, and food featuring healthy snacks for kids, and healthy family eating. Vivienne Aronowitz holds a Masters of Public Health and is a Registered Dietitian and a Certified Diabetes Educator. She is the nutritionist for all Kaiser Permanente Clinics on Hawai‘i Island as well as a nutrition consultant to individuals and other agencies.
West Hawai‘i
Date: Tuesday August 28, 2012, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: Kahakai Elementary Cafeteria
Please meet at the Kahakai School Garden at 5:00 p.m. for a Garden Tour. The Presentation will begin at 5:30 in the Cafeteria.
East Hawai‘i
Date: Wednesday, August 29, 2012, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: Hilo Union Elementary
Please meet in the School Cafeteria

Fall 2012

East Side Seed Exchange & Harvest Festival!
Date: Saturday, September 22, 2012 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Location: La‘akea Permaculture Community Meadow Space, Puna
Free Event.
Bring your favorite dishes using only locally grown food for the 2nd Annual 100% local food cook off and potluck! Optional competition for best savory and sweet dish. Bring Seeds only (please no plants, cuttings, or keikies etc).
o Exchange and give away localized seeds (bringing seeds not required)
o Hear a panel on "Preparing Local Favorite Foods"
o Enter the Local Cook Off!
o Try new taste delights at the Local Food Potluck!
o Meet your neighbors, other gardeners & innovative thinkers.

Schedule:
8:30 a.m Set up open (bring your own tables and chairs, and scrap paper for small packets for seeds)
9:00 a.m. Opening Circle
9:15 a.m. Seed Swap
10:00 a.m. Panel Presentation
11:45 a.m. 100% Local Food Contest
12:30 p.m. Local Food Potluck (bring your own plates, utensils, etc)
1:15 p.m. Marimba Dance with Mwenje
To enter the local foods cooking competition or to present your favorite local food please contact Tracy@permaculture-hawaii.com

Ku ‘Aina Pa Fall Cohort Workshop
Date: Saturday, September 22, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: Mala'ai Garden, Waimea Middle School, Waimea
Date: Sunday, September 23, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Captain Cook

STEM/School Gardens Planning Meeting
Date: Thursday, September 27, 2012, 3:00-4:00pm
Location: Hilo Union Elementary Library
Details: Meeting to discuss ways to incorporate STEM curriculum into school gardens
Followed by tour of student learning gardens at Hilo Union with 6th grade teacher Debbie Follett

Kohala Mountain Farm Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze Design Contest
Date: October 8-26, 2012
Location: Kohala Mountain Farm
Create a Field Trip for your students. Each tour tailored to your students grade level. This year the farm is cultivating 4 acres of pumpkins with a 5 acre corn maze! Tent Space will be available for lunch. Make reservations by e-mail. See the Web site for more information.

Na Kupu Mana‘olana
Seeds of Hope
Date: Saturday October 13, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. & Friday October 19, 2012 at 3:30 p.m.
Location: Regal Dole Cannery Stadium Theater, 735 Iwilei Rd Honolulu, HI
The story of Hawai‘i's return to local and traditional methods of growing food.
World premiere at the Hawai‘i International Film Festival.
For more information visit the Web site. For tickets go to: www.hiff.org
Read the media release.

"Seeds of Hope" Showing
Date: Sunday October 28, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.
Location: Palace Theater in Hilo
This will be part of the Hawai‘i International Film Festival that runs from Oct. 26th to Oct. 30th. Visit the Web site.

The 10th Annual West Hawai‘i Seed Exchange for Farmers, Gardeners, and Students
Date: Friday, November 2, 2012 3:00-5:30 p.m.
Location: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Captain Cook
Open to farmers, gardeners, and students from school garden programs. Please come and share saved seed with fellow gardeners, build community food security, and strengthen biodiversity. School gardens should RSVP with Nancy Redfeather.
A special pasta dinner will be served to students and parents of school garden programs at 5:30 p.m.

Hawai‘i Island Seed Production & Seed Saving Basics for Farmers & Gardeners Workshop
Dates:
Saturday, November 3, 2012 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 4, 2012 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Monday, November 5, 2012 Optional day of farm field trips for participants.
See Web site for more information and registration details.

STEM/School Gardens
Date: Friday, November 9, 2012, 3:00-5:00pm
Location: Hilo High School, Upper Garden Area
Details: How to Make a Classroom Worm Bin with Donna Mitts
Followed by tour of student learning gardens at Hilo High with Ag. Resource
Teacher Steve Nemeth

School Food Festivals
The HISGN is pleased to lend support School Festivals that bring attention and education to healthy eating and healthy lifestyles through the Beacon Award. School Makahiki Festivals will be held at the following schools:

Date: Saturday, November 17, 2012
Location: Mala‘ai Culinary Garden at the Waimea Middle School (check back for details)

Date: Saturday, November 17, 2012
Location: Kahakai Elementary School (check back for details)

Date: Friday December 14, 2012
Location: Kua O Ka La Public Charter School, Puna (check back for details)

Date: TBD
Location: Na‘alehu School, Ka‘u (check back for details)


Winter/Spring/Summer 2011

Sustainable Pollination with Natural Bee Keeping Practices with Jenny Bach
Saturday, January 29, 2011 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Location: Mala‘ai – The Culinary Garden at Waimea Middle School
Join us for an informative discussion and demonstration on honey bees and their importance for our island’s agricultural health and sustainability.

The Scoop on the Coop: Raising Chickens in Your Backyard Workshop
Saturday, February 12, 2011 10:00 a.m.–Noon
Location: Mala‘ai – The Culinary Garden at Waimea Middle School
Presenters: Ben and Deb Discoe
Chicken 101 class, including tips on local vegetation and backyard garden products you can feed your chickens.

Compost & Vermicompost Workshop with Piper Selden of Hawaii Rainbow Worms Saturday, February 19, 2011, 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Location: Pa‘auilo School Library
Compost Happens!!! Join us as Piper demonstrates back yard composting and worm composting techniques. The workshop is free but participants may get a high quality earth machine compost bin for $10. To register, please contact Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org or 936-2117.

High School Winter Workshop
Saturday, February 26, 2011, 9:00 a.m.-Noon.
Meeting at 9:00 a.m. at the King Lau Lau Poi Factory in Honoka‘a with Waipi‘o farmer Jim Cain. Meeting/sharing and tour of Laupahoehoe High School Farm to follow. Potluck lunch. RSVP with Donna Mitts dmitts@kohalacenter.org.

Natural Farming Methods with Drake Weinert
Saturday, March 5, 2011, 9:00 a.m.-Noon
Location: Laupahoehoe School Garden.
Learn how to improve soil fertility by assisting beneficial microbes in your garden.  Drake will present basic methods to improve the effectiveness of beneficial microbes enabling plants to grow to their full potential. Drake will demonstrate how to start your own microbial cultures with very little cost. Perfect for home or school garden applications. Followed by potluck picnic lunch in the garden.

Introduction to Hawaiian Herbalism with Kai Kaholokai
Saturday, March 12, 2011 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Location: Mala‘ai – The Culinary Garden at Waimea Middle School
This workshop is part of the Waimea Crop Share pilot project sponsored by the Richard Smart Fund and West Hawai‘i Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, and the Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i Region Community Benefit Fund in partnership with The Kohala Center and Mala‘ai school garden.

Kalalau Ranch & Victory Garden Tour with Jeno Enencencio
Saturday, March 26, 2011 9:00 a.m.-Noon
Location: Uncle Jeno’s in Wainaku (just before Hilo, coming from Hamakua). 
Join us for a day of educational fun at Uncle Jeno’s Farm. Demonstrations in Permaculture, earth pond, aquaculture, small animal and livestock care. Lunch will be provided after the tour. Uncle Jeno will be making cowboy beef stew and drinks will be provided. 

Vermicomposting Workshop
Saturday, April 2, 2011 10:00 a.m.–Noon
Location: Mala‘ai – The Culinary Garden at Waimea Middle School
Presenter: Dr. Norman Arancon
Learn how to establish a worm composting system for your home or garden.
This workshop is part of the Waimea Crop Share pilot project sponsored by the Richard Smart Fund and West Hawai‘i Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, and the Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i Region Community Benefit Fund in partnership with The Kohala Center and Mala‘ai school garden.

Greening Your School - How School Garden Classes Can Fuel a Zero-Waste Revolution
Saturday, April 16 2011, 9:00 a.m.-Noon
Location: Innovations Public Charter School, Kona. 
Garden Teacher Krista Donaldson will share her strategies for reducing and eliminating waste at our schools via education through our school garden programs. Tea and pupus will be served.

Talk Story with Chad Paishon, Hawaiian Voyager and Paniolo      
He Wa‘a he Moku, he Moku he Wa‘a: The canoe is an island, the island is a canoe
Saturday, April 30, 2011 10:30 a.m.- Noon
Location: Mala‘ai – The Culinary Garden at Waimea Middle School
This workshop is part of the Waimea Crop Share pilot project sponsored by the Richard Smart Fund and West Hawai‘i Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, and the Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i Region Community Benefit Fund in partnership with The Kohala Center and Mala‘ai school garden.

Plant Sale      
Saturday, April 30, 2011 9:00 a.m.-Noon
Location: Waimea Country School, St. James Circle
Vegetable starts, herbs, landscaping plants, fruits, garden crafts, and much more!
All proceeds directly support the WCS school garden program.
For more information call 885-0067, or e-mail info@waimeacountryschool.org
Download the flyer.

Composting/Vermicomposting Workshop, Piper Selden, Hawaii Rainbow Worms
Saturday, June 11, 2011 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Location: Pa‘auilo School
Piper has helped many Hawai‘i Island residents learn the art of composting. Join us for a free workshop at Pa‘auilo School. After the workshop, garden teacher Donna Mitts will give a tour of the school garden and Wormville, a mid-scale worm composting system used to convert cafeteria food waste into valuable fertilizer.

Field Trials at Kalalau Ranch - Organic vs. Natural Farming Methods
Saturdays: June 25, Sept 24 & Dec 17, 2011 9:00 a.m.–Noon
Location: Kalalau Ranch & Victory Garden, Wainaku (just outside of Hilo)
Jeno Enencencio will be hosting three community gatherings as we observe and compare organic and natural farming methods on several crops at Kalalau. Pot luck lunch & talk story afterwards. Drinks provided. Please wear sturdy shoes or boots, and bring a water bottle.

Planting Seeds of Hope: Growing the Next Generation
Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha Farm in Makaha, O‘ahu
July 7-8, 2011
Click here to see the photo gallery.

4th Annual Hawai‘i School Garden Conference will be held July 7-8, 2011, at the
Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha Farm on the Waianae Coast, O‘ahu
Conference Web site: http://kohalacenter.org/plantinghope/about.html   
Applications and draft agenda for the Conference will be posted by March 15 on this page. Teams of two (2) from each school are recommended.

Culinary & Gardening Garage Sale to benefit Mala‘ai School Garden
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Location: Waimea Homestead Farmers' Market on the lawn at Kuhio Hale (Hawaiian Homes Hall)
Clever gadgets, heart-tugging treasures, and great bargains will be among the finds offered during Waimea’s 3rd “Culinary and Garden Garage Sale”. Great finds donated to the garage sale include such clever gadgets as “a lawn shark” (a tool that looks like a serrated-edge pie cutter on a long handle for edging sod), a “garden weasel” (a miniature hand cultivator for working up soil), and a “hula hoe” (a tool that looks like rotating spurs on a long wooden handle, used to hand-till soil). Also included in the growing list of treasures are a wide array of cookbooks from the shelves of many of Waimea’s best cooks plus culinary collectibles such as a plantation-era sieve, beautiful serving platters, dishes and glassware, linens, and contemporary kitchen appliances and garden equipment. Sponsored by Slow Food Hawai‘i with kokua from the Waimea Homestead Farmers’ Market, the fundraiser will support the now seven-year-old Mala‘ai school garden, which has become a statewide model for hands-on, experiential learning focused on growing and sharing fresh, organic produce and, in the process, supporting student and community health, wellness, environmental and cultural stewardship and academic progress. Donations are still welcome. Please drop them off at Waimea Middle School’s office or call Slow Food Hawai‘i Leader Clare Bobo (936-6511) or Mala‘ai school garden Board member Jeanne Oshima (887-1027).

Compost/Worm Compost Workshop Two Locations!
Date: Saturday, October 22, 2011, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Location: Waimea Country School, 10:00 a.m–Noon
Location: Pa‘auilo School Cafeteria, 2-4pm
Sponsored by Hawaii Rainbow Worms & Recycle Hawaii
For more information or to register contact Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org or call 936-2117.

Practical Agriculture for Hamakua 2011
Supporting Sustainable Agriculture through Classes and Farm Tours
Location: North Hawai‘i Education & Research Center, Honoka‘a
Dates: September-November 2011 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
$10 per class; Senior & Student rate: $5 per class
To register for classes or farm tours, contact Donna Mitts at 808-936-2117
Sponsored by Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation & Hawai‘i County Department of Research & Development
Click here to see the schedule online.
Download the flyer.

2011 West Hawai‘i Seed Exchange
Date: Saturday, November 5, 2011 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Location: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden
Click here to see the flyer.
Please bring envelopes for gathering seed. Farmers and Gardeners please bring viable saved seed/roots/corm/cuttings of food crops that are labeled with variety name if known. For more information, please contact Diana Duff hokudi@aol.com.

East Side Seed Exchange & Harvest Festival!
Date: November 26, 2011 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Location: La‘akea Permaculture Community Meadow Space
Click here to see the flyer.
Free Event
Bring your favorite dishes using only locally grown food for the 100% LOCAL FOOD COOK OFF AND POTLUCK!! Optional competition for best main dish, side dish, and desert—contact tracy@permaculture-hawaii.com for more information.
Bring seeds only (please no plants, cuttings, or keiki, etc).
• Exchange and give away localized seeds (bringing seeds not required)
• Hear a panel on "Growing Local Favorite Foods"
• Enjoy Hula performances or Dance to Marimba Music!
• Enter the Local Cook Off!
• Try new taste delights at the Local Food Potluck!
• Meet your neighbors, other gardeners, and innovative thinkers

Beginning Grant Writing with Koh Ming Wei
Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011 9:00 a.m.–Noon,
Location: The Energy Lab at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy http://www.hpa.edu/academics/energy-lab
Participants will be assisted in finding a grant opportunity to match their needs and begin the application process in class. Please bring a flash drive to save your work and a lunch. We will also be able to tour this state of the art facility with Ming Wei.  “The Energy Lab at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy is the first of its kind in the world—a facility for students by students that will connect these young people and their schools, allowing them to collaborate and develop sustainable living.”


Winter/Spring/Summer 2010

Permaculture Design Course
January 5–21, 2010
It is time to re-enmesh human activities with the genius of natural systems. Learn one of the most potent methodologies for cultivating personal and community resilience. Taught at an extensive family farm and rare plant nursery, students will gain hands-on experience with small animal systems, perennial food gardens, naturalizing plant communities, and agro-nutrifiers—an integrated approach to wastewater management and food forestry. Manifest the subtle observational powers for designing places that accelerate evolutionary abundance. Taught amidst the ultramarine waters and eye-poppingly abundant food jungles, Hawai‘i Island offers a unique natural and cultural setting for learning permaculture. Witness the revival of the traditional ahupua‘a system of foodshed democracy and the active volcano Kiluaea as it is currently forming some of our planets youngest land. Learn amongst some of the most dedicated and visionary leaders in sustainability. Transform your life—help steer our species towards hope.

Location: Uluwehi Farm and Nursery, North Kohala
Instructors: Craig Elevitch, Nik Bertulis, Tom Baldwin, and other special guests
Cost: $900
To apply, e-mail talkstory@uluwehifarm.com or call 808-889-5035.
For more information, visit uluwehifarm.com.

Body & Soil Conference
Presented by Hawaii Aloha Aina Association (Ha‘a)
January 23-24, 2010
Theme: Culturing the Micro-Flora of the Body and the Soil
Location: Waiaha Farms, Kailua-Kona
Presenters: Jerry Brunetti, Dr. Paul Hepperly, Michael Martin Melendrez, and Theresa Vernon.
Register here.

Practical Garden Tool Care
Saturday, February 13, 2010, 9:00 a.m.–Noon
Two long-time tool makers and restorers share their lifelong knowledge of tools, their use, care and restoration. Potluck to Follow.

Location: The Mala‘ai Culinary Garden, Waimea Middle School
Instructors: Gerry Herbert and John Holland
Cost: Free to HISGN Teachers/Volunteers
Contact: Amanda Rieux at iamrieux@speakeasy.net

Natural Farming Seminar with Master Cho
Saturday, February 26-28, 2010, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Come and learn how to recycle the nutrients found in your garden to create vibrant plant and soil health.
Location:UH CTAHR Farm in Hilo
Cost: $50

Saturday, March 6, 2010, 7:00 a.m.–Noon
Mala‘ai Culinary Garden of the Waimea Middle School and the Hawai‘i Island School Garden
Network host "First Saturday," a day of knowledge-sharing mini-workshops geared to home gardeners. Come and check out this vibrant market and meet some of the HISGN teachers.
Location: Waimea Farmers’ Market
Cost: Free
Contact: Amanda Rieux at iamrieux@speakeasy.net

Kalo: The Traditional Mo‘olelo and Dryland Cultivation
Saturday, March 13, 2010, 9:00 a.m.–Noon
Learn to grow taro right in your own backyard for your family and friends! Potluck to follow.
Location: The Mala‘ai School Garden, Waimea Middle School
Instructors: Lanakila Mangauil
Cost: Free
Contact: Amanda Rieux at iamrieux@speakeasy.net

Seeds and Saving Seed from your Garden
Saturday March 20, 2010, 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Learn all about seed and beginning skills of seed saving. We will be cleaning recently saved seed from Nancy's gardens and talking about selecting and saving many common varieties of food crops. Free for all HISGN Teachers and Volunteers! Potluck to follow. Bring some envelopes to bring home cleaned seed!
Location: The Mala‘ai Culinary Garden of the Waimea Middle School
Instructor: Nancy Redfeather
Contact: To RSVP, e-mail Amanda Rieux at iamrieux@speakeasy.net

Garden Tour with School Garden Teacher Donna Mitts
Saturday, March 27, 2010, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Location: Pa‘auilo Elementary and Intermediate School Garden
Instructor: Donna Mitts
Cost: Free
Contact: Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org

Home Composting – Compost Heaps and Vermiculture
Saturday, April 3, 2010, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Location: Mala‘ai Culinary Garden, Waimea Middle School
Instructors: Garden Teacher Amanda Rieux and Dr. Norman Arancon, UH Hilo.
Cost: Free for all Garden Teachers/Volunteers
Contact: Amanda Rieux at iamrieux@speakeasy.net

Spring Plant Sale at the Waimea Country School
Saturday, April 17, 2010, 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Hundreds of plants to sell: flowers, vegetable starts, landscaping plants, and more. All proceeds directly support the school's Garden Program.

Hua Ka Hua - Restore Our Seed - A Public Seed Symposium
Saturday and Sunday, April 17-18, 2010 - All day
This two-day educational symposium will be perfect for all garden teachers/volunteers/gardeners interested in learning to grow, select, save, and store seed. This old knowledge has slipped away in the past 20 years and will be renewed and revived leading to a great food self-reliance that can be passed on to students to build a sustainable food future for Hawai‘i (see www.kohalacenter.org/seedsymposium/about.html. A limited number of full scholarships are available for Garden Teachers/Volunteers. Please e-mail nredfeather@kohalacenter.org if interested ASAP. Free camping is available at Kawanui Farm in Kainaliu—just 10 minutes from the hotel.
Location: Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort

HISGN at the Earth Day Fair
Saturday, April 24, 2010, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
HISGN will be hosting an interactive table "Feed the Soil: Making Compost in Your Backyard or Lanai" at the Earth Day Fair in Keauhou with Nancy Redfeather. This is a community event focusing on our natural environment and creating learning opportunities for our keiki and community. If you would like to help out at the HISGN booth, please contact Nancy Redfeather 322-2801. E komo mai!
Location: Keauhou Beach Resort & Kahalu‘u Beach Park
Contact: Nancy Redfeather at 322-2801

Art in the Garden
Saturday, April 24, 2010, 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Join Becky Settlage (UH CTAHR), Janice Crowl (author and master gardener), Nelson Denman (professional cellist and ecotroubadour), Donna Mitts and Chioke Mims (school garden teachers) for an afternoon of art, literature, poetry, music, and ideas for Art in the Garden Setting.
Location: Hawai‘i Academy of Arts & Sciences (HAAS) - Pahoa
Cost: Free to all HISGN Teachers and Volunteers
Contact: To RSVP, e-mail Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org.

Cooking From The Garden
Saturday, May 1, 2010, 9:00 to Noon
Spend May Day with Matilda Thompson and Amanda Rieux who team up to share tasty healthy recipes prepared with ingredients right out of the garden! Potluck to follow.
Location: The Mala‘ai Culinary Garden, Waimea Middle School
Cost: Free for Garden Teachers/Volunteers
Contact: To RSVP, e-mail Amanda Rieux at iamrieux@speakeasy.net.

Vermicomposting for Your Home/School Gardens
Saturday, May 8, 2010, 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Dr. Norman Arancon, professor of Organic Agriculture at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo will share his secrets about how to create fertility in your soil and health in your plants through worm farming on a small or large scale. Please join us for a fun afternoon with the "Worm Expert" of Hawai‘i Island and return home with everything you need to know to set up a worm box and begin building abundant, healthy, and beautiful gardens!
Location: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, UCB 111
Cost: Free for HISGN Garden Teachers/Volunteers
Contact: To RSVP, contact Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org.

End of Year Garden Tour with Nancy Redfeather
Saturday, May 15, 2010, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Begin at Kawanui Farm in Honalo for the morning coffee ceremony with Gerry Herbert (who grows 12 varieties), take a tour of Nancy and Gerry's farm, and then head to the beautiful garden of Margaret Krimm in Honaunau. Margaret has been growing her own food, herbs, flowers, and medicine for a lifetime, and her gardens are legendary. Please join us for this once in a lifetime view of the world according to Margaret. Potluck lunch to follow at Kawanui Farm. Free for all HISGN Teachers/Volunteers/Supporters. We will also discuss "Putting the School Garden to Sleep for the Summer." Group limited to 20.

School Garden Grant Writing Workshop with Koh Ming Wei at the Hawai‘i Sustainable Education Initiative (HSEI) in downtown Honoka‘a.
Monday, June 7, 2010, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Please bring a lunch. Free for all Garden/Classroom Teachers.

8th Annual Hawai‘i Island Seed Exchange-Summer Solstice Celebration
Saturday, June 19, 2010, 9:00 a.m.–Noon
Join us for a morning of seed swapping and network with farmers and gardeners interested in seed work. Hear updates on Hawai'i Island Seed Working Groups and bring your students, saved seed, and summer solstice energy. Food (vegetarian/non-vegetarian/organic) by Howie Simon from the Lotus Cafe. Dessert Potluck Buffet to follow. Don't forget your envelopes to collect seed and bring a mat/chair to sit on. Questions? Call Nancy Redfeather 322-2801.
Location: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Captain Cook

Smart By Nature–Growing A School Garden Curriculum
July 16-18, 2010
This summer's School Garden Teacher Conference, a project of The Kohala Center, will be very special indeed. It will take place at The Mala‘ai Culinary Garden of the Waimea Middle School on July 16-18. Garden Teachers and Island Garden Education Coordinators will be coming from Kaua‘i, Maui, and O‘ahu, and joining with Hawai‘i Island teachers. The Center For Ecoliteracy in Berkeley, California, will be partnering with The Kohala Center and the HISGN Program to interweave their school garden curriculum "Big Ideas" into a practical hands-on seminar that will assist our Garden Teachers in their development of a curriculum that is both relevant to today and tomorrow's world and also connects with classroom curriculum and State benchmarks to bring learning alive in a living outdoor classroom/laboratory.

Presenters from the Center for Ecoliteracy will be Executive Director Zenobia Barlow and Director of Education Carolie Sly; Creative Director Karen Brown will be joining School Garden Leaders from O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island. Our focus for this Conference will be "Smart by Nature - Growing School Garden Curriculum."

See the entire Conference Schedule. You can register for the Conference by e-mailing info@kohalacenter.org.

Also, for more information, please look at The Center For Ecoliteracy's Web site www.ecoliteracy.org.

For specific questions, please call Nancy Redfeather at 322-2801. A list of area accommodations is available—e-mail nredfeather@kohalacenter.org.

Wrap A Garden, at The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 4:30–6:00 p.m.  
Student led garden tours; make garden food and crafts.

Dig In! Slow Food’s Community Workday for Hawai‘i Island’s School Gardens
Saturday, September 25, 2010 9:00 a.m.–Noon. 
Come help our school gardens for a morning. Please bring a potluck dish to share for lunch and your own plate and utensils. We’re thinking sustainability!  Please RSVP at one of the six school contacts listed below:

1. Honoka‘a High School: Manuel Jadulang, Agriculture Teacher
RSVP manuel_jadulang@notes.k12.hi.us

2. The Mala‘ai Culinary Garden of the Waimea Middle School: Amanda Rieux, Garden Teacher
RSVP alethea@malaai.org

3. Kealakehe High School: Donna Sonnenberg, Agriculture Teacher
RSVP dlsonnenberg@gmail.com

4. Kona Pacific Public Charter School: Barrow Hutchison Garden Teacher; RSVP barrowhutchison@yahoo.ca

5. Kohala Elementary School: Koh Ming Wei, Garden Teacher
RSVP mwkoh@kohalacenter.org

6. Innovations Public Charter School: Krista Donaldson, Garden Teacher
RSVP kristajoan@gmail.com

Download the flyer.

A Day at the Pa‘auilo School Garden – Animals in the Garden!
Saturday, October 2, 2010 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Location: Upper Campus, Pa‘auilo Elementary & Intermediate School
Schedule:
11:00 a.m.–Noon: Growing Good Kids – Starting a School Garden 4-H Club
12:00–2:00 p.m.: Incorporating Small Animals in the School Garden
2:00–4:00 p.m.: Compost/Vermicompost Workshop with Piper Selden

Backyard and Worm Composting Workshop
Saturday, October 2, 2010, 10:00 a.m.–Noon
Location: Waimea Country School garden.
Workshop materials fee: $10/adult; free for keiki.

Please join us for a fun, interactive, and informative 2-Part workshop on basic home composting. The first half of our workshop will focus on backyard composting. The second will discuss worm composting. A voucher for a FREE Earth Machine home composter will be given to each family participating.

Workshop details: Help us keep Hawai‘i green by composting home and yard green waste. Backyard composting doesn't have to be back-breaking or sweaty work. Learn how to do it the easy way, and reap the benefit of improved soil! Composting with worms is an easy and fun way to save money and turn your kitchen scraps into garden "gold" or free fishing bait. Highlights include a "How To" demonstration on setting up your very own Worm Condo. We will also explore basic worm management, harvesting methods and more. Join us to learn about composting and worms in Hawai‘i. A voucher for a FREE backyard composter is included in the workshop fee. Worms and some commercial units will be available.

Workshops sponsored by our friends at Recycle Hawai‘i and funded by the County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management. Go to www.recyclehawaii.org - and click on Calendar of Events for the next workshop near you.

For more information, please e-mail the workshop’s instructor Piper Selden: piper@hawaii.edu, or call 937-2233.

Growing the Future of Agriculture: Ecoliteracy & Agriculture for High School Students on Hawai‘i Island
Saturday, October 16, 2010, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Location: UHH Farm
All high school agriculture and garden teachers are invited to participate. A lunch of barbecue and locally grown foods will be prepared. Discussion, grant possibilities, tour of UH farm, vermicomposting/ cover crops/student projects with Dr. Bill Steiner, Dean; Dr. Norman Arancon; Althea Magno; and Manuel Jadulang.

Please RSVP by October 1, to althea_magno@notes.k12.hi.us.

Sponsored by The Kohala Center/Hawai‘i Island School Garden Network, and the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo College of Tropical Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management.

Download the flyer.

PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE FOR HAMAKUA 2010
Supporting Sustainable Agriculture through Classes and Farm Tours
September–November, 2010

Download the flyer.

Kalalau Ranch & Victory Garden Tour with Jeno Enoncencio
Saturday, December 4, 2010, 9:00 a.m.–Noon
Location: Uncle Jeno’s in Wainaku (just before Hilo, coming from Hamakua)
Join us for a day of educational fun at Uncle Jeno’s Farm. Demonstrations in permaculture, earth pond, aquaculture, small animal and livestock care. Participants will harvest and prepare lunch on site.

Holiday Reception and Farm Tour at Kawanui Farm
Saturday, December 11, 2010, 3:00–6:00 p.m.
For Garden Teachers and Supporters of School Gardens
Please RSVP nredfeather@kohalacenter.org by December 10.
Sponsored by the HISGN and Ka Ohana O Na Pua

Kaiser Doctors School Garden Workday
January 17, 2011, 8:00–Noon with lunch following
Location: Community School Garden Workdays will be held at Hilo High School, Kahakai Elementary in Kailua-Kona, and Mala‘ai – The Culinary Garden at Waimea Middle School
For the second year in a row, the Kaiser Permanente Clinics on Hawai‘i Island will close on Monday, January 17 and spend the day with their families and staff at three school gardens on Hawai‘i Island. All tools and supplies will be provided but please bring a hat and your work gloves. If you plan to attend you must RSVP with Nancy Redfeather no later than January 12, 2011 via e-mail nredfeather@kohalacenter.org or call 322-2801.

Intermediate Grant Writing Workshop with Ming Wei Koh
Saturday, January 22, 2011, 9:00 a.m.–Noon
Location: The Kohala Center, Waimea
Expand your grant writing techniques With Ming Wei, a talented and successful grant writer. Strengthen grant writing skills and strategies. You will be expected to contact Ming Wei at least three weeks prior to the workshop to discuss your needs, so that she can find a specific grant for you to work on during the workshop.


Winter/Spring/Summer 2009

Slow Food's "Time for Lunch Campaign"
Monday, September 7, 2009, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Download the flyer.
Schools across the USA are scheduling "Eat-Ins" on this day in an effort to bring awareness and attention to the need for Congress to take action this fall to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act, which includes updating the National School Lunch Program to get "real food" into school lunches, to protect against food that threatens children's health, and to teach good health in gardens and kitchen classrooms. For more information about planning an event at your school, visit www.slowfoodusa.org/timeforlunch. Contact Nan Piianaia at Slow Food Hawai‘i at nap2@flex.com or 808-885-6085. if you are planning an "Eat-In" at your school garden or campus, also contact Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org.

Sustainable Agriculture Classes: Practical Agriculture for Hamakua 2009
Classes from September 14 - December 15
Download the flyer.
$140 tuition fee for entire series or $12 per instructional class
Special student rate - $4.00 per class & work exchanges available
To register or for more information contact Donna Mitts: 808-936-2117 or e-mail dmitts@kohalacenter.org.

HISGN Student Farmers' Market
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Join the HISGN Student Farmers' Market at the Kohala Country Fair. Last year, many schools participated in this well-attended, festive and fun event. Students from participating schools brought food grown by students in their own school gardens, value-added products made by students, and plants started by students and made available for sale. Folks who stopped by the farmers' market enjoyed talking with students and buying produce and other products. To reserve a table at the HISGN Student Farmers' Market for your school garden or ag program, please contact Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org

HISGN Teacher's Meeting - California Garden Teacher Training and Volunteer Development for Your Program - Amanda Rieux
Waimea Middle School-Mala‘ai Garden
Saturday, October 10, 1-4 p.m.

"Seeds of Hope"—Na Kupu Mana ‘Olana
Friday, October 16, 2009, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Enjoy a gourmet luncheon aboard the Golden Princess Cruise Lines in Hilo on October 16, declared by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization as "World Food Day." This fundraiser for HISGN programs features many of local dignitaries, who will share their visions for a more sustainable and self-reliant food future for Hawai‘i. Honored guests are School Garden Teachers and High School Agriculture Teachers. If you would like to be a table captain for this event, please send an RSVP ASAP to Nancy Redfeather at nredfeather@kohalacenter.org. 200 seats are available aboard the Golden Princess and there is no charge for table captains. Click here to go to the event Web site, and e-mail info@kohalacenter.org to purchase tickets.

Hawaii Food Self-Sufficiency: Where We Need to Go From Here
Friday October 16, 2009, 5 p.m.
Hilo Boys and Girls Club
Pupus, Garden Visit and Panel Discussion
Panelists: Nancy Redfeather, The Kohala Center; Manu Meyer, UH Hilo; Margarita Hopkins, Hawaii County R & D; Russell Nagata, CTAHR, Komohana Ag Complex
Moderator: Richard Ha
Download the flyer.

Hamakua Alive!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
The premier festival on the Hamakua Coast is large and well- attended. Sign up early to have a table for your program at the HISGN Student Farmers' Market booth. There is no charge for this worthy fundraising opportunity for all school gardens and high school ag programs. Send an RSVP to Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org.

E Malama ‘Aina Sustainability Festival
Saturday, November 7, 2009
This yearly festival on the bayfront of Hilo town is sponsored by the Hawai'i Island Chamber of Commerce and is dedicated to creating a sustainable future on Hawai‘i Island. Please join us with a table at the HISGN Student Farmers' Market booth. There is no charge for this event. Send an RSVP with to Donna Mitts at dmitts@kohalacenter.org.


HISGN Past Events, School Year 2008–2009

School Showcase Meetings

Parker School - Waimea
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., April 18, 2009
Shelly Kaiyala

Hawai‘i Sustainable Education Initiative – Honoka‘a
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., May 16, 2009
Koh Ming Wei

Taste of Konawaena
Konawaena High School
April 17, 2009
30 food stations created by the school's culinary students with an annual attendance of over 500 people

Ho‘ea‘ea: Return to Freedom - Food Sovereignty Conference
Lihikai, Keaukaha, Hilo
June 10–14, 2009

Hawai‘i Island Seed Exchange
Amy Greenwell Garden, Captain Cook
8:30 a.m. –12:30 p.m., June 12–13, 2009
Friday evening camping and Saturday event

Garden Teacher Workshop
"Building our Skills, Extending our Knowledge, Sharing our Successes"
Kawanui Farm
June 26–28, 2009