Project: Seed Production Of Three Market Crops
Location: Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
Grantee: Shekinah Carillo
Abstract: Milk and Honey Farm is currently growing Lutz beets for market, producing approximately 500 pounds per month. We currently grow the Lutz beet but find it difficult to acquire a consistent supply of this heirloom seed. Our goal is to grow clean and store seed of Lutz beets, giant Italian flat leaf parsley, and Dale Sorghum. A Planet Jr. People Seeder with appropriately sized plates and a 20×96 Conley’s CF Series 1000 high tunnel will be purchased and erected with grant funds to protect our flowering and seeding plants from wind and rainfall. Low-lying tunnels are too hot for plants to be successfully grown to seed and a high tunnel is a better option as it allows for adequate airflow, less temperature variation, and better access to plants for monitoring and maintenance. Seed growing will follow protocol guidelines outlined by the Organic Seed Alliance with a selection of 120 to 200 roots. When roots are mature they will be lifed and sorted, with the best prepared for vernalization in a dedicated refrigerator for two months. In spring 2015 we will replant healthy roots for seed production. We hope to continue to raise these seeds for successive generations, allowing them to adapt to our particular environment. Extra seed will be given to HPSI members to grow out in different climates, as well as to local seed libraries.
All seed-growing processes will be either photographed or videoed and made available to HPSI. As an opportunity to participate and learn from this experience, the selection, harvest, preparation for storage, and all methodology will be offered as a workshop to Hawai‘i Island HPSI members.
Project: Maui Seed And Plant Exchange And Educational Events
Location: Maui
Grantee: Evan Ryan and Elan Goldbart
Abstract: Hold a summer seed and plant exchange and a fall harvest seed and plant exchange. To build momentum towards the exchanges we will:
- Host four (4) regional seed saving workshops in different parts of the island.
- Build a website with information on seed saving for the community to access, which will also host a seed-saving forum.
We will also share two to four small presentations on seed saving in partnership with other agriculturally focused organizations. Through these educational opportunities we will build towards the vision of a long-term seed cooperative, a “living seed” repository, and a movement in support of seeds for our future.
We will bring together a community of people who can be politically active on issues related to organic seed production and will periodically host a farmer’s market booth with educational materials to share with growers.
Project: Hāmākua Corn Variety Trial
Location: Pa‘auilo, Hawai‘i Island
Grantee: Marielle Hampton
Abstract: To develop an economically viable organic system for small-scale sweet corn production on the Hāmākua Coast. This variety trial will help farmers identify the major challenges facing an organic corn operation in Hawai‘i, compare varieties, and devise potential solutions. The project will prepare farmers to grow corn seed next summer (2015), a promising step toward future feed corn or sweet corn seed production for market and on-farm use. Johnny’s Seeds and Baker Creek are two distributors who have already expressed interest in purchasing Hawai‘i-grown seed. Two certified organic co-op farms participating in the variety trial will plant blocks of sweet corn using their respective standard farm practices adapted to accommodate the needs of the crop.
The farms will plant the following varieties from Hawai‘i Foundation Seed (HFS) based on the brittle-1 gene:
- #9 (open-pollinated, yellow)
- #9 silver (OP, white)
- #10 (3-way hybrid)
Dr. Jim Brewbaker will also donate samples of eight experimental “HiThai” corn hybrid varieties.
Farmers will plant four-row blocks of each variety side-by-side each week for at least eight weeks. (8 replications with the three HFS varieties including one HiThai hybrid per week.) Each replication will use a randomized placement of varieties to account for any field effects.
Weed competition and nitrogen availability are two main challenges the trial seeks to address. Both farms will cover crop with a mix of black oats, grass, and legumes, which will be tilled in as green manure. The black oats are intended to prevent weed germination along with properly timed tilling and the legumes will add nitrogen.
Prior to planting, one farm will chop and till-in gliricidia for nitrogen along with the application of compost and possibly an organic fertilizer. They will plant using a Jang Clean Seeder with a sweet corn roller. Plants will be top dressed when they reach 1-1.5 ft.
The second farm will incorporate fertilizers pre-planting and top dress as well. They will then plant corn in trays to be later transplant into the field.
Russell Nagata will lead a workshop on variety trials where we will disseminate informative materials and showcase the project. We will publicize the workshop through the Hāmākua Ag Co-op blog and events calendars on other websites including news outlets. The results of the trial will also be published online on the Hāmākua Ag Co-op’s site blog.
Project: Seed Share Station Informational Materials
Location: O‘ahu
Grantee: Gaye Chan
Abstract: We will print educational cards on seed saving that will be distributed to all O‘ahu SHARE SEEDS stations. As of spring 2014 there are approximately 18 SHARE SEEDS stations on O‘ahu. They provide a mechanism for the free exchange of seeds—for long-time growers as well as the curious novice. Anyone and everyone can take and leave seeds, thus promoting a sense of welcome and community. Some are permanent stations at locations such as community centers, libraries, and cafes. Other stations are more nomadic. They make regular appearances at farmers markets, workshops, and festivals. This latter category is often coupled with lessons on seed saving and gardening.
Funds from this mini-grant will allow for the production of simple informative literature cards that will help Seed Share station participants to save high-quality, viable seed.
Project: Growing squash varieties For Hawai‘i
Location: Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
Grantee: Anna Peach
Abstract: Since the introduction of pickleworm to Hawai‘i a decade ago, the local squash crop has floundered; currently over 95% of squash is imported. The goal of this project is to develop and distribute vigorous, viable squash seed and give local farmers a better chance at growing market-worthy local produce. A long-range goal is to increase the number of year-round squash growers on island and begin to reclaim a lost market for Hawai‘i. Education and development of resistant varieties will encourage farmers and gardeners to enter this market as either a primary or secondary crop. Educational efforts will include: (1) teaching how to hand pollinate the heirloom varieties that have proven to be resistant to Hawai‘i’s pests and plant diseases, and (2) teaching how to properly process and dry the seeds prior to packaging them. An informational growers guide will help educate the growers. Workshops and online presence will give growers a place to ask questions, and share stories.
Four one-hour workshops will be offered in October. Workshops will include pollination and seed-saving demonstration of squash and distribution of seeds to take home. Seeds and instructions will be distributed by mid-November.
Project: Online Crop Variety Mapping Tool
Location: Hawai‘i Island
Grantee: Ilana Stout
Abstract: To produce an interactive map or set of maps that allows growers to compare their growing conditions (rainfall, elevation, temperature, soil) to those of other growers within the network. Each individual grower will provide information on varieties of seed that they have found to be successful in their island location.
This project will be implemented with the advice/assistance of Dr. Ryan Perroy, Geographic Information Systems instructor at UH Hilo.
Identification of interested participants, varieties and growing locations will require interacting with HPSI members on all islands. To identify needs and plan the mapping project I will collaborate with Lyn Howe, Hawai`i Public Seed Initiative and Russell Nagata, CTAHR, Hilo.
The steps to finish this product will be as follows:
- Identify scope and needs
- Reach out to interested growers: request location information, basic information on successful crops or varieties
- Produce maps of island growing conditions (as there are four factors, it will likely be necessary to produce at least two maps)
- Populate grower database with variety data
- Add grower location data to map
- Usability testing; revisions