Progress 09/15/22 to 09/14/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The North Kohala district encompasses a land area totaling 133 square miles with a total population of 5,998 (Censusreporter.org). Of the total population, approximately 11.5% are living below the poverty line with an average household per capita income of $38,945.00. The North Kohala populace is a diverse population with 22% of residents identifying as 2 or more races, 8% of residents identifying as pacific islanders, 17% as Hispanic, and 20% as Asian. North Kohala also presents a majority of female residents at 54%. These statistics clearly state that the North Kohala community is composed of marginalized demographics alongside its economic strife.Our primary target audience is beginning farmers with 1-20 acres of land. Changes/Problems:For beginning farmers we covered most of what is needed through various classes and hands on workshops, but to improve our project we would add more in depth workshops on pest management and challenges with growing in the tropics. We only had one class on that subject, but from feedback we learned that beginning (and experienced) farmers need more technical support and methods to deal with pests in Hawai'i. Secondly, we would teach propagation methods important with many crops grown in Hawa'i'i such as air layering, grafting, and cuttings. In regards to structure of the training, we would improve it to be less class days and have each class be longer and even more intensive so that the amount of days participants need to show up are reduced. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Hands-on experiential learning and vocational training was provided over the course of 9 months. Thorough curriculum offered from a ground up approach. Participants were given valuable knowledge, firsthand experience and hands-on training through a variety of workshops, lectures and farm volunteer days. A basic foundation for beginner farmers was provided through the following core subjects: Soil Biology & Structure, Compost Building, Vegetable Production, Animal Husbandry, Propagation, Seed Saving, Integrative Pest Management, Invasive Species Control, Korean Natural Farming, Hawaiian Cultural Applications in Agriculture, Basic Business Practices for Farming, Agroforestry & Syntropic Style Farming, Soil Fertility, Irrigation Systems & Nursery Management? How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Ongoing community engagement through a variety of on-farm activities such as volunteer days, year-end celebrations, community gatherings and more. Learning materials & resources for continued education were given to all participants throughout the yearvia email and printed copies Future field trips/site visits to farms in the region What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Graduated 10 beginning farmers Provided a supportive and accessible agricultural network Kohala Food Hub is a reliable market that has increased sales direct to consumers by 163% Network of farmers contributing to KFH Feeding programs was strengthened 39% Increased subject overall comprehension and agricultural skill sets by 86% Increased participants' interest and ability to grow produce by 93% Increased participants interest and skill to grow food commercially by 60% Increased crop diversity within cohort by adding taro to their production for 90% of participants
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
https://gofarmhawaii.org/2023-gofarm-hawaii-hip-agriculture-agbusiness-workshop/
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Progress 09/15/22 to 09/14/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The overall target audience for HIP Ag's Beginner Farmer Training Program (BFTP) is North Kohala-based backyard growers and small-scale novice producers. The total population of the North Kohala region is 6,490, of which 22% live below the poverty line. The median age in the North Kohala community is 45.1 years of age, and the average per capita income is slightly below the rest of the state ($35,567.00) at $33,556.00 (Censusreporter.org). As is common in most rural communities, many of our residents live in multigenerational households, where they are often responsible for supporting or contributing to the well-being of their extended family members, given the immense expenses necessary to sustain average living costs in the state of Hawaii which are generally rated at a 170 out of 100 on the national average. Living within the current financial climate creates the essential need for further economic and supplemental income opportunities. Thus, HIP Ag's BFTP was created to rectify this issue. HIP Ag's BFTP works directly to combat the economic and age-related issues North Kohala's agricultural industry faces. The program will focus on 2 main objectives: 1. Increasing farmers and farmer capacity for production and 2. Increasing sales and markets for Kohala farmers via Farm to School programs and local markets. Currently, the industry's structure for specialty crops of fruits and vegetables is that there are only a handful of growers in the North Kohala area, and demand outstrips production. There is a substantial land base and markets, including hotels, local restaurants, CSAs, and farm-to-school programs. However, there is a lack of skilled growers. HIP Ag has identified that both local landowners and existing growers share a desire and need to increase production. ? Changes/Problems:HIP Agriculture has identified a slight issue regarding summertime attendance. Participants tend to schedule leisurely activities, including vacations or time spent with family during these months. Although our anticipated number of attendees is 15 per instruction, the summer months see closer to 10-12. ? What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Beginner Farmer Training series provides literal "ground up" training for aspiring farmers, backyard growers, gardeners, and agroforestry producers on the Big Island of Hawai'i. The program began with workshops focused on foundational concepts in farming/gardening, such as soil biology and soil structure science, compositing, and how to improve soil fertility and health. From there, classes moved into fundamentals surrounding establishing new garden plots/fields, planting & propagation, IPM (integrated pest management) techniques specific to our local ecosystems, and nursery management to begin growing vegetables, herbs, and other crops from seed. The next block of the curriculum taught by specialized agricultural professionals provided in-depth, hands-on learning experiences focused on skills for sustainable agriculture such as seed saving, boosting soil fertility using EM's (effective microorganisms) and organic materials, animal husbandry utilizing KNF (Korean Natural Farming) techniques, irrigation systems installation/management and more advanced farming methods. The remainder of this program will provide participants with a greater understanding of expanding their row crop farming, orchards, animal husbandry, growing food locally in a cultural context, and invasive species management. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have not been disseminated yet, this will happen in the Fall of 2023. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The next section of the Beginner Farmer Training curriculum will focus on farming in a cultural context (utilizing Hawaiian agricultural methods and studying such things as the ahupua'a system), learning from established industry professionals and local farmers. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from two longtime Hawaiian farmers specializing in canoe crop (Polynesian) cultivation and an additional animal husbandry class led by a local agricultural leader in North Kohala. The final month of the program will see a half-day farmer training seminar focused on the business of farming. This class will cover a range of introductory topics (Introduction to Business Planning, Marketing + Markets, Setting up a Business, Cash flow statements, crop planning etc). Additionally, our program will take participants to 2-3 local farms around our region in September and October. They'll get to observe and interact with several different types of production farms, meet the farmers, and learn directly about their practices. As a culmination and celebration of everything we've learned this year, we'll host a full moon program "Graduation" and agroforestry planting party in October. This will be a final hands-on learning day for our participants and a cultural activity as we'll prepare food in a traditional Hawaiian Imu (underground oven).
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The next section of the Beginner Farmer Training curriculum will focus on farming in a cultural context (utilizing Hawaiian agricultural methods and studying such things as the ahupua'a system), learning from established industry professionals and local farmers. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from two longtime Hawaiian farmers specializing in canoe crop (Polynesian) cultivation and an additional animal husbandry class led by a local agricultural leader in North Kohala. The final month of the program will see a half-day farmer training seminar focused on the business of farming. This class will cover a range of introductory topics (Introduction to Business Planning, Marketing + Markets, Setting up a Business, Cash flow statements, crop planning etc). Additionally, our program will take participants to 2-3 local farms around our region in September and October. They'll get to observe and interact with several different types of production farms, meet the farmers, and learn directly about their practices. As a culmination and celebration of everything we've learned this year, we'll host a full moon program, "Graduation" and agroforestry planting party in October. This will be a final hands-on learning day for our participants and a cultural activity as we'll prepare food in a traditional Hawaiian Imu (underground oven).
Publications
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