Malama Kaua`i News!

August 15, 2010

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Introducing... Cultivate

The island's first ALL-LOCAL PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION SERVICE!

Last year, after working with local growers to better understand the challenges they were facing, former Malama Kaua`i employee Katie Paul saw the need for a new system to better connect local food to local plates. With the help of many farmers, chefs, and model business owners, Katie started Cultivate, a local-produce distribution service that works with up to 10 Kaua`i growers to market, package, and deliver their vibrant produce island-wide. Clients include everyone in the spectrum -- from local favorites like Kukui`ula Market and Lighthouse Bistro to the St. Regis Princeville and Roys. Rooted in the values of a fair price for farmers, environmental stewardship, and healthy food and communities, Cultivate is helping to grow our local and diverse food system.

If you would like to find out how you can get more local produce into your restaurant or store, please email or contact Katie: 639-6016 or Cultivate.kauai@gmail.com, or find out more online at htt p://www.cultivatekauai.org.

Cultivate is a proud member of the Malama Kaua`i Green Business Program

alama Kaua`i Welcomes Drina!

Drina brings more than 18 years of fund development experience to Malama Kauai. She most recently served as director of development for the Macdonald Center, a human services agency in Portland, Oregon. She has worked with a wide variety of nonprofit organizations, especially related to education, health and human services, and arts and culture.

Drina spent her early years on Hawai'i Island in the South Hilo district until her family relocated to Southwest Washington State. She is thrilled to be back in the islands and is committed to Malama Kaua`i's vision of a more prosperous, resilient, and self-reliant future.

Protecting Agricultural Lands through Good Policy

Malama Kaua`i firmly supports protection and preservation of our island's agricultural lands, a foundation of resiliency and sustainability. In the past several months, contentious debates about farm worker housing, vacation rentals, and open zoning have brought the issue of ag land preservation to the forefront of community dialogue. We welcome the lively community debate, as it highlights an increasing general awareness of the importance of local agriculture. On August 25^th, new bills amending the County's Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO) will be on the agenda. These bills deal with subdividing agricultural lands and CPRs, and are major initiatives to address some of our island's land use challenges. We urge you to follow these bills and share your opinion with council members by submitting testimony to counciltestimony@kauai.gov

Fundamentals of Backyard Aquaculture Course

Kekaha Community Garden is proud to host Fundamentals of Backyard Aquaculture course at the garden site, beginning September 7^th. Bernie Tsao, a world-renowned aquaculture and aquaponic systems specialist, will be teaching a certified 8-session backyard aquaculture course on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Anyone is welcome to attend the class who is interested in learning to grow fish to eat with the option to start a small business venture in their own backyard.

What: Fundamentals of Backyard Aquaculture Course

When: Tuesdays: 4 -7 pm, September 7, 14, 21, 28; and Saturdays: 1-4 pm, September 11, 18, 25, Oct. 2.

Where: 8610 Kiowea Road, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on West Side, Kekaha

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Cost: The total cost is $240 ($30/session/person)

For more information and/or to register please contact Bernie Tsao, Course Instructor at 808.647.0640 or Bernie.tsao@gmail.com

Sustainable Gardening and Farming Class at KCC
Critics say that the world's food crisis is already out of control and predict that thousands more will starve as the situation grows worse. The optimists say, not to worry, the scientists will soon find a solution. Meanwhile, the practical ones are planting a garden, and the really smart ones are learning the right way to grow food.

These "really smart ones," know that simply planting a garden, without doing it right, may be good exercise but is not always a successful solution to growing food. They have learned the effective methods of gardening and farming offered in courses focused on sustainable organic systems. A new 15-week comprehensive training program in the principles and practices of organic food production starts September 9, at Kauai Community College. It will be taught on Thursdays from 1 to 6 pm. It combines classroom instruction with hands-on practical experience in gardens on campus and in farms around the island.

The major goal of this program is to create sufficient gardeners and farmers to achieve a sustainable level of food self-sufficiency for the island. Because of Kauai's favorable climate and extended growing seasons, this goal is certainly attainable. As more locally grown food is produced and the island's current 90% dependence on imported food is reduced, the economy will prosper as food dollars remain on island and new jobs are created for the emerging locally based food industry.

The Sustainable Gardening and Farming program is a major step in the direction of food solutions that are essential for Kauai's future. To enroll, call the College at 245-8318. The registration fee is $350 and can be paid via credit card. Payment plans are also available. Don't delay, as enrollment is limited to 35 applicants. For more information, contact Paul Massey at 652-4118 or <paul.massey@ribg.org> or Glenn Hontz at 246-4859 or <hontz@hawaii.edu>.

fish cage OPEN OCEAN FISH FARMS

Some of our radio show listeners may have heard our recent shows about open ocean fish farms in Hawai`i. As laid out by Neil Frazer, Professor of Geology and Geophysics within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at University of Hawaii:

Sea-cage farming of carnivorous finfish has been an environmental and social disaster wherever it has been allowed to scale up. Production of each pound of farm fish consumes 4-5 pounds of pelagic forage fish that are an important dietary item in poor countries. Sea-cages function as unintended pathogen culture facilities that amplify diseases from wild fish, causing infection rates in wild fish to increase and wild fish to decline. The sea-cage industry employs many disease specialists with PhD's, but wherever it proliferates, commercial fisheries, subsistence fisheries and sport fisheries are reduced or destroyed, causing loss of social license and widespread public protest. The loss of subsistence fisheries is especially hard on aboriginal peoples.

An interesting report by Food and Water Watch details some of the economic, environmental, and cultural concerns regarding open ocean aquaculture in Hawai`i. Of recent concern, about three miles off of Kawaihae, on Hawai`i Island, a company wants 247 acres of ocean to put 12 huge untethered cages to grow 6,000 tons of tuna -- mostly for export to the Mainland and Japan. The Army Corps of Engineers has not allowed for a Public Hearing, even for the community of Kawaihae. To learn more and request a Public Hearing, please take action here. To learn more about responsible fish farming policies, check out the Pono Aquaculture Alliance.

Protecting Whales
The public comment period for the comprehensive review our Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS) management plan has begun, and extends until October 16, 2010. It is a time to give input on the future objectives, policies, and activities for the sanctuary. Two public scoping meetings will be held on Kaua'i on SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, to receive comments. That day, you will have the opportunity to make comments through facilitated breakout sessions, personal tape recording, or in writing. You also have the option of emailing or mailing in comments through October 16. Kauai meetings:

9 am to 12 noon
Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School Cafeteria
4431 Nuhou Street
Lihue

4 to 7 pm
Kilauea Neighborhood Center
2460 Keneke Street
Kilauea

More Information: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/condition/hihw/download.html
Give input either at the meeting or in writing or email to hihwmanagementplan@noaa.gov

PROTECTING CONVERSATION DISTRICTS
The Office of Coastal and Conservation Lands is planning to pass oversight of corporations' environmental and cultural impacts in Conservation Districts onto citizens by removing a requirement for annual reports and moving to a "complaint based" monitoring system. Public hearings across the Islands are being held to get input on the rule changes. The future of some of Hawai`i's most environmentally and culturally important lands are at stake. If you would like to share your mana`o, attend Kaua`i's public hearing on August 19, from 6-8 at the Kapa`a Library.

KULEANA PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION WORKSHOP
Lihue - The Hawai'i Community Stewardship Network and the County of Kaua'i will be hosting a workshop on the current kuleana property tax exemption ordinance and application process. The aim of the workshop is to help landowners better understand the current law, determine if they qualify, and get started with the application process. The workshop will be held on Thursday, August 19, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Hanalei Elementary School cafeteria.

For more information, email kuleanaexemption@gmail.com or call Adam Roversi at 652-9706. No registration is required, but an RSVP would be appreciated to help better accommodate those in attendance. Funding for this project has been provided by the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation.

tapped

Open Space Commission conducts annual survey

The Open Space Commission is encouraging the public to participate in its annual survey and to suggest lands or property entitlements such as access-ways that the County should consider purchasing or otherwise acquiring.

Ideas expressed in the survey will be taken into consideration and may be incorporated in the Open Space Commission's annual recommendations to the County Council on which sites should be acquired using the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund.

The survey can be completed at www.kauai.gov/OpenSpaceSurvey

Your Vision. Your Vote.
We've all heard it said, "No vote, no grumble." Many of us complain about issues like furloughs, taxes, transportation, education, and the environment, but too few of us help elect the kind of leaders who will address our concerns. When Hawaii became a state in 1959, voter turnout was 84% in the primary election - one of the highest in the U.S. By the 2008 primary, turnout was down to 37% - among the lowest in the country.

Today, our democracy faces another obstacle: With deep budget cuts and one-third of polling places closed this year, our elections system is struggling to support would-be voters. There is a critical shortage of poll workers, and not enough help for people who want to learn about the candidates, register, and vote.

Kanu Hawaii is working with Common Cause Hawaii on Your Vision. Your Vote. - a campaign calling all of us to exercise our civic kuleana (responsibility and privilege) and help save our democracy. The goal is to get 1,000 young people to lead the charge in the 2010 elections by volunteering to work the polls, helping register voters, and voting themselves. Get Involved Here!

USDA ANNOUNCES REIMBURSEMENT TRANSPORTATION COST PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR GEOGRAPHICALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS (RTCP)

Producers May Begin Applying for RTCP Program at FSA County Offices on August 3, 2010 through September 10, 2010

HONOLULU, HAWAII, August 3, 2010 - Diane Ley, State Executive Director of USDA's
Farm Service Agency in Hawaii and the Pacific Basin today announced that USDA has
implemented the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program for Geographically
Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (RTCP) in accordance with the 2008 Farm Bill. RTCP
assists farmers and ranchers in all Hawaii counties, Guam and American Samoa who paid to
transport either an agricultural commodity or an input used to produce an agricultural
commodity.

Farmers and Ranchers who purchased eligible items including but not limited to seed, fertilizer,
chemical, boxes, fencing material, tractors, tillers, irrigation equipment, hogs and cattle are
encouraged to visit a Farm Service Agency office in their county for more information regarding
the RTCP program during this open enrollment period, August 3, 2010 to September 10, 2010.
Producers must submit supporting documentation detailing the costs incurred. The program
payments made through the Farm Service Agency RTCP program are intended to offset a portion
of the costs of transporting agricultural inputs and products over long distances.

State Executive Director Ley noted that the range of eligible reimbursement is likely to vary as
much as the operational costs of running individual agriculture businesses. Estimates range from
less than $50 to the maximum cap of $8,000 per entity.

For more information on RTCP please see the program fact sheet online at:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/rtcp_2010.pdf or visit
www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport

Interested farmers may contact the USDA Farm Service Agency County office in their county
for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other
programs. Kauai County FSA at (808) 245-9014 ext 353

USDA LIVESTOCK FORAGE DISASTER PROGRAM (LFP)

Ranchers on Kauai County may now apply for benefits under the provisions of the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for crop year 2010 with the Kauai County Farm Service Agency. Drought conditions, as reported by the National Weather Service from February 23, 2010 through April 19, 2010, made Kauai County eligible for the LFP program. Kauai County FSA Office is now accepting applications for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP).

On Kauai, LFP provides direct payments to eligible livestock producers that have suffered livestock grazing losses due to qualifying drought. For drought, the losses must have occurred on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or a crop planted specifically for grazing. The drought losses must also have occurred during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land in the county.

LFP eligibility is limited to producers who have purchase Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) or crop insurance coverage for 2010. Producers who meet the requirements of socially disadvantaged, limited resource or beginning farmer or rancher do not have to meet risk management purchase requirements. An average adjusted gross income limitation of $500,000 applies and is determined using the three taxable years that precede the most immediately preceding complete taxable year (for 2010, the applicable years are 2006, 2007 and 2008).

Eligible livestock must be maintained for commercial agricultural use. Eligible livestock under LFP include beef, cattle, buffalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, poultry, reindeer, sheep and swine. Livestock maintained for other than commercial use, such as rodeo stock, trail ride horses, or livestock for personal consumption are ineligible for benefits under LFP.

For losses due to drought, qualifying drought ratings are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor located at http://www.drought.unl.udu/dm/monitor.hml.

For more information on LFP visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov or contact the Kauai County FSA Office at (808) 245-9014 extension 104. To submit an application for the LFP program, please contact the county office to establish an appointment time and date.

video EMPOWERMENT THROUGH VIDEO at Kauai Community College

ART 157 - Mondays and Wednesdays 1:30-4:15, August 23-Dec. 17, 2010

Learn the skills that can earn you money making wedding videos, surfing videos, music videos, or videos of whatever your client desires. Not only that, video skills will give you the competitive edge you need to get any message across. With video production skills you can more effectively:

Sell your product online

Create the best home movies ever

Expose corporate and government corruption on youtube

Celebrate the beauty of the world around us

Make dynamite presentations before groups

Or just have fun!

Best thing of all, the course is FREE OF COST for Hawaii residents 60 and older. (You must apply at the Kauai Community College Registrar's office the week after late registration - call 245-8311 for more info.)