Kohala Honey Bees

Fall 2015 has been full of fun events at the Hawi Farmers' Market, Kona Sunset Market, South Kona Green Market, local farm tours and library film nights. Thanks to the collaborative participation of many growers, food buyers, and food and health organizations. The Same Canoe Local Food Challenge hosted its first three-month series of 'Food Builds Community' events and these event days DOUBLED the foot traffic and local food buzz at the Markets.

As of December 1st, 250 EBT users have signed up for the Local Food Coupon program that matches regular EBT produce purchases with an equal dollar of free local food coupons to purchase fresh and local foods at our beautiful Markets. This translates into $15,550 in produce/ product purchases, with at least $10,700 being purchases of ISLAND GROWN produce and products spurred by the Same Canoe Project. Fresh produce, value added Hawaiian products, and seeds and seedlings are all part of these new purchases. Building the Green Economy!

Same Canoe Launch Parties

September Highlights were the Local Food Challenge Launch Celebrations with Food Basket, Hopomaikai, Adaptations, Dr. Corinne DeSoto, Slow Food Hawaii, Same Canoe, Sustainable Kohala, author Sonia Martinez, Lokahi Garden Sanctuary, Dr. Hana Roberts, N.D., Soil to Soul ferments with Donna Maltz, Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, Kona Seed Bank, Amy B H Greenwell Garden, The Blue Zone Project of Kohala, Chef Stephen Rouelle of Under the Bodhi Tree, the Same Canoe keiki art area, and the fun days were capped off by a Garden Supply Drawing thanks to a donation from Lowes and One Island.

Young Bee Keeper, Great Salesman

October Highlight was the BEE-utiful celebrations of local honey products with Beekeepers in South Kona and North Kohala with fun keiki areas and a Going on a Bee Hunt contest with many happy winners. October launched the Great Pollinator Hunt encouraging island residents to post observations of butterflies, bees and moths in our yards, gardens, farms and neighborhoods as part of a new community mapping project. A Welcome Pollinators workshop with instructor Zach Mermel was co-hosted at the Kohala Elementary School Garden. 'Vanishing of the Bees' films were shown at the North Kohala public library and Algood farm.

November started with a Tree and Edible Plant Sale at the Hawi and  and South Kona Markets with plant collections from four nurseries in Kohala, Hamakua and South Kona bringing grow-it-yourself opportunities to help build food self-sufficiency. Everett Pang and Ty McDonald served as our esteemed Tree Doctors. Anna

Kohala Food Foraging

Peach of Squash and Awe came to the Kohala Seniors Club for a presentation on her research and farming experiences aimed at expanding the types of local squash available on our island.

Mushroom Magic at Amy Greenwell

A fascinating wild food foraging walk was held with author Sunny Savage, an Aquaponics and Honey farm tour was hosted by the Algood Farm, local Hawaiian Chocolate showcases at the Hawi Block Party and Kona Town Market Night were sweet events, and Grow Your Own Mushroom Workshops at Kokolulu Farm and Amy B H Greenwell Garden with Zach Mermel filled the month with favorite flavors and more food security skill building.

Fungi Fun at Kokolulu Farm, Hawi

photo credit

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