Aloha e friends,

Spring is rolling in and we're feeling things ramp up here at Malama Kaua'i as you probably are feeling it across Kaua`i. More and more people are finding unique and diverse ways to contribute to Kaua`i's sense of self-reliance.

Our core team is also growing thanks in large part to the incredible Megan Fox who has been so dedicated to doing great work. Eight staff and several more part-time folks and interns are on board and fired up.

We're also seeing projects that we've been involved with over the previous years coming to fruition. The Kilauea Ag Park is getting ready for a ground breaking in March and the Charter School Food Program is now helping to feed kids from Kekaha to Anahola. The Malama Kaua'i Community Farm is looking great and we'd like to invite you to see it for yourself at our annual event EarthDay Rising coming up Sunday, April 24th. We have a full-day of 'aina based workshops planned with a slew of community resources and experts for you to learn from and connect with.

Looking forward to more sunny days and a smooth transition to the new season!

Aloha,
Keone Kealoha
Executive Director

Stories in this issue include...

- Community Farm Update
- Welcome Sally & Rebekah, Our New AmeriCorps VISTAs
- Save the Date: Earth Day Rising VI
- 2/27: Kawaikini School Garden Party & Compost Bin Giveaway
- Hawaii Master Food Preserver Certificate Program Starting in March
- 3/13: 16th Annual Community Seed & Plant Exchange
- Upcoming Community Events
- Support the Efforts & Our Wishlist

Community Farm Update

Mahalo to those of you who attended the MLK Day in the Community Garden in January and Megan's birthday orchard planting in February! Things are really coming alive and the expansion of food production across the farm is just the start of what's ahead.

In the coming months we'll be doubling our market garden space, bringing on several local youth ag interns, and hosting a group of college students from the mainland to rebuild our greenhouse and expand propagation space for school gardens. Way to kick off an exciting spring!

We've also started our Free Compost Bin distribution with the County of Kaua`i, which is going great! If you'd like a free compost bin of your own, call Megan at 828.0685 x18 to make an appointment to pick one up.

Regenerations has also been working hard to kick off the year in the Kaua`i Food Forest at the front of the farm with educational opportunities for the community. They've held a variety of workshops, including a Mushroom Cultivation session with Tammy Davis. Their next workshop is an Awa Harvest & Propagation Workshop on Sunday, February 28th at 9am. Get more info on their Facebook page.

Welcome the Newest Additions

to the Malama Kaua`i Team!

We are very excited to have two new AmeriCorps VISTAs join us this week!

SALLY RIZZO
Youth & Food Programs, Waimea Complex

Sally will be supporting school gardens and food programs, as well as youth-based agriculture programming on the west side of the island.

Sally received a BA in Environmental Studies in 2012 and has been dedicating her time to service of youth and communities, centered on food, since graduating. Most recently she was the Wellness and Nutrition Initiative Coordinator for the Commission for Community Action (STEP), as well as Founder and Program Director for Mindful Harvest. She has years of experience in school garden and nutrition education, SNAP at farmers markets, gleaning initiatives, hosting community cooking classes, farming, greenhouse management, and more. We're very excited to have her on the team!

REBEKAH MAGERS
Fundraising & Development

Rebekah will be assisting Malama Kaua`i with grant writing, fundraising, special events & festivals, and earned income programs, like our farm stand and farmers market booth!

Rebekah lives in Kapahi and has been volunteering with us for a few months doing outreach, event support, and school garden program work. She also recently graduated from our 5-week Gardening Certificate Training at Kawaikini PCS with Dr. Adam Asquith. Rebekah has several years of experience in small business management and startups within retail, e-commerce, and the food industry, which provides her with a wealth of skills in sales, social media, operations, merchandising and administrative support. She is currently working on her Associates in Science, hoping to pursue advanced studies in Public Health and Pre-Med.

Save the Date for EDR 2016!

On Sunday, April 24th we'll host our 6th annual Earth Day Rising Festival at the Malama Kaua`i Community Farm in Kalihiwai. Thanks to Hawai`i Tourism Authority for sponsoring this year's event; it's going to be even more amazing than last year with 4 workshop session periods throughout the day, for the price of just one!

Some of our confirmed workshops so far include:

• Intro to Beekeeping w/Jimmy Trujillo of Kaua`i Beekeepers Association

• Grafting & Air Layering w/Ashly Trask of NTBG

• Bamboo Building w/Tony Lydgate of Steelgrass Farm

• Mulch & Nitrogen Fixing Plants w/Paul Massey of Regenerations

• Biointensive Farming w/One Song Farm

• Coyote Nature Mentoring w/Matt Kirk of Kauai Nature School

If you're an early bird, you can purchase your tickets now for a discount online or stay posted for updates on workshops and activities HERE. You can also sign up to volunteer for the event for a free ticket; just sign up HERE.

Kawaikini School Garden Party

& Compost Bin Giveaway

Please join us for a School Garden Party at Kawaikini, and help to improve their school garden, followed by a free compost bin giveaway and potluck! To RSVP and reserve your free compost bin, call Sara at 828.0685 x18 or email [email protected]

Hawaii Master Food Preserver Certificate Program Starting in March

Hawaii Master Food Preserver Certificate Program is starting on 03/30/16, 03/31/16, 04/01/16, 04/07/16, 04/08/16, 04/13/16, 04/14/16 and 04/15/16 from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm, at the classroom and kitchen facilities located at Waipa Foundation in Hanalei.

Instructors for this training are Luisa, a certified Master Food Preserver who has taught agricultural professionals about food safety on the farm and is now a Program Coordinator for professional development courses at CCECS and someone you all know --- Kalen Kelekoma, a certified Master Food Preserver who has taught children and adults on Kaua`i and O`ahu. He is the Special Projects Manager with the Waipa Foundation and runs the weekly Waipa Farmers Market, coordinates Poi Day, festivals, events, and workshops for the Foundation.

To become a Master Food Preserver, a person receives extensive, in-person training in the latest technology and information available in the field of home food preservation. This is done over an 8 day period, 6-hours per day, running for three weeks. In return, the student agrees to become an ongoing volunteer in the field of safe home preserving with the College of Continuing Education and Community Service, doing such things as developing and hosting exhibits, writing articles for the paper, and teaching others in the community about safe canning.

Training is very hands-on. You won't just learn how to preserve numerous types of food (from fruits to fish). You learn the why, what resources to use to keep up to date, and how to go out and spread the word about safe canning.

Day 1: Food Safety
Day 2: Making and Preserving Fruit Spreads
Day 3: Canning Acid Foods
Day 4: Canning Low-Acid Foods
Day 5: Pickling and Fermenting
Day 6: Freezing and Dehydration
Day 7: Oral Presentations by Students*
Day 8: Final Exam* and Graduation with Official Certificate

Tuition is $200. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. Training includes instruction, curriculum, cookbooks, supplies, and food products used in the kitchen. Please email Louisa Castro at [email protected] or call Shay at our office at (808) 974-7664 if you have any questions or are ready to register.

Community Seed & Plant Exchange

Upcoming Community Events

Every Wednesday & Saturday: Volunteer Days in the MK Youth Garden
Every Thursday: Waipa Poi Making Day
Every Saturday: Food Forest Volunteer Work Days

2/26-2/28: E Pili Ka Kou I Ho'okahi Lahui Cultural Festival, Kauai Beach Resort

2/27: Kawaikini School Garden Party, Kawaikini PCS (behind KCC), 9a

2/27: Kilauea Art Night, Historic Stone Building, 4p

2/28: Awa Harvesting & Propagation w/RIBG, Malama Kaua`i Community Farm, 9a

3/5: Surfrider Foundation Net Send Off Party, Restore Kauai, 9a

3/5: Big Brothers, Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake Fundraiser, Kaua`i Bowl, 6p

3/13: RIBG's Seed & Plant Exchange, Anain Hou Community Park, 12p

3/19: FREE Keiki Fun Day & Cross Fit Challenge, Kapaa Beach Park, 10a

3/19: Anahola Prince Kuhio Day Celebration Event, Anahola Beach Park, 11a

3/25-3/27: Prince Kuhio Festival 2016, Poipu

3/26: Kawaikini Prince Kuhio Celebration Luau, Koloa Landing Resort, 5p

4/24: Earth Day Rising VI Festival, Malama Kaua`i Community Farm, 9a

Have an event you'd like us to share in next month's newsletter? Email [email protected].

Job & Volunteer Openings

Malama Kaua'i offers both paid and volunteer positions based on current availability, need and funding. We're currently seeking Agricultural Instructors, a Waimea Complex School Garden Coordinator for the fall, and more! Read more.

Donate

All donations are tax-deductible!

Our Wish List

Every tax-deductible donation helps to expand our impact in the community. Here are a few things we need currently:

Office Supplies: Solar System Materials & Installation, Laptops / Tablets

Garden & Farm Supplies: Compost, Mulch, Organic Soil Amendments, Gardening & Farming Tools, Work Gloves, Edible Trees / Shrubs / Vines / Plants, Aquaponics Equipment, Potting & Propagation Supplies, Irrigation Supplies, Egg Cartons, Organic Chicken Feed…Read more.