Aloha e friends,

The amount of growth we've experienced as an organization since I joined Malama Kaua`i two years ago is really inspiring. We've gone from two staff to approximately twelve, drastically increased our volunteer base, and offered many paid internships and teaching opportunities to folks across the island.

One of the most amazing and humbling aspects of this, at least to me, is how many people want to see our sustainable economy and food production industries enhanced. It's easy to say what we don't want to see on Kaua`i, but it takes really special people to step up and help to actively create the things we do want to see. It takes a lot of work....hard work. So to everyone who helps be the change they want to see, from our partners and farmers, to our staff and volunteers, to those of you working silently away on your own piece of the puzzle - MAHALO! We're all making great headway because of your efforts.

Want to join or increase your participation in the food sovereignty movement? We're currently interviewing for a new AmeriCorps VISTA for our Youth & Food Programs, serving the north and east sides of the island, as well as bringing on Gardening Instructors for our next Gardening Certificate Training. So if you or someone you know might be interested, apply or reach out to us today!

We're looking forward to growing our `ohana while we grow positive solutions together.

Aloha,
Megan Fox
Director of Operations

Stories in this issue include...

- Community Farm Update
- SNAP/EBT Program Funding Cut; Program Ends July 1st
- Summer Internships Launch This Month
- Kawaikini Charter School Garden & Food Program
- Upcoming Community Events
- Support the Efforts & Our Wishlist

Community Farm Update

It’s almost Summer, and we already have a lot going on at the farm!

If you have not made it to the Saturday Farmer’s Market in Anaina Hou (9a-12p) then you are really missing out! From the fresh flowers to the yummy taro hummus to the local eggs we are selling at our booth, there is a lot to take home while listening to the relaxing sounds of slack key guitar. We recently featured taro, eggplants, luffas, and green beans, as well as some tomato starts for your garden. Along with our produce our happy hens have been giving us an abundance of eggs and each week we have been selling out quickly. All funds help maintain Malama Kauai’s Community Farm and ongoing community programs.

Mahalo to Jimmy Trujillo, we can bee a little more friendly to our flowering friends on the farm with the addition of a busy beehive. We hope to get some honey next season and host more beekeeping workshops in the future! Our new greenhouse expansion has given us the much needed room to start many more seedlings and propagate various new plants for school gardens and Youth Garden at the Community Farm. We still have free compost bins from the County of Kaua’i available, which can be picked up in Kilauea by appointment. Contact Megan at 828-0685 x12 or [email protected].

There are currently three garden plots available in the Community Garden for new membership. Each plot is 15x20 feet and comes with its own irrigation. Those interested are encouraged to visit the community garden and get a feel for the space and get inspired by those who have been with us awhile. Things grow quickly so make sure you're able to carve out the time each week and commit to your super fertile, super inspiring and super productive new garden space! Contact Katie at [email protected] or 828-0685 x10 for more info.

We are excited for our Summer volunteer days in the Youth Garden for adults and kids who want to kokua and learn more about various gardening styles.This summer we will be having Fridays on the Farm volunteer days every Friday at the Community Farm, with various topics and projects each week. We’ll meet at the Community Farm at 9am and end our day around noon with a healthy snack. We ask you wear closed toe shoes (centipedes) and bring a hat, sunscreen, and a reusable water bottle. These volunteer days help improve our community space and the Youth Garden that will be central to many school field trips this fall. Here is our Schedule for June:

• Lilikoi Fence Build - 6/3

• Youth Garden Irrigation - 6/10

• Amending Soil & Planting - 6/17

• Chicken Coop Rehab - 6/24

We are also planning on launching a new session of our 5-week Garden Certificate Training class in August to double our market garden space here at the farm and provide an opportunity for residents to increase their gardening and food production skills. If you’re interested in attending this next session, please let us know by signing up for more info here. We’re also seeking instructors for this round of the program, so if you’re a gardening or farming expert seeking a paid opportunity to share your knowledge, please reach out to us.

For more information on any of these activities, please contact Rebekah at 828-0685 x 11 or [email protected].

SNAP/EBT @ Markets Program Funding Cut

Program Discontinued July 1st

During the recent County Budget process, the funding for the SNAP/EBT Processing at Farmers Markets program was cut from the budget. The Council voted as follows to cut the budget to this program: Yes - Rapozo, Kagawa, Kaneshiro, Kuali‘i, Yukimura; Silent (No) - Chock, Hooser.

If you have any tokens for this program, please use them as soon as possible at one of last participating market days:

Kapa'a Sunshine Market @ Kapa'a BallPark
Wednesdays, June 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 at 2:30pm

Kilauea Sunshine Market @ Kilauea Neighborhood Center
Thursdays, June 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 at 4:00pm

Lihue Sunshine Market @ Vidinha Stadium
Fridays, June 3, 10, 17, & 24 at 2:30pm

Kekaha Sunshine Market @Kekaha Neighborhood Center
Saturdays, June 11 & 18 at 8:30am

We are very sorry to see this important program cease operations but hope that we may be able to raise enough funding to restart the program at limited markets in the future. Thank you to everyone who supported this program that helped to get fresh, local produce into the hands of those who need it the most, while putting more Federal dollars into to the hands of our Kaua`i farmers and food producers.

If you have any questions you may contact Sasha at [email protected] or (808) 828-0685 x15

Summer Internships Launch This Month!

Our AmeriCorps and Alu Like Summer Ag Interns start their paid internships next week. These high school and college-aged local interns will get lots of hands-on agriculture and natural resources experience at Malama Kaua`i Community Farm, Waipa Foundation, and IWIKUA in Waimea.

We're also planning lots of great workshops and guest speakers, as well as service projects and field trips to National Tropical Botanical Garden, GoFarm, Kealia Farms, and more. Let us know if you'd like to sponsor an educational field trip for the interns.

We also have three Research Students on island this summer from University of South Florida's Masters in Sustainability program, through a great partnership with GreenWork. Two students will be working on identifying affordable off-grid solar PV and broadband systems for rural farmers, while assessing opportunities for funding systems; the third is developing a local food procurement model for Kawaikini Charter School. If you'd like to help with their projects by providing data or being interviewed, reach out!

Kawaikini Charter School Garden & Food Program

We are gearing up for a productive summer in the garden as well as planning a localized lunch program.

The Kawaikini School Garden has been producing bountiful vegetables for the school lunches. The garden is full of Ipu squash, Hawaiian kalo varieties, Molokai sweet potato, Hawaiian bananas and many other vegetables. The keiki have been in the garden working hard to malama the garden.Thank you Aunty Lorna for putting the vegetables to good use in the school lunches each week. Come out this Summer to kokua with our Garden Team on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 9a-12p. Call Sara 808.828.0685x18 for details or to RSVP!

We will have a energetic team working to implement the first localized school lunch model on Kaua'i. We are happy to be joined by a Masters of Sustainability student from USF who will be completing her research project with us to develop and implement a local food procurement model.

Upcoming Community Events

Every Thursday: Waipa's Poi Making Day
Every Saturday: Food Forest Volunteer Work Days

6/3: MK Community Farm Fridays: Lilikoi Fenceline Build, 9a

6/4: Saturday Art Walk, Kapaa, 5p
* Check out our booth at SoleMates with Josh's Kava Bar

6/10: MK Community Farm Fridays: Youth Garden Irrigation, 9a

6/11: The Kings Celebration & Parade, Historic County Building, 9a

6/17: MK Community Farm Fridays: Amending & Planting, 9a

6/18: The Bridge of Peace Festival, Happiness Planting Center, 9a

6/21: KPAA's Annual Meeting: Building Food Self-Reliance, KCC, 2:30p

6/24: MK Community Farm Fridays: Chicken Coop Rehab, 9a

6/25: Kilauea Art Night, Downtown Kilauea, 4p

6/26: Anahola Movie Night, Anahola Clubhouse, 5p

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.