Page 32 - Living Aloha Magazine January February 2017 Issue

neighbors, and there are many more who are just getting Green can then offer 1-acre, 2-acre, 5-acre, or even 10-acre
started. Ongoing classes are available through the College parcels to experienced and motivated local organic farmers
of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), for $1 per year; this new mortgage-free land would allow
HFUU, The Permaculture Guild of Maui, and the Sustainable for expansion of local farming operations producing more
Institute of Maui (SLIM) to name a few. These groups offer food at much lower overall cost. The program requires
everything from composting classes to fruit tree grafting farmers to provide a simple minimal 2 page farm plan,
demonstrations, small business classes, and product to take on at least two apprentice organic farmers, and
marketing and branding. Interest in local food and local to commit to documenting soil chemistry two to four
organic farming knowledge appear to be at an all time high times a year to track how their strategies with organic soil
on Maui. amendments are improving the quality and biological
vitality of the soil. The project was well received by several
needed: More Farmland, More Farmers. One local food activists, experienced farmers, and government
of the biggest challenges to increasing local farming in officials back in 2013, including the Agricultural Director
Hawaii is the high cost of land in the state, cited as having of Maui County. However, when the project was initially
the most expensive land costs (per acre) in the USA. It is offered $40,000 from the County Agriculture Economic
very difficult for a local farmer to make a profit and pay Development department to jump-start the program, it
local mortgage rates without a second off-farm job. The was later shot down by one County official who declined
Affordable Farming Land Trust is one group working hard to offer an explanation as to why.
to assure future access to land for local ag development. Perhaps 2017 is the year to
In addition, Go Green proposed SAFE, the Sustainable resurrect this popular program.
Agriculture for Farmers and Education project back in
2012. The program called for reaching out to Hawaii’s sugar is over, so what’s
largest landowners to request that they donate tracts of next? With the closing of the
50 to 100 acres of arable land, with water access, to the last sugar plantation in Hawaii
Go Green Culture Foundation to be held in perpetuity for on 27,000 acres of Important
local organic food cultivation and farmer education. Go Agricultural Land (IAL) in central

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32 MAUI Living Aloha | JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2017