Dr. Vandana Shiva at the Kauai War Memorial Hall. Daniel Lane photo.

NEWS:

Rise Awareness and Inspire Change

Over 1,000 people filled the Kauai War Memorial Hall in peaceful solidarity last night. Dr. Vandana Shiva, a celebrated physicist and environmental activist, spoke about the deadly effect genetically modified crops have had on India. She encouraged our residents to become active with legislature and banning GMO crops in Hawaii.

Andrew Kimbrall, executive director of the Center of Food Safety, gave numerous examples of how GMO giants Monsanto, Syngenta, Dow AgroSciences, Bayer CropScience and DuPont have been stanched. In 2006, the Center for Food Safety, Friends of the Earth, Pesticide Action Network North America, and KAHEA (the Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance) sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A federal district judge ruled that the USDA violated the Endangered Species Act. The ruling is the first on controversial drug-producing GE crops.

Hawaii’s revered environmental activist Walter Ritte lives on Molokai and shared that 30 percent of the island’s food supply is grown on the island. A remarkable feat since 90 percent of the state’s food supply is imported. Many native Hawaiians were in the audience and he reached out to them by saying that independence and sovereignty are part of food security and aloha aina.

Regeneration Botanical Gardens and Kauai Seed Bank passed out seeds that were harvested from plants that were grown on Kauai. The event was organized by GMO Free Kauai, and Hawaii SEED. A free copy of the book Facing Hawaii’s Future was given to everyone.

Dan and I were there to cover the event for MidWeek Kauai. A complete story will run in the Farmers Markets column of the Jan. 30 issue.

Farmer Loans

PressDemocrat.com posted an article this week called USDA offers loans to farmers who grow for locals. The article reports that interest in locally grown food is soaring. In response, the federal government has created a small loan program to help community farmers who might not be able to borrow money from banks.

Over the last three years, there has been a 60 percent increase in local growers who sell directly to consumers or farmers markets, Agriculture Department Secretary Tom Vilsack said. The low-interest “microloans” of up to $35,000 are designed to aid startup costs, bolster existing family-run farms and help minority growers and military veterans who want to farm.

The Beach House Restaurant in Poipu. Daniel Lane photo

Hale Aina Awards

Honolulu Magazine released the 2013 Hale Aina Awards this week. The winners for “Best Kauai Restaurant” are:

• GOLD — The Beach House Restaurant
• SILVER — Merriman’s Fish House Po‘ipu
• BRONZE – Roy’s
• FINALIST — Bar Acuda
• FINALIST — Josselin’s Tapas Bar & Grill

Lotus Fudge

Lotus Fudge Truffles. Daniel Lane photo

Lotus Fudge creates seven varieties of fudge made with organic, raw, gluten-free and vegan ingredients. For the average consumer, those descriptors may not sound very enticing. But I have to tell you, this fudge is rich, silky smooth and delicious, and may even make you feel healthy. For those who don’t live on Kauai, you can visit the Lotus Fudge online store and place an order.

“We’re very excited to send our little truffles and mac nut butters and fudge mixes around the U.S.,” says owner and fudge-maker Katie Ranke. “We’re also working on some cutie Valentine’s Day as well as Anti-Valentine’s Day Truffle packs.”

Kokua Earth Action Program

Kokua Earth Action Program (KEAP) is an environmental service-learning initiative encouraging students to work toward creating lasting, positive change in their schools and communities. KEAP Projects allow classes to pursue their own stewardship endeavors and KEAP Mini-Grants fund these projects and help teachers from Hawaii schools advance their environmental education goals. Previous KEAP projects include lunch-waste composting programs, on-campus water catchment systems, school gardens and beach adoptions. View past KEAP projects here.

Each year, KEAP invites Hawaii schools, grades K-12, to start a Kokua Earth Action Project. All completed projects will be honored and showcased on KEAP’s website. Start by choosing an Earth Action Project and create a plan for how you’ll carry it out.

A small number of mini-grants are available to school groups submitting KEAP proposals. These mini-grants shall not exceed $200 per classroom teacher and can be used to buy supplies to carry out Kokua Earth Action Program initiatives. Deadline to apply is March 1.

Environmental Field Trip Assistance Program

Kokua Foundation’s field trip assistance program helps bring students to outdoor sites where they can experience hands-on learning about Hawaii’s environment. The Kokua Hawaii Foundation offers financial help to Hawai’i public schools which otherwise could not afford to take part in environmental field trips.

Applications for the 2012-13 school year are being accepted now through March 1, 2013 for funding up to $200 per teacher or $1,000 per school. For questions about the Environmental Field Trip Assistance Program please email grants@kokuahawaiifoundation.org.

EVENTS:

Saturday, January 19

Landscape Maintenance Workshop

Kauai Nursery & Landscaping, 9:05 to 10 a.m., free

Discuss maintaining your yard and garden, including basic maintenance tips for lawns and plants.

Thursday, Jan. 24

Farm to Table Dinner

Olana Organic Farm, 3 p.m., $190

Tim O’Connor of Olana Organic Farm. Daniel Lane photo.

Since 2003, OITF founding chef and artist Jim Denevan and his culinary caravan have traveled around North America to create outdoor dining events at country farms and ranches, in urban gardens and sea caves, on mountaintops and sandy beaches.

This will be Outstanding in the Field‘s (OITF) second visit with host farmer Tim O’Connor of Olana Farm, a fantastic dinner site on the stunningly beautiful North Shore of Kauai.  Chef Ron Miller of Hukilau Lanai will prepare dinner at Olana Organic Farm.

Krissi and Ron Miller in the garden at Hukilau Lanai. Daniel Lane photo

OITF’s mission is to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food and introduce them to the local farmers and food artisans whose good work brings nourishment to the table. Ingredients for OITF meals are often sourced within inches of diners’ seats. After a tour of the host site, everyone settles in: farmers, ranchers, fishermen, culinary artisans and guests serving each other at the communal table.

The meal will begin with a glass of wine and welcome hors d’oeuvres, followed by a tour of Olana Organic Farm. Afterwards, diners will enjoy a four-course meal paired with wines. For reservations, visit OITF’s North American Tour website.

Saturday, January 26

Na Koe, The Worm Workshop

8135 Kekaha Rd. across from Kekaha Elementary School. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Hanau ke koe enuhe eli hoopu honua, The earth worm was born, which gathered earth into mounds. Hanau kana he koe puka, From it were born worms full of holes. (1)

Please join us for the first Kauai School Garden Network Gathering of 2013! We will connect and learn more about these creatures, the worms, that make our fertile soils. At Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha, during the time of Mahealani or full moon.Presentation by Natalie “Hiwahiwa” Joyce-Maeda. Space is Limited. RSVP Required to colleen@malamakauai.org.

*1-Translation by Queen Liliuokalani

Wine and Chocolate Tasting

The Wine Garden, 4 to 7 p.m., free

Sample:

• Fearless Organic SuperChocolate – Organic – Vegan – Soy, Gluten and Dairy Free
• Kauai Living Goodies – Artisan Raw Chocolate – Stone Ground – Organic – Vegan
• Novelty Hill Cabernet – Columbia Valley, Washington
• 
Mollydooker “The Boxer” Shiraz -McLaren Vale, Australia
• Mantra Old Vines Reserve Zinfandel – Alexander Valley, California
• Monchiero Carbone Birbet – Roero Region, Piemonte, Italy
• 
Michael David Sauvignon Blanc, Lodi, California
• Foxglove Chardonnay, Central Coast, California.

UPCOMING:

Tuesday, February 5

Healthy Food Prep & Nutrition Workshop

Tuesdays 5 to 8 p.m., February 5, 12, 19, and 26, Waimea High School Culinary Classroom

Kekaha Community Garden is hosting the Healthy Food Prep & Nutrition Workshop Series.

The workshop covers: 

• Cooking simple, affordable and healthy recipes
• Nutrition
• Learning the importance of healthy eating

All participants receive:

• One binder
• Healthy, simple, affordable recipes using veggies from the garden
• Three, delicious meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) at each workshop
• Nutritional analysis and healthy benefits of recipes
• Health and environmental related articles
• Articles on health benefits of specific vegetables

Chef instructor Donovan Cabebe has been in the food industry for over 20 years. As a private chef and caterer, he creates delicious recipes from the perspective of “food is medicine”, using local foods. Cabebe is knowledgeable about the nutritional qualities of food, both from a Hawaiian cultural perspective as well as the Western perspective.

Nutritional instructor Sharon de la Pena, is a Registered Dietician with Hoola Lahui Hawaii and has been a Public Health Nutritionist with the WIC program here on Kauai and Honolulu. She will answer questions about health, diet and nutrition.

Suggested donation is $45 per person for entire series. Donations help cover the costs of food supplies and materials. If it helps, you can think of it as going out to eat for a cheap meal; except it is rich in nutrients, locally grown, you get to learn how to prepare it, eat what you make, and take home the recipe!

Participation in all four workshops is required, so before you sign up, please check your calendar. Workshop is for family members aged 8 and up. Registration and payment required in advance. Email kekahagarden@gmail.com or call 808-651-5197.

Visit the Kekaha Community Garden Facebook page for recipes, tips, workshops, photos and updates of garden activities.

Kauai Fresh Farms salad with local pork belly and chef’s garden vinaigrette. Daniel Lane photo

Friday, February 8

Kauai Culinary Tour

9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., $130

Tasting Kauai’s Culinary Tour offers an intimate glimpse into the Garden Island’s culinary scene. We start with a farm tour and learn about exotic fruit grown on Kauai. At the Kauai Marriott Resort, we join executive chef Guy Higa for an outdoor cooking demonstration and gourmet, four-course lunch. Our last stop is a tour and mead tasting at Hawaii’s only meadery, Nani Moon Mead. You can read more details about February’s tour, or visit our Kauai Culinary Tours page. We have a Facebook photo album that shows how much fun the tour is, and today we got a 5-Star TripAdvisor review for last week’s tour! For a complete list of 2013 dates, check out our Kauai Culinary Tours Calendar. Call 808-635-0257 to make a reservation.

Saturday, February 9

CKMS Street Fair

Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School Campus, 5 to 8 p.m.

Once a month, Chiefess students organize the CKMS Street fair, a fundraiser for student field trips. Choir students are responsible for the February event and proceeds will be used for a music competition in California. Food trucks include JC’s Puerto Rican Kitchen, Paco’s Tacos, Hanalei Taro & Juice Co., Kauai Marriott Resort, Yamato’s Ice Cream, as well as fresh squeezed juice, kettle corn, and saimin. Craft vendors will set up stalls and kids can play in the bounce house, get their face painted or play games. A bingo game starts at 6:30 p.m. The event will take place on campus at 4431 Nohou St., Lihue.