Coconut Painkiller with Koloa Rum at Merriman's Kauai. Daniel Lane photoNEWS:

Foodista
Good news for us here at Tasting Kauai! Foodista has selected us as their Food Blog of the Day. Look for our Kalua pork post on Sunday, April 15. Foodista has been featured in Time magazine, The New York Times, and the Huffington Post. The website receives over 1 million page views a month, and has over 200,000 Twitter followers, 30,000 Facebook fans, and 20,000 newsletter subscribers.

Tasting Kauai Culinary Tours
We are gearing up to offer custom culinary tours. Designed by foodies for foodies, visitors may choose from a menu of guided, day-long tours that include farms (flower, produce, ranch), farmers markets, food and beverage makers, and stores that sell local products. In between stops, we will have lunch or dinner at a featured restaurant.

We are working closely with value added product makers and private chefs to create culinary workshops, food and beverage tastings, farm dinners and catered lunches or dinners at the beach.

Tours can be ordered with a side of images. Imagine being guided through the island’s best food stops, and having a professional photographer capture candid moments of you and your family. Edited video or stills offer an ideal opportunity to memorialize your vacation. All images will be given to you on a CD, and you’ll receive an edited photo ideal for framing.

One Song Farm in Moloaa. Photo by Daniel Lane

One Song Farm
I’m conflicted about the following news I received from Lisa Fuller and Sun of One Song Farm. On the one hand, I hate to see their beautiful farm turn fallow, and I won’t be able to buy any of their exceptional produce. On the other hand, I know they will bounce back and somehow create a better farm than before. They have been asked to relocate by the end of the month.

Here is what Lisa says, “Many in our community have supported us by buying our produce at market, at health food stores, and at “buy local” friendly restaurants. Thank you for this. We are now asking for a different kind of support.

Lisa Fuller and Sun. Daniel Lane photo

“We are the only Bio-intensive (hand-cultivated, no machines, fuel-free) market garden in Hawaii. We are dedicated to soil health, plant vitality, saving and sharing Kauai-grown seeds and sharing new subtropical foods and how to prepare them.

“We feel this Bio-intensive gardening methodology is a solution for the future of our island food security and wish to share it more readily with others. In order to do this, we need support and help.

“Help us find a supportive land owner or group that is dedicated to expanding our pool of knowledgeable gardeners and farmers who will be growing out our stable foods.

“Together we will! Sun and Lisa – 635-3020”

Baker Wanted
Jim Guerber is looking for a baker for his upcoming restaurant. An ideal situation is someone who already bakes from a commercial kitchen, and needs to expand. This person would continue to make their line, as well as bake for his restaurant. Interested parties should mention this post, and email him at jim@signature.net.

Plantation Gardens Restaurant
Plantation Gardens has some job openings available to anyone that is qualified, responsible and ready to work. Positions include bartender, server and hostess. Apply in person anytime Monday – Friday between 2 and 4 p.m., or email mona@pgrestaurant.com

Kauai School Garden Network
Colleen Carroll, the new Director of the Kauai School Garden Network (KSGN) at Malama Kauai, will provide announcements of upcoming events and funding opportunities for their Kauai schools. She says:

“The Summer Teachers Conference is a wonderful experience and a chance to meet and learn from school garden teachers from across the state. There are a limited number of travel scholarships available from the Kokua Hawaii Foundation. Priorities are given to teams of two. If you are interested in attending, and would like to apply for a scholarship, the details are listed on the Kokua Hawaii Foundation Website.

Here is the link to the Statewide Farm to School Conference June 1 – June 2, 2012 on Oahu.

Please feel free to contact Colleen at 808-634-3021, with questions or to schedule a visit to your school garden.

North Shore Health and Wellness Fair
Venders applications are being accepted for the North Shore Health and Wellness Fair. It takes place at Church of the Pacific, Saturday April 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please email info@church-of-the-pacific.org or call and leave a message at 808-826-6481.

EVENTS:

Friday, April 6

Chabad-Lubavitch Kauai
From Rabbi Michoel and Zisel Goldman:

“Join us, as we journey together through the Seder, in our collective and personal journey from restricted-consciousness toward Freedom-consciousness – our personal Exodus.”

~ Inspirational stories, melodies and insights
~ Hand made matzah and quality Kosher wines
~ Delicious catered meal with organic salads. Registered guests only. Reserve your seat today by calling 808-647-4293, click here for the Passover Guide.

Main Seder – Friday, April 6, 6:15 p.m.
Seder #2 – Saturday, April 7 – 8 p.m.

Kamaaina: Adult $36, Child $18
Visitors – Adult $50, Child $36

Saturday, April 7

Sugar Mill Cupcakes, 6 p.m.
Join SMC as they celebrate the opening of their cupcakery in Kapaa. There will be food, live music and prize giveaways. I just tried the lilikoi cinnamon rolls, and the maple bacon cinnamon rolls, and they were delicious! Call 808-635-2856

Cafe Portofino, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Join J Means (Meansound) & J Raz (Bass Culture) as they kick off Spring on the dance floor. The evening promises tasty selections transmitted thru a Booming Soundsystem.

Sunday, April 8

Easter Brunch at the Garden Cafe at Common Ground, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Enjoy farm-to-table delights from Chef Rodman Machado including smoked salmon Benedict, an omelet station, prime rib carving station, and a wholesome dessert table. The easter egg hunt starts at 10 a.m., with live Easter baskets available for purchase. Musical performance by Soul Good Music Family. Limited indoor/outdoor seating. Reservations recommended. Visit http://cgkauai.net/celebrate , or call 808-828-2192.

Wednesday, April 11

Kauai Culinary Market at Kukuiula Shopping Village in Poipu. Daniel Lane photo

Kauai Culinary Market, every Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m.
I love strolling through this gourmet market. It’s at the gorgeously landscaped Kukuiula Village in Poipu, which is an outdoor mall filled with clothes shops and art galleries. It’s Because it’s hosted in part by the Kauai County Farm Bureau, it gives you a chance to meet local farmers and Kauai Grown, Kauai Made vendors. Besides the fresh produce, exotic flowers, gourmet cheese, tropical fruit spreads, fresh-baked pies and muffins we like to soak up the sunshine, listen to live Hawaiian music by John and Pali, while relaxing at the Beer and Wine Garden.

At 5 p.m., some of the island’s most talented chefs present interactive demonstrations that teach the audience how to use market’s offerings in fresh and tasty ways. This allows guests to ask real chefs their burning culinary questions. Plus, everyone gets a taste afterwards!

This Wednesday, chef Michael Simpson of Living Foods will teach, “From Bread to Spread.” Participants learn how to make fresh-baked bread with fresh bruchetta toppings made with Kauai Grown ingredients. No reservations are required for these free demonstrations.

Kekaha Community Garden
Workshop covers a rundown on different types of Kauai soils; why and how to do a soil test and how to interpret lab results to tease out the practical info; soil amendment choices and which amendments are for what; proper methods of composting and how to construct pile; mulching; cover cropping; worm bins; and animal integration. Reservations required, Call 808-651-5197, or email kekahagarden@gmail.com

Instructor Kenneth Lindsey is a Kauai organic commercial farmer and instructor of Kauai Community College’s Sustainable Gardening and Farming Training Course. He has a Bachelor’s in Plant Biology & Ecology from the Southern Illinois University, and is a graduate of Kauai’s Seed to Table Farmer Training Program and Permaculture Certification course. He is an agricultural system designer and consultant for his own business as well as the Village Green LLC, and a member of the East Kauai Soil and Water Conservation District Board. Click here for a listing of future workshops, youth field trips, compost bin distribution events, garden membership, and more.

UPCOMING:

Saturday, April 14

Kauai Community Market in Lihue. Daniel Lane photo

17th Annual Garden Fair, 9 a.m.
The Kauai Community College front lawn will spring to life with gardeners, suppliers, garden lovers and consumers. A wide variety of plants, landscape products and equipment, will be available as well as gardening information and tips. Hosted by Kauai County Farm Bureau and University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources (CTAHR), the annual Kauai Garden Fair is one of the largest gatherings of green thumbs on Kauai and a great way to share the bounty of the island firsthand. Click here for more information.

The one-day, free event begins with a “one-stop shop” for the garden, where a wide variety of tropical plants, flowers, produce and seeds will be available for purchase representing farmers, nurseries and organizations from around the island.  This is an opportunity to network with organizations that assist gardeners and agriculture, stroll through the many information booths to learn what’s new and swap tips. Or, learn about upcoming classes to garden – from novice to expert.

The Garden Fair celebrates gardening in all of its aspects, and provides a network of resources for Kauai residents and visitors who are interested to “get their hands in the dirt” and learn more about horticulture. A day long schedule of “Garden Talks” hosted by UH CTAHR provides opportunities to learn about gardening topics including fruit and flower growing, the benefits of breadfruit, and honey. If you have a specific problem you can visit the Plant Clinic and Agricultural Information booth to visit with area experts, or pick up seeds and growing tips for this year’s Farm Fair Fruit & Vegetable competition.

For keiki, the 4-H kids area is a highlight that can’t be missed – with a mini petting zoo, hosted play area for toddlers, and planting activities to introduce little ones to the garden. It’s also a chance to meet some of our “future farmers” – students learning about gardening and agriculture from elementary to high school level.

The weekly Kauai Community Market will be extended for the full day with an expanded farmers market featuring Kauai Grown fruits and produce. Value added agricultural products straight from the farm include honey, goat cheese, local coffees, and freshly baked goods. Local favorites like “kulolo” and “mochi”, frozen bananas, and smoothies with local fruit. Hot lunches featuring Kauai Grown ingredients include Hawaiian plate lunches, Thai curries and spring rolls, Filipino family specialties, gluten-free crepes, and Puerto Rican tacos.

Howard's Dream at Orchid Alley in Kapaa. Daniel Lane photo

Community sponsors of the Garden Fair include: Grove Farm, Growing Greens, Kawamura Farm Enterprises, Orchid Alley, Hawaiian Orchid Source, and Kauai Community College with support from Communities Putting Prevention to Work.

Can’t make the Garden Fair? The Kauai Community Market is open weekly Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at KCC featuring a wide variety of farm fresh produce, flowers and plants, leis, packaged food products and breakfast and lunch items featuring Kauai Grown ingredients. For more information visit www.kauaicommunitymarket.org

North Country Farms, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Over the past few years, North Country Farms has been working out a form of small-scale chicken husbandry to best suit our needs. The ever-evolving system, such as it is, is rooted deeply in an inherent respect for both the wonders of nature and the savvy, frugal, “do-it-yourself” principles of pre-modern husbandry traditions. It’s certainly not unique or original, and we cannot claim credit for all of the ideas, but in this day and age of factory farming and other follies, it represents an authentic working philosophy that we feel is both timeless and timely. Though always a work in progress, we would like to share some of what we’ve learned to inspire you in your own chicken-keeping endeavors. All experience levels welcome!

Topics covered will include:
– The value of heritage and landrace poultry varieties (the solid, “good old-fashioned” multifunctional breeds) and their superior suitability for sustainable, holistic small flock husbandry
– Methods and ideas for how to reduce (or possibly even eliminate) the amount of store-bought feed you might otherwise use.
– How to hatch your own chicks the natural way, without need for an incubator
– How to incorporate high-quality meat production and home-slaughter into your system in a hassle-free, manageable, and integrated way that complements egg production and flock management (including the option of attending a slaughtering demo following the workshop)
– Ways to integrate your flock, in a mutually beneficial way, with a vegetable garden, composting system, etc.
 A slaughtering demo will take place from 2 to 3 p.m.

Please bring your own lunch if you wish to stay for the afternoon slaughter demo. The workshop will be held outside, so bring a hat, if you wish. No dogs allowed, please.
Fee for the workshop is $40 per person. Space is limited (for logistical reasons and quality of experience). To register, please email Sky at alwaysbringyourtowel@gmail.com and send a personal check or money order with the full amount, payable to Sky Roversi-Deal, to PO Box 723, Kilauea, HI 96754. Once payment is received you will be sent an email confirmation and directions.

April, 20 through 22

2nd Annual Earth Day Rising Festival, Waipa
Malama Kauai presents a weekend of earth oriented workshops, Kauai grown food, world renowned and local musicians, volunteer opportunities and camping all weekend.

Waipa Farmers Market. Daniel Lane photo

The festivities begin at 9 a.m., when everyone is welcome to malama `aina by donating their time and effort to restore Waipa. Volunteers will enjoy a delicious local lunch. At 3 p.m., izness, featuring Jackson Nash will perform followed by The Mystic Rhythms Band, Grammy award winner Charles Neville, and Grammy nominee Youssoupha Sidibe, a Kora player from Senegal. 250 pre-sale music tickets are available here. Those with camping permits attend for free.

Earth-based, educational workshops begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday. These include bee keeping with Jimmy Trujillo, an ethnobotanical nature walk, didgeridoo making, poi pounding, and kukui nut candle making. The morning workshops are followed by a free concert featuring local favorites; Ku Halele`a, Burning Bush Reggae Band, Waipa Players, Preeta with John Dumas and Friends, plus a special surprise guest.

Earth Day Rising aims demonstrate the abundance and vitality of Kauai’s food resources. Locally grown, raised and prepared food, provided by Collin Darrell of Grow Culture, will be available for purchase throughout the weekend.

This is an alcohol, drug and waste free event held by Malama Kauai with proceeds benefitting the Waipa Foundation. Make sure to bring your own plate, beverage container and flatware. Organizers ask you to pack out what you pack in.

Registration for camping begins at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 20 at the Waipa parking lot in Hanalei. 100 pre-sale camping permits are available here.

Tickets, info, and detailed schedule available here, or contact Katie Trussell at 808-828-0685 x10.