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Aloha & Welcome to the SOW podcast aimed to provide educational support, information, guidance and outreach to farmers, ranchers, and allied agricultural producers in Hawaii. This podcast is brought to you by the Seeds of Wellbeing or SOW Project at the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Ag. and Human Resources. This podcast is supported by the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN), grant no. 2021-70035-35371, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Fo ...
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If you’re a farmer, you know the joy of working the land: the cadence of the seasons, the understanding of the natural world, the tangible results of your hard work. But you probably also know how stressful it can be. From family and finance pressures, to isolation and an exhausting job that has no days off. In fact, agricultural workers experience suicide rates 50% higher than the national average, and that number is rising. On Cultivating Resilience from Cultivemos (FRSAN-NE), farm care st ...
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In this episode we speak with Dana Shapiro from Hawaiʻi Ulu Coop who shares her journey from working with local chef Peter Merrimen to facilitate an AgVentures program, to helping found and now manage The Co-op as itʻs Chief Executive Officer on Hawaii island where it all started, We discuss expansion of The Co-op to now include the islands of Oahu…
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If you have lived on Oahu during the COVID pandemic or more recently, then you probably already know about FarmLink. In this episode we speak with its Founder, Rob Barreca about the pre-covid days of this online, local-only food marketplace and how it has grown by leaps and bounds since. We find out how he went from "geek for good" to CEO of an inn…
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In this episode of Voices From the Field, O'ahu farmer Joe McGinn discusses the challenges faced by Hawaii ag producers, including thin margins, increasing costs, government regulations, and natural disasters. He emphasizes the importance of having a support system, including cultural and seasonal support, courage, and connection to overcome these …
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In this episode we aim to address some of the common legal questions raised by the Hawaii agriculture producers we have met. We are grateful to Cat Taschner, co-founder of the nonprofit Business Law Corps in Hawaii. At a recent meeting with the University of Hawaii’s “AgConnect” course, she addressed questions she often hears and agreed to share an…
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It has been said that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” but in our episode with Buddy Nichols from the US Department of Ag’s Farm Service Agency, there is nothing to fear! Listen as we talk about their loan program that may be the first place you want to look for loans as an a…
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On this episode of Voices from the Field, Andrea and Matt Drayer join us to share their journey into farming, and the deep meaning and value it brings to them. Listen in to learn how they navigate challenges in both farming and their personal lives. Find out more about us: Seeds Of Wellbeing website Seeds of Wellbeing Resource Hub All the SOW links…
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Vincent Kimura joins us on this episode of our Voices From the Field podcast series to share the value of story telling and sharing information across generations. His wealth of knowledge and experience helps paint a well-round image of how farmers can overcome some of the challenges they face through connection, community building, and knowledge s…
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Joining us on this inspiring episode of Voices From the Field is Tony Vera. Tony is the founder of Mayan World Farms and shares with us how farming has helped him on his personal journey of recovery, and the deep meaning and value it provides him and his family. To connect with Tony and learn more about Mayan World Farms, including information abou…
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Daniel Dunnom, a bee keeper, tropical fruit farmer, and UH Hilo alumni, shares the inside scoop of what life is like as a bee keeper and how he copes with the challenges of day to day farm operations, including a meditation he uses called "Bee Breath". Brought to you by University of Hawaii College of Tropical Ag. and Human Resources (CTAHR), and t…
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Founder and CEO of Kauai Farm Planning, Alex Wong shares from his expertise and experience rich perspectives on the challenges and solutions of attaining a 100% local agriculture economy. Brought to you by University of Hawaii College of Tropical Ag. and Human Resources (CTAHR), and the Seeds of Well-being (SOW) Project. This podcast is supported b…
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We hope you enjoy this rebroadcast of an earlier, and our first, "Voices from the Field" podcast. In this episode, we hear from agriculture producers about ʻonipaʻa, and ways they address the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of Hawaiʻi agriculture production This podcast is brought to you by University of Hawaii College of Tropical…
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It is likely that anyone interested in, or involved in, growing fruit in Hawaii has heard the name of Ken Love from the Big Island of Hawaii. In this episode we speak with Ken about how he became the local pundit on tropical fruit, some thoughts on the most profitable fruits to grow and why, the importance of connecting with local chefs, Hawaii Mas…
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In this episode we speak with Kaʻeo Duarte and Kanakolu Noa from Kamehameha Schools and Bishop Estate - which we abbreviate as KS. In an earlier podcast we spoke with KS about their 135 year history and strategic vision for the future, but in this episode we focus on how they view their role and responsibilities as part of the larger Hawaiʻi Food S…
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A full video interview is available with English subtitles on the Cultivemos YouTube channel. La entrevista completa en vídeo está disponible con subtítulos en inglés en el canal de YouTube de Cultivemos. Descripción: Advertencia sobre el contenido: En este episodio se habla de suicidio. Más del 60% de los trabajadores agrícolas de EE. UU. se sient…
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Entrevistas completas en vídeo con TemuAsyr Martin Bey y Minkah Taharkah están disponibles con subtítulos en español en el canal de YouTube de Cultivemos. Full video interviews with TemuAsyr Martin Bey and Minkah Taharkah are available with Spanish subtitles on the Cultivemos YouTube channel. Description: Are we prepared to run the world? We are in…
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In this episode we speak with Kaʻeo Duarte and Marissa Harman from Kamehameha Schools and Bishop Estate (KS). They talk about the 135 year history of KS, and its strategic vision, but we focus on how they manage the approximately 88,000 acres deemed to be “high value ag land” in their portfolio. We also share how an ag producer can apply for KS lan…
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La entrevista completa con Rev Dele está disponible con subtítulos en español en la página de Cultivemos en YouTube. The full interview with Rev Dele is available with Spanish subtitles on the Cultivemos YouTube channel. Description: We have to reimagine our relationship with the land. Farmers are experiencing a crisis of land access. The number of…
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Content warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide. Rates for depression are higher in rural America than in urban areas; and according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates among people living in rural areas are 64 to 68 percent higher compared to people living in large urban areas. Public…
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In this episode we talk with Jay Bost who helped found the Hawaii Seedgrowers Network, and ran a GoFarm site on Oahu. When we spoke with Jay we focus on his roles in the beginning and evolution of GoFarm, with a strong focus on the role and importance of local seed production. Brought to you by University of Hawaii College of Tropical Ag. and Human…
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In this episode we speak with Lisa Rhoden, Food Safety Director with NSEVP on the island of Oahu about The Food Safety Modernization Act (or FSMA), water testing, and NSEVPʻs Group GAP program. GAP stands for Good Agricultural Practices and Lisa facilitates a group certification process for Hawaiʻi ag producers on all the islands. Brought to you by…
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In this episode we talk with Tyson Banasihan founder of E Ulu Farms on the island of Kauai. Tyson discusses his ongoing efforts to collect and preserve different and rare varieties of kalo (Hawaiian taro), staying connected to his cultural roots through farming, the challenges of being a modern day kalo farmer, and the intrinsic moral value of grow…
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In this episode we speak with Gail and Cab Baber who are long-time ag producers in Hawaii and early adopters of growing Hawaiian hemp. We talk about the many issues they have faced related to growing hemp and its many uses and promise as a crop, but also talk about a number of important issues and possible solutions related to Hawaii Ag production …
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In this episode we speak with Senator Tim Richards from the island and County of Hawaiiʻs 4th district. We talk about how this Big Island ag producer became involved in local politics, what it is like at the State Senate, and how he approaches his role as one of the Stateʻs few politicians with local agriculture experience. Brought to you by Univer…
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In this episode we talk with Stephanie Easley, Legal Fellow at the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and Chuck Chimera, Weed Risk Assessment Specialist, Hawaii Invasive Species Council. Stephanie and Chuck discuss their experience battling the incoming threat and spread of invasive species and noxious weeds in Hawaii and how public educatio…
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In this episode we talk with Dr. Harold Keyser, former University of Hawaii CTAHR Maui County Administrator. Dr. Keyser shares some of his thoughts on the future of diversified agriculture, community-oriented ag parks, and experiences working with ag producers and dealing with pest and pesticide stressors on Maui. Brought to you by University of Ha…
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In this episode we speak with Christy Martin from the Hawaii Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS) about the impact of invasive species in Hawaii. It is estimated that there are over 20,000 species that impact our ag producers! The Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS) is a voluntary partnership of federal and state agencies a…
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In this episode we speak with Sarah Freeman and Glenn Sako, both with the County of Hawaiʻi R&D Economic Development department. We learn about how they focus on agriculture and food systems on Hawaii Island (also known as the Big Island). We spoke to each of them at different times about how Hawaii County is working to advance and support the work…
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In this episode we speak with Ryan Anderson from Steward Lending, and Eric Bowman from both the Kohala Center Business Services Team, and Loan Officer for Feed The Hunger Fund, about financial assistance available to and focused on ag producers. Brought to you by University of Hawaii College of Tropical Ag. and Human Resources, and the Seeds of Wel…
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We are rebroadcasting this episode of the Hawaii-based “What School Could Be” podcast featuring Oahu Hawaii agriculture teacher Jackie Freitas because there is such a strong connection between the content and our work at the SOW project. Josh Reppun, brother to Paul and Charlies Reppun who are long-time Oahu farmers, is a friend of the SOW project …
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Many of the people we have interviewed for the SOW project have stressed the enormous importance of water to ag production in Hawaii, and how it can sometimes be either difficult to obtain, expensive, or both. In this episode we speak with the Reppun brothers Charlie and Paul, farmers from the windward side of Oahu, about the water struggles they h…
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In this episode we talk with Christy Wong, founder of the Kauai Animal Education Farm. Christy talks about the purpose and mission of the education farm and how it serves as a place for youth, kupuna, and community to come together and heal through the process of taking care of neglected pets and rescued farm animals. Brought to you by University o…
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In this episode we speak with Hoʻōla Veteran Services co-founder Emily Emmons and Hilo Food Hub Manager Amanda Cox about the range of services offered. We review in detail their goFarm "Growing Veterans" program, their Farm-to-Car online farmers market, and the Hilo Food Hub. This podcast is brought to you by University of Hawaii College of Tropica…
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In this episode we speak with veteran Charley Jordan who followed his passions for both farming and the military service all over the world. He talks about his path in agriculture that has taken many twists and turns, with some unexpected results, on his way to becoming a "vetrepreneur" and horticulture therapist. This podcast is brought to you by …
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In this episode we speak with Dr. Lew Abrams, clinical psychologist and farmer on the island of Maui. We talk about his struggles as a farmer, but also about what he sees in his work with ag producers related to their mental health and talk about ways of effectively dealing with the stress. This podcast is brought to you by University of Hawaii Col…
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In this episode we speak with En Young from The Pacific Gateway Center on Oahu whose mission is to empower low-income residents, immigrants, refugees and other vulnerable populations to achieve self-sufficiency through skill-building and access to opportunities while respecting cultural heritages.. En has recently taken the role of Executive Direct…
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In this episode we speak with Georgia Pinsky who is both farmer and a farmer resource on the island of Maui, and Representative Amy Perruso from District 46 of Hawaiʻiʻs state legislature and a member of the Ag, Finance, and Energy & Environmental Protection committees. We talk about stressors ag producers have voiced related to legislative issues,…
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In this episode, we speak with Chad Buck, Keynote speaker at the 2022 Hawaiʻi Agriculture Conference and Owner and CEO of Hawaiʻi Foodservice Alliance or HFA. If you have perishable foods in your home, chances are it got there because of the work of HFA to obtain and distribute food throughout the Hawaiian islands. We talk about lessons learned fro…
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In this episode we speak with Lawaia Naihe, Executive Director at Hoʻākeolapono Trades Academy & Institute, a nonprofit based out of Anahola, Kauai on Department of Hawaiian Homelands land. Hoʻākeolaponoʻs mission is to provide the Hawaiian community with cutting-edge vocational training across high-demand trades, with a special focus on problem-so…
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In this episode we talk with Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser, Chair of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, about how the Department has worked supporting agriculture producers during COVID and with lands managed by the Department for producers. She also highlights key issues the Department faces, ways all of us can impact change, and some thoughts on …
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Puede encontrar una transcripción en español de este episodio AQUÍ Cultivating Resilience—it’s our title, and the goal for this podcast: to help our listeners develop mental resilience. But what is resilience? And how do you get it? Over the course of this season, we’ve covered specific stressors and the skills that can help you manage and overcome…
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In this episode we talk with Peleke Flores, Field Operations & Cultural Resources Manager at Mālama Hulē'ia, a nonprofit on Kauaʻi dedicated to restoring the wetland ecosystem along the Hulē'ia River and the Alekoko Fishpond. Their nonprofit mission is to advocate, educate and head community efforts to reestablish the functional watershed and creat…
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Puede encontrar una transcripción en español de este episodio AQUÍ Content Warning: Discussions of suicide and violence If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, emotional distress, or suicidal ideation there is help available. In the US, you can talk to someone free and confidentially, 24/7 at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by call…
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In this episode we talk with Dr. Amjad Ahmad, Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, about the crop variety trials conducted at the University of Hawaii CTAHR Experiment Stations and the infamous Banana Bunchy Top Virus that has spread across the Hawaiian Islands. Brought to you by University of Hawaii College of Tropical Ag. and Human Res…
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Puede encontrar una transcripción en español de este episodio AQUÍ Succession isn’t just about passing down the farm. Because whether you realize it or not, your successors will inherit more than the land you give them. They’re getting the legacy you left behind, and if they’re your children, a lifetime of the values you’ve imparted to them. Which …
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In this episode we talk with Pomai Weigert with GoFarm Hawaii and Linus Tavaras from American AgCredit about a new grant matching program they have partnered to create for ag producers needing $10-$25,000. We talk about the details of this new program, but also review the range of financial assistance and support services each organization provides…
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Puede encontrar una transcripción en español de este episodio AQUÍ Farming can be lonely. Rural areas are spread out and sparsely populated. You can be out in the field all day and never see anyone. Some farmers love this solitude, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need community. If anything, it shows that farmers need to be intentional about build…
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In this episode we talk with Eric Bowman from the Kohala Center in Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii about the entire range of loans and funding options available to ag producers in Hawaii, but in detail about micro-loans using crowdfunding and grants available from the Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS). This podcast is brought to you …
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Puede encontrar una transcripción en español de este episodio AQUÍ The consequences of global warming affect farmers more than almost any other profession. A warming climate means increased droughts, heavy rain, unpredictable storms, and a fluctuating growing season, all of which can threaten a farmer’s bottom line. But climate change also poses bi…
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In this episode we talk about the Western Regional Agricultural Stress Assistance Program (WRASAP). Funded by a USDA Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) grant, WRASAP is composed of lead agencies representing 13 states and 4 territories, including Hawaii. WRASAP recognizes that high levels of stress have been present in our agricultura…
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Puede encontrar una transcripción en español de este episodio AQUÍ Not many people get into farming for the money. But that doesn’t mean money isn’t important on a farm. Finances are the root cause of a lot of farmer stress. From high up-front costs to fluctuating commodity prices and declining farm income, the worries are real. But there are also …
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