Banana

Here’s what I think I know about bananas…

“The world of Bananas” by Kepler is the Bible. 
Apple banana keiki (po huli) transplant.
Need to keep replanting.
Light winds will knock it out.
4’ spacing for a hedge but 8’ apart is a good spread.
Try to mix them so you have 1 fruiting, 1 flowering, 1 dorment.
Cut it just below the black sigitoa if there is a fungus that can come from too much moisture.
Sword suckers are the ones you want. You can cut off the root sections and they are viable. Hot dip them. Peel the stem (the ha) and chip away at the corm on the sides. The corm should not smaller than your fist for the starter. Look for and make sure to remove any banana borer. Take off all the leaves. Then let it scab over a day or two in the shade. Make sure you sterilize with a chlorine (10%) solution. May need to pot them in pro mix potting soil up 2-3 months before they take root but if they are the size of your thigh to plant in the soil.
Use an o’o to pry back the keiki so maybe a little into parent.
King of Spades is an 18” version. Take the cuttings and complete DMV (bungee top) – May need to burn them to sterilize.
Plant during the kane (almost new) moon and hua (football shaped) moon for best results.
Chop it at low tide and it will shoot straight up after.
When planting it, treat it like it is heavy and strong when you put it in the ground, it makes a difference. 
Fertilize banana in August to get them ready for the winter. 

My Elevation: 1000 feet

My Water: 100 inches per year

My Soil (May, 2019): pH=6, N=deficient, P=depleted, K=adequate

My luck growing it (as of July 2019): poor. tried 1 plant and 4 corms from PlantItHawaii on 4/12/2019 and 4 corms all died, 1 plant is still growing but nearly all the leaves die. Probably needs more water and N/P. Looks like it’s on its way out.

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Compost

Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Development Program
Kohala Center
NOTES from class on May 25, 2019 by Jim Crum
Presentations by Norman Arancon (for registered Students only):
– Composting
– Principals of Vermicomposting
– Vermicomposting and Teas
– 2016 Vermicompost Water Extracts

Dr. Norman Arancon
UH Hilo
Been there 10 years and Ohio before that for 11 years

Vermicomposting vs composting
– $12/ pound worms are $180 here
– teaching as a course at UH but only 10 people so may be cut next year- 
Composting
– been around forever
– bin or on the ground
– Biological process

Aerobatic (requires oxygen) is what is focused on vs anaerobic (no oxygen and creates methane
– biogas and all that is left is sludge)
– biological process that requires turning to make sure every particle in it is oxygenated- controlled condition:
— nutrient balance of carbon (brown) to nitrogen (green). Critical!
— moisture content
— temperature is a byproduct of aerobic microbe activity. Not over 160degrees or they catch fire. 110-140 is normal and required by EPA for 72 hours to kill human pathogens
— air
Takes 6 weeks (minimum) to complete if you have all the right elements- turn it once a week
– air pumped into it can work

Don’t put it straight on the ground because byproducts can be viruses and such that leech into the ground. Weed mat is ok for backyard setups
If commercial, you are responsible for a salmonella, ecoli, helminth, enteric viruses, etc. outbreak and you are liable

C:N is preferred 25-30:1 Moisture is 50-60%Oxygen >6% but 16-18.5%
*apply 2 or more weeks before harvest
Whatever stream you have, work with it and try not to bring in things outside the farm
Best manure additives for Nitrogen C:N
– horse and swine is 30:1
– cattle (if from a slurry) and turkey grass clipping 19:1 but collect from
– Carbon C:N
– newsprint is 398-852:1. Soak in water and then shred it
– cardboard 563:1- sawdust and wood chips: 442:1- bark 109-130:1
– People are being composted and is more valuable than ash as fertilizer.
– Sewage is 16:1
– Melorganite
– humanure (night soil) and pasteurized and therefore the benefits of compost is gone.

Nearly all are pasteurized and especially if out of state. If pasteurized, then of little value so make your own or get local. (Sunshine hardware in Hawi has some, Hilo transfer station)
You can compost anything as long as it is got enough and covered to keep critters out. 
Moisture required to heat up. 50% feels moist but not damp
C1V1 = C2V2

Stop compost pile when it is 5’x5’x5’ and. Turn it every week for 6 weeks. 
40# bag is worth $527 pounds out of 100 pounds
Build a 4x4x4 on palettes on tarpKeep it covered until it reaches that height, then start turning it. 
Need to chop it up 1-2 inches max and covered
Precomposting (140 degrees for 72 hours of manure and to get rid of weedseeds and meet EPA requirements for manure
End products:- fertilizer (if not pasteurized)- soil conditioner- land reclamation- livestock bedding- nursery container media- disease control
Holland is best for composting and use it for reclamation
Ohio State has the gurus for composting and vermicomposting

In a teaspoon of soil have a million microorganisms.  There are a few that are bad but overwhelmed by the good
Nematodes: microscopic worms that cause a cancerous response and disfigure carrots. Compost can control nematodes. – 4 types, only one is parasitic so 
Compost tea: magnify it’s effect with a small amount and make it 10:1. – time consuming- immediate effect- less long-lasting effect compared to soil so may need to be applied weekly- “tea time in the tropics” (Ted Radovich) is free online- make in a bucket for a week without aeration, or 24 hours with aeration 
Screen compost at end of process to get the best kind
2”x 2” screening typically, but 1”x 1” is better quality 
Benefits to plants- nutrient release- produce hormones- reduce disease and parasites- increases biological activity and diversity- improve tilth and structure of soil 

*“Vermiculture Technology” book by Clive Edwards and Norman Arancon is expensive but worth a look

“I buy worms from 12 year old kid on island.” 
Typical soil
– 25% Air
– 25% water
– 5% organic matter (10% microorganisms)

Earthworms
– used to predict earthquakes when they come to the surface because of vibrations.
– have multiple hearts
– formaldehyde 100mil per gallon can be put on the soil because they are sensitive to soil
– cut them beyond 8 segments and they will live. Cut them exactly in 1/2 and they will die
– produce cocoons about the size of a mung bean. Greenish brown
– work with other microorganisms in 4-6 weeks to create soil. 
Lava takes 400 years to turn into soil. 
Types- red wrigglers with yellow tails. Not good for bait because of secretions- Indian blues have a purple sheen.  Very prolific. Highly social and leave the bin. – tenisteits. 
Mites are in the habitat and will attack the 
Waste for worms (worst to best)- chicken, turkey, duck, horse (if not dewormed), cattle, pig, rabbit- brewery, potato, paper, sewage (night soil), restaurant, food market, yard waste
Precomposte before vermicomposting – 60-75 degrees- no more than a couple inches or material on top- automated continuous flow reactors
Vermiculture  toiletshttp://www.vermicompostingtoilets.net/
To use animal feces, dissolve in water to break it down. 
“How Vermicompost affects plants” UHHilo by 
Worm Tea- ACT: aerated- NCT: do not or minimal disturbing- Home Brewer: 5 gallon bucket with a mesh bag (nylon paint strainer) over the top. Stirred occasionally to aerate- helps dramatically with germination if soaked for 1 hour but only 1-5% VC Tea. Too concentrated can become toxic- 5% to 10% Vermicompost tea is the sweet spot. 
Biochar- empty cells when they are initially deposited- absorbs everything around it as an empty cell so grabs everything. Only has value once it is full and wants to give back- add it to your composite to have it absorb there. – it’s a home to microbes and nutrients
4788 gate code
20×100 = 500(x)+15(y)
Podcast- farmer to farmer- Ted radio hour- my favorite murder- invisibilia- this American life- the illusionist- song exploder

Ag census is how we get details of crop volume and weight per acre. Utilized production. Total harvested column is what comes out net. Divide acres by pounds. Multiply by nitrogen to know how much is needed to add per acre to add enough. Assume 100 trees per acre. 
CTAHR has stats on recommended plant nutrients sufficiency values. 

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Cacao

Here’s what I think I know about growing cacao (and chocolate)…


Hāmākua Chocolate Farm notes:
– started 11 years ago
– now has 600 plants
– agrotourism and airBnB combo
– hedge row of coffee
– Airbnb is what makes it possible. Farm tours package is popular
– growing vanilla in with the chocolate
– 6 acres
– pods are turned into mulch and back into the soil.
– got their starter seeds locally.

In General:
– 6×8’ plantings and 3 meters is the standard distance
– 350’ elevation, and can grow higher, but fermentation problems at higher elevation.
– 3 years to go from seed to harvest.
– 10 harvests a year
– hoops for rose beetles
– likes overcast
– hates wind
– they are under story trees so keep them 10-12’ high and easier to harvest
– maintaining trees for access during harvest is key
– the Felco pruning tools are the best.
– requires a midge to pollinate because the flower is so small.
– it’s ripe when you scratch it and it’s saffron colored and no green but need to know each individual tree.
– black pod rot is a big problem.
– larger hoops (for beetles) for air and so the split that bears fruit
– cold/wet causes disease
– don’t get kriyoyo because it’s picky.
– calculate 20% loss will be Normal
– 6 months from flower to ripe fruit
– Varieties: Forestero was what Hershey used, Trinitario from Trinidad. dozens more.

My Elevation: 1000 feet

My Water: 100 inches per year

My Soil: pH=neutral, N=low, P=neutral, K=neutral

My luck growing it (as of July 2019): ok. tried 2 seedlings from Island Seedlings and Saplings. I didn’t give it appropriate love initially and so my fault really. one of the two is still trying to hang on. I have been giving it more love lately so hope that helps.

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Pigs

Here’s what I think I know about raising pigs…

– Perennial peanut & barley for the pig feed
– Find a retired plantation guy (Uncle Bruce) that wants to work the farm with you.
– Use triple boundary fences requires to keep our wild pigs
– Work with Waimea butcher shop to package
– Work with the mobile butcher shop for processing or Kulana slaughter house in Hilo
– Learn to do your own slaughtering
– 80 pigs for 20 acres
– 5-6 pigs per paddock

My Elevation: 1000 feet

My Water: 100 inches per year

My Soil: pH=neutral, N=low, P=neutral, K=neutral

My luck with it (as of July 2019): I’ve had dome luck keeping out the wild pigs (so far) with 2-wire electric fence with one of them low. No interest in raising them at the moment.

Posted on by Tinyville Farm.

Sticky

Financing

Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Development Program
Kohala Center
NOTES from class on April 27, 2019 by Jim Crum
Presentation by Jill Ficke-Beaton (for registered Students only) here
Presentation by Lester Ueda (for registered Students only) here
Presentation by Eric Bowman (for registered Students only) here

Jill Ficke-Beaton, USDA-NRCS
Soil conservationist
Acting district conservationist, Waimea service center

USDA Program to assist land owners, land managers and communities. 
– can come out at our invitation to do a site visit within a couple weeks: soils and water folks come too, process of helping takes time, getting ready for farming.
– if you have a conservation program then you can be exempt from grubbing and grading program permit requirement.
– don’t help with illegal crops- look at soil, air, water, animals, plants, energy, resources
– steer you into a program like: environmental quality incentive program,

Ag management assistance (good for beginning farmers), conservation innovation grant, conservation stewardship program, emergency watershed protection, regional conservation,  Ag conservation and wetlands reserve easements, landscape
– $450k available over 4 years with 2018 Farm bill
– mid-October cutoff for applications so do your work well ahead of this- don’t stop working to wait for funding. 
– commitment to the federal government so think carefully
– waimea has 46 applications and only one person to manage it
– it’s about sustainability and making the land usable forever. 
– have soil and (plant tissue test) by UH Extension in Waimea or Komo Hana and talk about crops you want to grow and organically so they can give 
– eligibility: control or own eligible Ag land, comply with adjusted gross income limitation, in compliance with highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements, develop an NRCS EQUIP plan of operations- Ferrell pig program helped with APHIS for mitigation and cameras and 
– life span on projects: 20 years for fence, 
– 5% have a spot check every year. 
– plans are windbreak, pollinator habitat, mulch, seasonal high tunnel, cover crop, high tunnel system
– 1” of water on 1 acre requires 100,000 gallons
– 50% goes to livestock
– over $900,000 annual income is disqualified, but can still partner with others that make over that, but their portion disqualified
– you are the driver of your land system and so can decide what direction it goes- multi-species grazing can have great benefits, but sheep, horses with cows can help. Livestock should be a tool, not a burden* sustainability starts with profitability

Lester Ueda, USDA-FSACounty Executive Director
Hawai’i County FSA Office
154 Waianuenue Ave., #122Hilo, HI 96720
808-933-8381 x2
www.fsa.usda.gov

Help with non-insurance crops
– micro loans, farm ownership, operating (up to $50k @ 3.5% up to 7 years), emergency (up to $500k @3.75% within 8 months of disaster designation for 7-40 years), youth loans
– micro loan with expedited application process for annual operating expenses, supplies, farm equipment, farm vehicles, family living expenses 
– the FSA county committee (elected by farmers and ranchers) but ranchers are the ones in charge
– programs include Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance, livestock forage program, livestock indemnity program, emergency livestock assistance program, tree assistance program, emergency loans, emergency conservation program (this is used a lot)
– noninsured crop disaster assistance program (NAP): due to damaging weather or natural disaster, service fee of $325/ crop up to $825 waived for socially disadvantaged, limited resources, beginning farmers and veterans- losses have to exceed 50% and it covers 55% of revenue but can “buy up” to cover 35% loss and 100% payment 
– must annually report acreage and production and it is verified. 
– emergency assistance for livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish: managed hives, CCD, natural disasters, loss adjuster verifies, 
– NAP (crop insurance) deadlines: 5/1 = Nursery 9/1 = floriculture, Christmas trees, aqua culture, mushrooms, sod grass and 12/1 = forage/grass, vegetables, fruits, honey
– Emergency Conservation Program: 75% cost sharing for land cleanup from natural disasters and water conservation measures during drought. Can help with wind damage- Reporting deadlines: 9/30 = floriculture, 12/2 = honey bee colonies, 12/16 = forage* bees are considered livestock* if you don’t register/participate and apply you can’t get help* documentation is key to success

Eric Bowman
The Kohala Center Microloan Program
“Farm Capitalization”

Spend money on: Equipment @ $10000, seed and plants @ $5000, fertilizer @ $5000, building @ $10000, animals @ 
– current assists = less than a year
– capital equipment & working capital are needed. 
– cash is king to stay in business, so AP and AR are balanced to manage your inventory
– look everywhere to acquire money: friends and family, loans, selling assets, marrying well, other job l, retirement fund loan
– equity (ownership): personal savings, sweat equity, investors
– debt: customer prepay (CSA), loans, credit cards
– cost of money: investors take ownership and are there forever, loans require collateral and and interest, grants take time and administration. 
– challenges: no money for needed equipment and building. 
– most money comes from friends and family. They already trust you. Start there, then move to investors, then lenders, then customers- when asking, tie it to a milestone, put it in writing, show your own commitment, experiment on your own, don’t ask for more than they can afford to lose, communicate plan and risks, focus on well-connected friends with experience, tie repayments to revenues
– lenders:
1) start with equity from family friends and savings
2) next are micro lenders like Kiva and Slow Money
3) CDFIs like FTHF
4) government like USDA FSA and HDOA @ 3.74-4% 5) commercial like FCS and First Financial but need established operations and higher interest rate 5-7%
– Kohala Center hawaii food producers fund: kiva.org/borrow uses “social underwriting” and matches and is 0% interest and 36 month repay to all those that match too! Great for quick projects.  
– Feed the Hunger Foundation: in Honolulu   
– USDA Rural Energy for America Program: up to 25% of renewable or energy efficiency. 10/31 and 4/1 deadlines.
– Value Added Producer Grant: $75k planning or $250k working capital- htdc.org/money for 20% of hawaii-bases manufacturing aug-mar deadlines. Covers equipment, training and feasibility studies
– HIPlan Business Competition: $25k, monthly meetups, 9/7 deadline, 7-page business plan – food safety reimbursement grant: up to $5000 over 5 years FSMA deadline is application on 4/30 deadline 
– most useful: more friends and richer relatives, register for free NAP insurance, trust the government when it is good for you. 

Crooked Nail Farm- bamboo as windbreak if Malay dwarf or Fernleaf Multiplex- diversity of crops is key and plan for different times of harvest- use grafted fruit trees- avocado: add 3 cups lime, 2.5 cups 0-45-0, and a shovel of compost or chicken manure- tree shelters are good anywhere. Use 10’ hog wire and low% shade cloth- fertilize new trees regularly 4x/yr with emphasis on warmer months- K’au dwarf or Florigon mangos and Dave Frenz at 987-6455 in Hilo can help with best
* buy Stihl, Kubota, and DeWalt. Skip Ryobi and Black and Decker- diesel 
* keep your day job (50% of farmers are there)
* need more friends with money!!
* Perennial peanut. Get it from KTA