Maui Workshop Agenda
May 19 and 20, 2012

Back to Maui workshop page.

Download the agenda.

Agenda Day 1: Noho‘ana Farm (Waikapu)

9:00-9:15 a.m. Opening Introductions and Pule by Hōkūao Pellegrino

9:15-9:45 a.m. The Hawai‘i Public Seed Initiative by Nancy Redfeather, Coordinator HPSI
• Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?
• Public Seed Commons: A Brief History of the Seed Industry.

9:45–10:15 a.m. History of Seed Production and Crop Breeding in Hawai‘i by Hector Valenzuela

• Brief Summary of Statewide Seed Assesment from the 2010 Seed Symposium.

10:15-11:15 a.m. Seed Basics: Botany and Biology by Russell Nagata
• Monocot and Dicot Plant Differences • Open-Pollinated/Hybrid/Heirloom
• Inbreeding/outbreeding: Know Your Crops Mating preferences.
• Selfing/Cross Pollination Pollen Transfer (wind, insect, human)
• Reproductive Cycles: Annuals, Biennials, Perennials
• Different Strategies - population numbers, isolation distances, roughing and selection to maintain seed purity

11:15-12:00 p.m. Growing Tomato for Seed in the Garden by Glenn Teves
Overview of what conventional tomato breeders might consider:
• Selecting for cultivars with characteristics that address the special needs of Island propagation.

Noon-1:00 p.m. Lunch
(click here for the lunch menu)

1:00-2:45 p.m Growing Kalo and Farm Tour with Talk Story by Hōkūao Pellegrino with Glenn Teves and ( Penny Levin?)

2:45-3:30 p.m. Seed Saving and Storage: Basic Techniques and Ideas. Simple Techniques for a Home Mini-Seed Bank. By Paul Massey

3:30-4:15 p.m. Update on Kauai Network of Seed Savers by Paul Massey
Each district on the island has different growing requirements. Gather together according to the district you live in. Please choose a group moderator to record and organize your information. Your group will be continuing this process on Day 2.

Determine which District you are in and consider the following questions to for tomorrows action agenda:

• What is average rainfall and temperature range of your location?
• What are you growing well and having success with?
• What are the most difficult problems you have encounted with growing?
• What crop or crops would your group like to focus on growing?
• What do you foresee as your biggest challenge? What are any thoughts on overcoming this?
• Group moderator to record all info for day 2 sharing

Agenda Day 2: Kupa‘a Farm (Kula)

9:00-10:15 a.m. Growing Requirements for Producing Lettuce for Seed by Russell Nagata
• Cleaning Techniques for Dry Seeded Crops.
• Pollination, Isolation, Optimum Number of Plants
• Seed Purity, Improving Lettuce Varieties, Roguing and Selection
• Seed Storage, Viability Testing

10:15-11:15 a.m. Harvest and Clean Lettuce Seed - Demonstration and class participation. Facilitated by Gerry Ross

11:15 a.m -Noon Harvesting Seed and Seed Processing: Techniques for Wet-Seed Crops. Tomato demonstration with group participation by Gerry Ross with facilitation by Russell Nagata & Lyn Howe

Noon-12:30 p.m. Variety Trials by Hector Valenzuela
• What is a variety trial and what information are we looking to gather?
• How to use the log handed out
• What we will be doing and recording this year - how the information gained will be recorded
• Give Lettuce and tomato seed to participants to grow out and record information

12:30-1:30 p.m. Lunch (click here for the lunch menu)

1:30-2:30 p.m. Small Farm Grain Production For The Tropics by Nikki Duncan
• Reasons to Grow Grains
• When to grow, how to grow and harvesting
• Varieties - brief overview o Grass grains o Corn, Sorghum o Seed Grains
• Demonstration & hands on: Threshing/Winnowing

2:30-3:45 p.m. Tour Of Kupa‘a Farm With Discussion On Soil Fertility,Variety Selections and Growing for Production by Gerry Ross

3:45-4:30 p.m. Panel and Participant Action Agenda: Establishing Your Network of Seed Growers on Maui. Facilitated by Paul Massey
Questions to discuss - choose a group moderator to record this information:
• What is average rainfall and temperature range of your location?
• What are you growing well and having success with?
• What are the most difficult problems you have encounted with growing?
• What crop or crops would your group like to focus on growing?
• What do you foresee as your biggest challenge? What are any thoughts on overcoming this?
• Group moderator to record all info for day 2 sharing

Agenda Day 3 - Optional Farm Tour at “The Maui Farm” (Makawao).
A two-acre educational farm that is a thriving natural environment offering rich bio-diverse gardens, crop fields, plant nursery, aquaponics, composting site, animal livestock. The farm is home to over 100 different species of native and other plants, vegetables, flowers, herbs, and fruits and a fruit orchard.