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Get Growing Hawaii!

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Changing our food system can begin with one girl, in a field, with and idea....and continue on in an exciting, ever changing  journey. 

Generally speaking, lone women creating 1/4 acre farms  in Hawaii don't make anybody's radar.  But thanks to so many kind people who have bothered to listen, buy my produce, and support my farm actions, I have somehow gotten the attention of the big guys.

When I say big guys, I mean the big guys who are invested in our shared history of seed.  Heirlooms.  Pure, simple, delicious gifts from the past.

In March of 2016 I was nominated to represent Hawaii as a member of Slow Food USA's delegate team in Turin, Italy. This end of September event is life changing for all that participate.  At the beginning of September, I will again be a speaker at the National Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa, CA.  This will be year #3 where I will proudly represent Hawaii.  So when you sponsor any of my community actions, you will be helping to offset the costs of these educational trips.

Here is how your sponsorship money helps Hawaii communities:

What to see change?  Sponsor any of my Hawaii based community actions and change will occur.

Waiting for composting facilities?  Sponsor my zero-waste restaurant to farm composting system.  Together chefs and I have kept tons of green waste and fish scrap out of our landfills...and we keep on truckin' even though the truck is an MG Midget!

Want to help the community to eat better?  Sponsor those actions that teach child care providers to seniors how to use fresh produce.

Want to help other new farmers and gardeners?  I'll use my experience and skills to educate.  Change can happen one action at a time.

When you sponsor my Hawaii based community actions, you will be helping to offset the costs of my trip to be a presentation speaker at the National Heirloom Expo.  I will be the only farmer from Hawaii, so I will do my best to represent the state through my unique farming efforts.  Over 20,000 are expected to be in attendance at the expo. But before the event, I will be flying in, putting on my boots, and rolling up my sleeves and volunteering at the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed crop trials in Northern CA where my very own, Hawaii grown Black Kabocha was selected for their national seed trials.  

I will have a behind the scenes opportunity to learn how to collect research data while assisting in the harvesting all of the heirloom melons and squash that will be featured in the national pure food fair.  Stop and imagine that for a second! I will be privy to some of the rarest food gems in the world, and I will be blogging, and documenting the whole process so that you can follow along. 

Tons of heirloom produce will be passing through my hands and I will be learning from the best. It will take a strong mind and a strong back, but I am up for it.

For two weeks, I will get a rare inside look at organic seed research, that will forever change my farming, and my work as an educator.  

A beautiful black pumpkin from my farm and research

I will be collecting firsthand detailed data on my beloved Hawaiian Black Kabocha.  I have dedicated 3 years to studying, breeding, and distributing free seed to hundreds of growers across the state of Hawaii, and now it is time to take it to the world.  Right now those vines are growing and getting a chance to represent Hawaii in the fields of California.  All of this goes down at one of the largest, most successful organic farms in the country. If that kabocha does well, it can help many farmers suffering from drought and pests to succeed, if it doesn't do well, I will have critical research data to add to my Hawaii study.

Before I head home, I will be a presentation speaker and educator at The National Heirloom Expo, where I will be  speaking about my own squash crop trials at my 1/4 acre farm in Hawaii as well as the adventures in the California trials. I may even have the chance to sit on a panel with my mentor (fingers crossed.) I will be an exhibitor too.  I will do it all, and give it my all.

Heirloom Glass Gem corn grown at Squash and Awe

Why does this work matter?  You are supporting the kind of independent research that helps to get pure heirloom seeds into the hands of many. No chemical company is backing me, and no alterior motives are at play.  These are the kinds of seeds that my family had farmed for 6 generations.  This is the food of your ancestors too.

These actions are the very foundation for helping to take back our food system. Taking a seed with great potential all the way to the nationals can help people around the world. 

As I mentoned earlier, changing our food system can begin as one girl, in a field, with and idea....help send me on my way to do the work that helps us all.

Me giving a pumpkin talk at the farm

I will be doing volunteer efforts in both Hawaii and in California in exchange for your monetary support! Please select a category, and your money will go twice as  far.

Learn more about my farming efforts at www.squashandawe.com
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Donations 

  • Mary Spadaro
    • $44 
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

Anna Peach
Organizer
Waimea/Kamuela CDP, HI

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