Komohana Research and Extension Center, Hilo, Hawaiʻi · October 1–3, 2015

Natural Farming Symposium 2015

A day of talks and hands-on skill shares in Hilo, a day of panels, then farm tours and a film. 25 recordings: nine talks including Drake Weinert's keynote, six demonstrations on the lawn, eight panels, a short ceremony and hallway interviews. Every one is checked line by line and boiled down to what was made, what was measured and what was only told.

Read what it all adds up to →

Also on the record: Konkuk 2016

Topics microbes soil economics policy health taro culture food pigs scale protectors research biochar fermentation minerals school gardens Clear

2 talks on “local food”

Derek Kurisu ·USA (Hawaiʻi) ·18 min

How a Hilo Grocer Put Local Food and IMO on the Shelf

A KTA Super Stores executive explains how the store's Mountain Apple Brand grew to about 45 local partners and 210 products, and how KTA raised local leafy produce to 90–97% and local beef from about 5% to 45% of sales. He then tells how Dr. Hoon Park won him over to Korean Natural Farming, which led KTA to sell a bagged Microbes (IMO) product, IMOlizer, and to hope for natural-farming food on its shelves.

Found Mountain Apple Brand: about 45 business partners and about 210 products

beef economics health local food microbes retail

Russell Ruderman ·USA (Hawaiʻi) ·11 min

Move 10% to Local Food, Keep $300 Million in Hawaiʻi

State Senator Russell Ruderman, introduced by HFUU president Vincent Mina, speaks to the symposium on the last evening. He argues that local food pays off in money, health and soil, that farm-made solutions cut Hawaiʻi's high cost of imported fertilizer, and that farmers need to get into politics to crack open markets like school food.

Found Shifting the local-vs-imported food meter 10% is worth about $300 million to the state

economics health local food policy politics school gardens