“These Days, You Gotta Blog if You’re a Farmer”

Posted on December 7, 2008 by Damon

Richard Ha recently spoke before Hawaii’s House of Representatives.

The Hawaii House Blog has a summary of Richards talk on their post entitled “The Rodney Dangerfield of the Economy”:

…The world has changed. He has had to lay off 20 workers recently. He says you can tell that farming is bad when fertilizer sales go down. Fertilizer sales have been going down since last spring. There is, however, an opportunity to use agricultural lands for energy crops. A bill passed last year allows farmers to finance loans for energy projects, although this may not be quite enough incentive to bring more people into farming.

He has a blog now. “These days, you gotta blog if you’re a farmer…”

Filed under: Agriculture, Blogs, Economy, Food & Drink, Sustainable Living | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Richard Ha on KHON News Tonight

Posted on December 5, 2008 by Damon

Anyone catch Big Island farmer Richard Ha on KHON’s news tonight?

He was on Oahu along with other farmers across the State talking about how the economy has really messed with local farmers.

You can view it here.

Filed under: Agriculture, Blogs, Economy, Food & Drink, Television | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Hawaii Prosecuting Attorney on New Marijuana Drug Law: The Video

Posted on December 2, 2008 by Damon

“…Contrary to what some may believe, marijuana continues to illegal on the Big Island under State and Federal Laws…” Prosecuting Attorney Jay Kimura at the County of Hawaii Inaugural Cermony.

Video Courtesy of BIVN

Filed under: Agriculture, Big Island, Health, Legal, Politics, Rumors | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Slugs, Snails, and Snubs… Advertiser Reports UH Research on Slimeys

Posted on November 30, 2008 by Damon

I wrote about the slug and snail research that UH Researchers were working on here.

Today’s Honolulu Advertiser basically ran the same report today, “UH Researchers Compile Data on Snail, Slug, Species in Hawaii.”

It is interesting how things that I find online… interestingly enough become “Honolulu Staff” articles. ;)

If I remember correctly, former reporter Tim Ryan from the Star Bulletin was fired for writing similar articles by just rewording something that was previously written.

Wonder why the Advertiser puts “Advertiser Staff” instead of something else on the byline of the article?

I try my best to give credit where due by linking directly to articles that I cut and paste from.  It’s a shame major publications don’t do the same.

To see the article where the Advertiser and I both pulled our information from, check out Science Daily.

hawaiisnail1

Filed under: Agriculture, Newspapers, UH | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Local Orchid Farmers Benefit by Thailand Woes

Posted on November 29, 2008 by Damon

Its amazing how many of our local hotels have preferred to buy their tropical flowers and orchids from Thailand instead of here in Hawaii.

Thailand recent bad news is great news for Island Orchid Farmers.

I hate to see the country in trouble, but I’m glad that local farmers will benefit by Thailand woes.

Hat tip to Big Island Video News

*edit* Mahalo to reader Dave Smith for correcting Taiwan to Thailand! ;)

Filed under: Agriculture, Big Island, Economy | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

UH Researchers Study Slugs & Snails… Find 5 New Species in Hawaii

Posted on November 26, 2008 by Damon

I hate slugs and snails.

Here in Hawaii we have some big suckers.  They cause a lot of damage to peoples gardens and much money is spent on slug and snail bait here in the islands.

From October through December, UH Researchers have been studying slugs and snails:

…Funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the survey of 40 nurseries, botanical gardens and other plant-based facilities took place on six of the Hawaiian Islands. It was determined that most of the unwanted species were probably first brought into Oahu, and then spread to the neighbor islands.

Common Hawaiian Slug

Common Hawaiian Slug

“We found alien snails and slugs in all 40 nurseries in our survey,” said Cowie, chair of the Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology graduate program at UHM. “In total, we found 29 alien species, including five that had never been reported in Hawai`i before. We also found many species on particular islands on which they had never been reported before, and learned that alien snails were even infesting plants due to be sent to Kahoolawe as part of the restoration effort on that island…”

Hawaiian Tree Snail

African Snail that is Common in Hawaii

More Here

Filed under: Agriculture, Environment | Tagged: , | 5 Comments »

Insects Released to Battle Gall Wasps

Posted on November 25, 2008 by Damon
*updated below*

I guess I will have to watch the news tonight… but there is something that bothers me when I see a news agency release a notice like this… without telling us the name of the insect/wasp that was released.

The Hawai`i Department of Agriculture today released the first batch of tiny insects that are natural enemies of the Erythrina Gall Wasp, the insect that has devastated wiliwili and coral trees across the state.

Staff released about 500 tiny wasps in a stand of native wiliwili trees in Liliuokalani Botanical Gardens in Liliha. About a dozen such releases will be taking place on each island statewide. KGMB9′s Tina Chau was there and will have full details tonight on KGMB9 News at 6pm.

———–

*Update*

It’s going to be the wasp that a State Entomologist was working on for a long time.

wasp-predator

…State Department of Agriculture exploratory entomologist Mohsen Ramadan was absent but the product of his work was present in the release of 500 tiny wasps called Eurytoma erythinae into a stand of native wiliwili trees at Lili’uokalani Botanical Gardens in Liliha…

More Here

Filed under: Agriculture, Environment | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

Back in TIME With Those Effing Mosquitos… The Psychology of the Buggahs

Posted on November 18, 2008 by Damon

I just found this interesting 1945 TIME magazine report on Mosquitos.

Everyone knows how much I hate these effing bugs.

What do mosquitoes think about? Principally, sex and food… (Sounds like us guys ;) )

The Army’s Peeping Toms confirmed the theory (TIME, April 16, 1945) that the girl mosquito’s hum is sexual advertising. With tuning forks of the proper frequency, they posed as susceptible females, got chased by mosquito males…

…More practical was the study of biting habits (female only). The Army learned that skin color makes little difference. A victim’s hand bathed in green light was bitten as readily as the same hand bathed in red. Mosquitoes, probably, can see only large masses in black-&-white. They are repelled somewhat by a black or a white shirt, prefer intermediate shades. A female mosquito with eyes removed can find a victim; but with antennae removed, she goes hungry. (Ruthless Military testing)

Smell is probably more important than sight as a food-finder. Mosquitoes were attracted by air which had blown past a human being. They could also feel warmth at considerable distance. A human forearm cooled a few degrees did not interest them. If heated slightly it attracted them quickly. Moisture was important too. But on very damp days, a sweaty forearm was not as attractive as on dry days.

Army researchers (still continuing) had yet to produce the hoped-for result: a repellent based on mosquito psychology. But they had confirmed one popular theory: mosquitoes like some people better than others. The reason was still a mystery, except for the observation that mosquitoes dislike tough, hairy skins…

More Here

So maybe that’s why I’m getting bit so much.  I’m not that hairy!

Filed under: Agriculture, Environment, Hawaii, Something New? | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Samoan High School Student to Defend “Mosquito Defense” Findings in Hawaii

Posted on November 12, 2008 by Damon

Those that have been reading my blog know how much I hate effing mosquitoes.

A high school senior in Samoa is coming to Hawaii to defend his findings in three plants that may help reduce mosquito colonies.

A senior student at American Samoa’s Tafuna High School, Samuel Meleisea, has won a science symposium with a project aiming to help reduce mosquito numbers…

…Mr Meleisea is to present his paper and defend his research findings at the Hawaii science symposium next month.

He says he decided to test the impact of phytochemicals in the leaves of 3 local plants, the Sasalapa, Mosooi and the Neem tree…

More Here

Sasalapa

Sasalapa

mosooi

mosooi

neem-tree

So my next question is… where can I find some of these plants and will they grow here in Hawaii?  I’d love to surround my place with them.

Filed under: Agriculture, Environment, Something New?, Sustainable Living | Tagged: , , , | 3 Comments »

Richard Ha On “Long Story Short” TONIGHT on PBS

Posted on November 11, 2008 by Damon

Richard Ha from Hamakua Farms and the owner of the Blog on my Blogroll Ha!Ha!Ha! will be on Leslie Wilcoxs PBS show “Long Story Short” TONIGHT! at 7:30 PM.  I don’t know what he will be talking about, but I expect it to be a good show, as all of Leslie’s shows are.

Update:

…Richard will appear at 7:30 this evening (Nov. 11) on PBS Hawaii’s Long Story Short. The program repeats at 2:30pm Sunday (Nov. 16). He’ll talk about how he became a farmer (he grew up on a farm but had no intention of spending his adulthood farming) and how he’s working to meet the never-ending challenges in farming. Richard’s best known on the Big Island for growing plump, tasty tomatoes and for personal leadership in sustainability issues…

More Here

Filed under: Agriculture, Announcements, Blogs, Food & Drink, Television | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Shrooms Banned in the Netherlands

Posted on November 11, 2008 by Damon

From Dec 1 the famous Amsterdam magic mushroom will no longer be on sale in the city. The hallucinogenic mushrooms, imported mainly from Hawaii, Mexico and Ecuador, have for years been freely available, at modest prices, in shops around the city…

…Amsterdam city council supports the government’s ban, hoping it will change the general perception of the city as a mecca for drug user and the sex industry.

Earlier this year moves were made to close down part of the city’s famous red light district…

More Here

I wonder if this includes Hawaii’s Stinkhorn Mushroom that makes women have orgasms?  ;)

Filed under: Agriculture, Something New?, Tourism, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Hawaii Grown TV Features BJ Penn as Well as Richard Ha’s Hamakua Mushrooms

Posted on November 10, 2008 by Damon

Filed under: Agriculture, BJ Penn, Blogs, Food & Drink, MMA | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

UH Researchers Buy “486 Servings of Hamburgers, Fries and Chicken Sandwiches from McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s” Across America…

Posted on November 10, 2008 by Damon

I can’t make this stuff up!

Biofuel demand is not the only market pressure being felt by US corn farmers. Much of the fast food that powers Americans – a $100 billion annual market – is indirectly made from corn as well, according to researchers in Hawaii.

Hope Jahren and Rebecca Kraft of the University of Hawaii purchased 486 servings of hamburgers, fries and chicken sandwiches from McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Detroit, Boston and Baltimore.

Back in the lab, they analysed the carbon isotope content of each serving. Previous research has shown that it is possible to determine whether an animal ate predominantly corn feed or grass from the ratio of C13 to C12 in its body tissue.

The pair found that 100% of the chicken in these three fast-food chains had been reared on corn alone. Some 93% of the beef came from cows that had been fed a corn-only diet. Just 12 burgers – all from west-coast Burger Kings – came from beef that had eaten something else…

More Here

Filed under: Agriculture, Environment, Food & Drink, UH | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

How to Differ Genetically Engineered Fruits from Organic Ones at Stores

Posted on November 7, 2008 by Damon

Found this interesting statement that might help when in the Produce section:

Look at the code printed on the tiny sticker stuck on the produce. If the PLU (Price Look Up) code begins with the number 9, it’s organic. Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables bear a code beginning with 4. If the code begins with an 8, the produce is genetically engineered—making this the only genetic engineering label in the United States.

Filed under: Agriculture, Food & Drink, GMO, Health | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Help Support the GMO Veto Override

Posted on November 6, 2008 by Damon

KAHEA has made a quick and simple template for people to write a letter to the council in support of the Bill 361, and to override Harry Kims recent veto of the Bill which all 9 council members voted in favor for.

Please support this by visiting this site and filling out the template at the bottom (20 seconds of your time):

OVERRIDE HARRY KIM

(Fill out box on bottom)

Filed under: Agriculture, Big Island, Food & Drink, GMO | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Hawaiian Woodrose as a Hallucinogen?

Posted on November 6, 2008 by Damon

My mom uses the Hawaiian Woodrose plant as a decorative ornament on some of her coconut palm baskets she makes.  I just read this morning that the Woodrose has halucinogenic properties!

woodrose

Disclosure: Do not try this yourself.

…Other substances on the internet include hallucinogens such as Hawaiian baby woodrose seeds and morning glory seeds.

One study has found that Hawaiian baby woodrose can set off acute psychotic episodes and experts have warned that morning glory can induce miscarriages…

More Here

Filed under: Agriculture | Tagged: , | 2 Comments »

Department of Agriculture Looking to Loosen Restrictions of Hawaii Agriculture Products to Mainland

Posted on November 2, 2008 by Damon

The State of Hawaii has requested the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), to allow the interstate movement of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), dragon fruit (species of Hylocereus and Selenicereus), melon (Cucumis melo), pods of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and its relatives, breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), and fresh Moringa pods (Moringa oleifera) into the continental United States. The current regulation titled Hawaiian Fruits, Vegetables and Flowers (7 CFR 318.13) prohibits or restricts the movement of fruits, vegetables, and flowers into the continental United States from Hawaii in order to prevent the introduction and dissemination of plant pests that are new to or not widely distributed within the continental United States.

To permit, under certain conditions, the movement of commercial shipments of mangosteen, dragon fruit, melon, pods of cowpea and its relatives, breadfruit, jackfruit, and fresh Moringa pods from Hawaii into the continental United States following irradiation treatment…

More Here

Filed under: Agriculture, Legal, State Affairs | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Good Plant News at Hamakua Farms

Posted on October 31, 2008 by Damon

A few days ago I mentioned Richard Ha was having some difficulties on his farm with some of his plants.

It turns out the problem is not as bad as first thought and I’m very glad to hear this.

Filed under: Agriculture, Blogs, Food & Drink | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Is GMO Bill 361 Official Now???

Posted on October 29, 2008 by Damon

It has been more then 10 days since the County Council approved Bill 361.

If memory serves me correct, the mayor only has 10 days to sign the bill or veto the bill otherwise it becomes law regardless of what Harry Kim says after that 10 days.

Does anyone know if it is now official?

Filed under: Agriculture, Big Island, Food & Drink, GMO, Hawaiian, Health, Legal | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Full Hands at the Farm (Hamakua Farms)

Posted on October 27, 2008 by Damon

I’m glad that Richard Ha is upfront with everyone on his blog so I’ll just direct everyone over to his latest blog posting:

Full Hands at the Farm

I wish his farm the best and I know they will be doing fine soon once again in the near future.

Best Wishes Richard

Filed under: Agriculture, Blogs, Community, Economy, Food & Drink, Something New?, Sustainable Living | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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