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Draft H -am akua CDP Community SpeakOuts April g, 2o16 / April 23, 2o16 / May 7, 2o16 Make "micro" incentives for smaller taro patches. Community taro gardens, neighborhood taro patches (20 years is mind boggling!) How much taro would you need to grow to get an incentive? We are 3 acres - more smaller ag parcels (ag 5) Pesticides/Herbicides are a concern because of the residue in soil and runoff in streams to oceans that affect marine life and beneficial insects as well. Conflict between GMOs & organic - isolate GMOs to protect organic farmer interests Concern about ag & vegetation waste (i.e. cuttings) - no recycling facility in North Hilo; have to go down into Hilo. Should have more facilities in this area. Concern about lack of regulations regarding vacation rentals on ag land. Availability of land for small farmers; Ability to live on land you farm; Connection to the land you farm is very important; Property costs=Challenge. Don't have the younger generation engaged in farming. Need to get kids out there both in the forest & fields. Need more programs to support this. How do we get kids to support smaller, local ag? Farm to school; more nutritious food Need more sustainable, local food. Need to provide more locations for farmers to do value - add commercial kitchen, etc. Using ag land for non-ag purposes doesn't support sustainable ag; it diminishes it. Things are built & turned into vacation rentals which is not ag-use of the land. Sometimes don't find out about something being built until after it's done. Need more notice of non-ag projects on ag land so the community can be involved. Value added Ag essential to profits so really need commercial kitchen to be accessible cheaply; profitable farmers & use of farmers. Concerned that ag lots are used for intended purposes (i.e. not gentleman farms or vacation rentals. Green waste in Pa'auilo - There's nowhere to go. We have to throw it away (truckloads) if we don't make our own compost. Distribution & food prep (commercial kitchen) is very expensive so people we know can't use it. How are we able to isolate organic farms from GMO so they can keep their designation? (Costco is willing to buy but there's not enough local, organic options. Ag land should be used as intended. Should not encourage farm land to be converted to residential. Bishop Estate - what's the plan for the Eucalyptus? Long-term plan? Before & After; Private land but County can find out. Lease 4 years; required to remove all trees & kill new ones; first right of refusal to be biofuel; trying to ship Eucalyptus out as quick as possible. Point of contact for ag leases? Buy local Spend our money to have a better way of life. Hakalau Food SHARE (see Facebook) Tuesdays 3-6pm at Hakalau Veteran's Park; example of what we can do to feed each other; emphasis on organic; completely open to public