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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0554.011 2014-2016 COUNTY CLERK COUNTY OF HAWAII RECEIVED Tim Date, a b r.D.BY � Re Bill: #116 February 2, 2016 To Whom it May Concern; I am the owner of the Ginger Farm located at 64-645 Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamuela. I have been going to the county office the last 5 years trying to figure out what is needed to start my Ag tourism on my farm. I know I need a very expensive septic tank, handicap parking and lift and so much more. I have been waiting for 5 years for this bill to pass so I can afford to do all that is required to start my business. With out this bill passed, I am ready to throw in towel, as I just do not have the funds for all the requirements as the way they stand now. I am on the board of the Cherry Blossom Festival, which I have been hosting this event on my farm, now going on my 6th year. This year my farm has teamed up with the Blue Zone, showing all the connections with their ideas on my farm. Please come the Ginger Farm - February 6th, hours 9-3. I will be displaying all my hopes Comm. No. 591 Ref. Ref. Date FEB 0 2 2016 and dreams for the Ginger Farm. Come see first hand what I would like to offer the island. I believe the community would so enjoy this farm to visit. I think the visitors on the island need something besides a $250 dolphin to pet. My petting zoo would be around $5. Visitors are interested in our beautiful farms, wanting something educational, more substantial to do. This would be something fun for the whole families here to do in town too. I have also been a volunteer yoga teacher at Tutus house the last six years. I love being part of my community and want the chance to share my farm with all. Please see attached Mission Statement and approved article from the Blue Zone Management. Sincerely, Deanna Olivier Ginger Farm 64-645 Mamalahoa Hwy Kamuela, Hi 96743 (808) 769-0007 Ginger Farm Mission Statement To teach the community to "Grow Your Own" A community center for all Community garden Eco tours / Showing the cycle of a farm U Pick farm. Teaching the health benefits of using ginger Petting zoo for all ages / Goats and pigs Free farm tours for the islands schools (As of now the local schools are busing the children to Puna for these farm tours) Permaculture farming Herb gardens Hawaiian Medicine Garden Bee Garden Butterfly Garden Earthing: The benefits of being in contact of dirt Farm shop selling the farms produce and other local farmers products. Nursery for the town, specializing in Waimea's climate. Blue Zone Project has teamed up with the farm Hosts the Cherry Blossom Festival: The 6th year And planning other yearly special events for the community. Like farm to table, inviting all the town for Thanksgiving etc.. Blue Zones Project comes to Waimea's Ginger Farm The Fountain of Youth:something written about in fictionalized stories where men and women set out to find the secret water so they'll never age.While this holy grail of youth doesn't physically exist anywhere in the world,there are some places on the planet where people are living far longer than the average human.They are called Blue Zones[LP1]. Hawaii is just one location that is taking these secrets of longevity and putting them to work in their communities,via Blue Zones Project®. Curious to see what was making the folks in different parts of the world consistently reach three-digit ages, author and National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner took multiple expeditions to discover the secrets to longevity in these regions. He dubbed the five places as"Blue Zones",where people were not only living long and healthy lives, but measurably happier ones as well.These places are Okinawa,Japan; Ikeda, Greece; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Sardinia, Italy;and a section of the community in Loma Linda, California. "From all of our research we have found that there are nine lessons,which we discovered in every Blue Zone in the world," Buettner says."We call them the Power 9®." The following is the hope and dreams of the Ginger Farm,with help from the community on the Kickstarter event starting Feb. 6. The Power 9's® (1)Move Naturally (2)Purpose(3)Downshift (4)80%Rule(5) Plant Slant (6) Wine @ Five (7) Belong (8) Right Tribe (9) Family First Move Naturally/Ginger Farm is going to offer a community garden and beautiful walking trails for all to enjoy. Gardening is a full range activity from digging to plant, bending to weed and carry harvest. "The world's longest-lived people don't pump iron or run marathons,"adds Buettner. "Start moving naturally, taking walks and gardening will shed some stress doing what you love,"he says."As you continue to make these small changes over time you will curate an environment that promotes your health and well-being." Find Purpose/Ginger Farm will be offering island-wide school tours. Learn how you can volunteer be a docent. Knowing your sense of purpose is worth up to seven years of extra life expectancy."Many societies look at retirement as a time to sit around, relax, play golf and do anything but work. In the Blue Zones,the elderly feel a sense of purpose and responsibility to help raise the kids and support the community." Downshift/A great stress reducer is being out in nature.Take a stroll through the Ginger Farm trails viewing all the beauty of nature and spend time at the petting zoo to de-stress. We've heard it all before: stress will kill you. "Stress leads to chronic inflammation,associated with every major age-related disease,"advises Buettner. "The world's longest-lived people have routines to shed that stress."Cultures actually have built an idea of"downshifting",which is particularly apparent during Ramadan.The daily prayer and fasting provide that inherent mentality of slowing down and de-stressing, something that should be taken advantage of. 80%Rule/Ginger Farm is all about eating healthy. In a time and area where there is plenty of food to be had,it is easy to overeat.This can lead to major health problems—most places, 19 percent of the population is living with diabetes due to poor diet and a lack of exercise. Learn how to limit your portions. "'Hare hachi bu' is a mantra the Okinawans say before meals as a reminder to stop eating when their stomachs are 80 percent full,"says Buettner. Often it takes a while for our brains to catch up with our stomachs, so slow and mindful eating is the key to consuming just the right amount of food, ultimately adding years to your life. Plant Slant/The Ginger Farm will be offering a u-pick farm along with their other produce, giving you the freshest possible produce on the island. • Eating healthy,well-balanced meals is a no-brainer when it comes to living longer."The cornerstone of most centenarian diets?Beans,"says Buettner."And they'typically eat meat only five times per month." Unfortunately, many places worldwide have imported many of the West's junk-food emporiums. Instead, look back to two generations ago when people lived off dried fish and dates,with the occasional bowl of rice or celebratory goat."Put a fruit bowl in a central location in your house.""A quote from Buettner". Socialize at Five/Ginger Farm will be the new socializing place in Waimea,offering coffee,teas, gingerade and someday ginger beer with seating on the lanai,gazebos and picnic areas. There's a reason 5 p.m. is often called"happy hour":Carving out a chunk of the time in your day simply to socialize is one of the key things those living in the Blue Zones do every day.This not only helps you "downshift", but also helps with findingpurpose and feeling part of a group—another secret to longevity. Belong/Join our weekly yoga class to reduce stress. Other community events will also be held on the farm, like the annual Thanksgiving town event. Feeling a sense of belonging to a group goes hand-in-hand with having a purpose. People should have a place where they can reach out in times of need and also lend support to others, something many faith- based groups have built into their culture."Attending faith-based services four times per month adds up to 14 years of life expectancy,"notes Buettner. Feeling like you don't have to take on all of life's burdens yourself creates a buffer against stress and diseases such as hypertension. Right Tribe/Ginger Farm's goals are to teach all healthy living,showing the cycle of a farm and how all can have their own backyard gardens.Join the community garden on the farm. "The world's longest-lived people chose or were born into social circles that support healthy behaviors,"says Buettner. Like finding a workout buddy, living around people who eat and move like you do helps when sticking to a healthy way of living in the long term. Setting up an environment that is supportive makes living that lifestyle much easier. Family First/Hawaii is known for their love of ohanas.The Ginger Farm wants to promote a place for families to come together to spend a memorable day. In these Blue Zones it's unheard of for someone to be put into a retirement home because it's ingrained into these cultures that family takes care of family from birth until death, even if they're over 100 years old. Long- living societies"put their families first",says Buettner. "They keep aging parents and grandparents nearby, commit to a life partner and invest in their children:"You can start implementing this practice and get on the road towards longevity simply by spending time with friends and family, and practicing the lifestyles of your ancestors. Where you can start? "Often we are fighting against a system that is set up to make the unhealthy choice the easy choice. It isn't about eschewing technology;it's about cherry-picking the best lessons from local tradition." For more information on Blue Zones Project,go to www.bluezonesproject.com By Deanna Olivier/Owner of Ginger Farm Revised by Mari-Ela Chock Blue Zone Project , ' � r y I? 4 .4 ' e1: ., .Ls ti t ,t t 66\v-• sir , ,, rip . .....--. t ‘ . 4 - ‘...." 1 ", (41* AN 4- VAINAL J t Y s , Your invited to the Cherry Festival ` February 6th 9am-3pm 4,,,... ii. , solim, - The Ginger Farm is located at - �1= `! 64-645 Mamalahoa Hwy, - it is the 1st or last stop of the event. Look for the pink flags. _ 4 , - IfirA. Ginger farm is offering free cherry tea, home tours, cherry ` ' blossom craft, walking trails to view o �i cherry trees & a petting zoo. Come see the upcoming plans for the . t -.).4(Fi.'7;cr-zii.. :-.1.1.---,.# Ginger Farms Blue Zone —inspired f _ r ' -%r.. � community resource. Learn how you *ik,' can support this project with the start .r.. .L.. of this Kickstarter event.