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<br />NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN <br />AGRICULTURE ACTION SUB-COMMITTEE <br />MEETING MINUTES <br />DATE: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 <br />TIME: 6:00 PM <br />PLACE: North Kohala InterGenerational Center, Kamehameha Park <br />CALL TO ORDER: 6:00PM <br />ATTENDING: Chair Frank Cipriani, Jana Bogs, David Fuertes <br />ACTIVITY: The Meeting was spent bringing David Fuertes up to date on the various Issues <br />being addressed by the Ag Subcommittee. Jana Bogs presented her “Beyond Organic <br />Growing System” (BOGS) Poster in detail. Cipriani presented his Proposal for a “BioEnergy <br />Hub” at Ho'ea makai. <br />REPORTS: <br />Strategy 1.4: Promote & Support a Community of Diversified Agriculture. <br />(Goal: Produce 50% of the Food consumed in North Kohala) <br />Strategy 1.7: Regarding the Important Ag Lands; Current (IAL) Initiative. <br />There has been one request for IAL information from 'Iole, IAL Info sent. <br />Ways & Means of disseminating IAL information to Ag Landowners is on-going. <br />Strategy 1.4 & 1.7: “The Identification of 'Strategically-sited' Agricultural <br />Lands.” <br />A physical survey of the 52 acre DLNR land at Hoea was conducted on November 1, to determine <br />feasibility of the BioEnergy Hub Proposal made by BioFarms Hawaii. Present were William Rolston, <br />West Hawaii County R&D Energy, Dr. Jana Bogs, CSO BFH LLC, and Frank Cipriani, BFH LLC. It <br />was agreed that the strategically located site shows promise for a Mariculture Project and Alternative <br />Energy Cluster; (WEC, WtE, PV, Wind), with the potential of developing a “smart-grid” in <br />cooperation with the Kohala Wind Farm. Planning is on-going. <br />BioFarms Hawaii LLC is seeking a lease agreement with DLNR for a Project at this Site. <br />Strategy 1.4 & 1.5: Soil Testing Issues: <br />Cipriani reported that he has submitted a 'Sustainable Kohala Micro Grant Application' to Test & <br />Demonstrate the “Beyond Organic Growing System” (BOGS) at the Test-garden at Kohala High <br />School. Dr. Bogs will conduct: a soil analysis, provide soil amendments, and plant tissue analysis at <br />harvest, continuing over an approximate three month period. <br />Strategy 1.4 & 1.5: Promote Agricultural Education in the Community. <br />High School Aquaponics Program: Current Report <br />Phase I Aquaponics System construction is completed. ATOLL Program in place. Tilapia have been <br />stocked in the Lab Aquaponic System. A work order is in to install electricity to the Greenhouse, at <br />which time we will start-up the Aquaponics System and begin growing veggies for the Cafeteria. Fund <br />raising for the Aquaculture Program is on-going. <br /> <br />