2014-05-21 NKCDP Agriculture Subcommittee Meeting Notes Minutes

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NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN AGRICULTURE ACTION SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES DATE: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 TIME: 5:00 PM PLACE: North Kohala Senior Center ATTENDING: Chair Frank Cipriani, April Lee, Jana Bogs, Daniel Trumpy, Jane Lee Welcome and Introductions: CALL TO ORDER: 5:15 Agriculture Updates Important Agricultural Land (IAL) Initiative designation of IAL project (Strategy 1.8 NKCDP) Daniel Trumpy of Kohala Organic Produce reported that his Petition for Voluntary IAL Designation is being readied for submission to DOA by David Hirt, District 9 County Office. Strategically sited agricultural lands HOEA project update (Strategy 1.4 NKC Cipriani presented a white board in detail of BioFarms Hawaii's Proposal for a BioEnergy Hub on the 52 acre parcel administered by DLNR at Ho'ea makai. This Ag-land has been identified as strategically located Agricultural Land.. BFH LLC is requesting merit review of the Proposal by the State and a lease on the parcel. Local AG-land owners are encouraged to consider the many benefits of developing their lands as IALs. (attached: IAL file). K-12 Agricultural educational programs High School programs and Aquaponics Project (Strategy 1.5 NKCDP) . Cipriani reported that KHS Aquaculture is on-going and a Summer Program is being offered th to continuing KHS students and to Middle School in-coming 9 graders participating in the Century 21 Summer session administered by Joyce Hashimoto at KHS. Jane Lee, a 'FoodCorps Service Member' reported that she will be working with the Kohala Elementary Discovery Garden this year and sitting on the newly formed AG-Education Committee, the first meeting of this group scheduled for June 6, 2:00 pm at the Kam Park Intergenerational Center. Jana Bogs reported in depth on her soil-testing and nutritional program. Cipriani reported that he has submitted a micro-grant for Dr. Bogs to do a soil-testing and conditioning treatment at the KHS Test-garden. Grant result to be announced the end of May. Diversified agriculture Food Security (Strategy 1.4 NKCDP) April Lee and Gale Perez will gather information on local small farm production and report back to the committee. Cipriani stated that to achieve the goal of 50% food security by 2020, large-scale Diversified AG clusters must be developed at 'strategic sites' immediately. NKCDP AG-ACTION Sub-committee Meetings will be held on the third Wednesdays, 5:00 pm, at the Kohala Seniors Center. The next meeting will be held on June 18..... E Komo Mai.