Body and Soil Health Conferences Hangs Out in Volcano

After leaving Kona, having finished the Body and Soil Farm Health Conference for 2010, we traveled around the South Point of the Island of Hawaii and ended up with friends in the Village of Volcano.

Quite a bit cooler than Kona, but very dry for January and with the Volcano spewing out gases much closer now than the years in the past, many of the plants show the signs of the acid turning their leaves yellow and brown,

A few of the group went to the Halemaumau steam vents to enjoy the natural steam and the rest of us are just waiting to pack up and leave once they return. One more night in Kona and then we all return to our homes from Maui to the East Coast.

Here are a few pictures of the place we stayed in Volcano.

The Day Between Body and Soil Health Conferences

The sun came up and the air warmed here on the sides of Hualalai, above Kailua Kona. Breakfasr was prepared by the Staff and Woofers residing on the property with food harveszted from the farm. Fresh squeezed orange juice, of course fresh Kona Coffee, eggs and ham from the farm and all the veggies to go with it.

The coffee was delicious and would sure have been welcome earlier. I didn't realize the kitchen/dining area was a community area and I could have actually beed in there with coffee made. I know now though.

Afier a great breakfast we all went in search of a swim with the Dolphins and spent some beach time. Stopped in one of the many small towns and had a great cup of coffee and looked in some of the shops.

By the time we reached back, I chose to walk the distance from the top of the property to the farm yo enjoy the walk and scenery. In the meantime the Woffers had prepared a great dinner for all. So needless to say it was a great day for all to get ready for the next two days of the Body and Soil Farm Health Confedrence  2010 here in Kona Hawaii at the Kupaa Farms.

Maui Body and Farm Health Conference Set Up Day

The day started early preparing for the Maui Body and Soil Farm Health Conference and while I left the Farm around 6pm, the day is still not over. We still have sign-ups coming in. Go to http://www.mauigrown.com/ to read more on the conference

The set-up in Olinda Maui at Kumulani Farms was pretty intense and a lot of work. I left before the rest of the crew, but we have five tents set up for Speakers, Vendors, Registration, Kitchen and Dining.

Getting the generator, thanks to Service Rentals, and power connected for everyone was a job in itself.

The sound system is in place. Tomorrow bright and early the projectors, computers and video needs to be set up.

Vendors start setting up at 7am and have to be ready by 8am. The conference starts with some good breakfast foods to hold us until the much looked forward to lunch from all local ingredients. We have food for both the Vegan and non-Vegan people.

Irene Mina-Plunkett runs the kitchen and always comes up with great food, with the help of family and friends. It's sometimes called the highlight of the event.

The speakers were on hand helping with set-up this afternoon and despite high wind warnings, Olinda was calm and sunny. The forecast calls for some strong winds and weather, but it just adds to the event and we are pretty protected from the winds by the giant trees on the windward side.

It's looking like a One Hundred plus turn out, with many Farmers and Leaders in the community. Even council people attending.

The information that should be provided by the speakers will be awesome! Based on just the tidbits shared last night at the Free South Maui Sustainability meeting where they spoke and took questions. They generated a lot of excitement.

People like Michael Martin Melendrez that has taken some of the worst possible soils in New Mexico and one eight of an inch of rainfall per year has managed to create a lush aboreteum in New Mexico that now supports one of the largest collections of Oak Trees in the World and many other plants including Bamboo.
He uses very little water despite the low rainfall to acheive this in an arid land through his knowledge of how to re-energize the soils.

Here are a few pics of what the day looked like without the crowd yet. I'm hoping to find some time to put some of the video up on the South Maui Sustainability Talk and look forward to having a complete Video and/or Audio package available to help Maui Aloha Aina Association, a 501c3 Organization, keep doing the work of educating the Farmer and those with the passion to learn more about our soils.