Organic training program offered at Kapalua Farms

Kapalua Farms, the learning while doing venture of Maui Land & Pineapple, is advancing its educational component from a "scholar-research" mode into operations. It has openings for about 20 would-be sustainable agriculturalists in a 12-month program.

Tova Callender, diversified agriculture director as well as director of education at Kapalua Farms, said the next stage can be thought of as a "working apprenticeship" - with pay, $8.25 an hour.

Candidates should have farming backgrounds, although the definition of that is extensive. They should be interested in learning about mixed farming using natural methods.

Kapalua Farms has a compost operation, a free-range laying hen operation, a tree nursery and plantings of koa and organic Maui Gold pineapple. It grows and sells produce, primarily to Kapalua Resort but, as output allows, to a wider community.

Callender says the scholar-research program, which began in 2004, has laid the groundwork and now the farm is moving toward becoming a practical, but sustainable, business.

The new group of students will be required to have some knowledge of farming, she says, although they may not be as familiar with things like integrated pest management and composting.

Kapalua Farms has 150 acres to work with - and more land available if needed - and seeks to develop both organic produce and organic farmers.

For more information about the diversified ag program to develop sustainable farmers, call Diane Loui, 877-3809.

Participants must have a minimum of five years of proven practical diversified farming experience and a keen interest in sustainable agriculture. Trainees will commit to a 12-month, 40-hours-per-week program that focuses on practical and applied learning in soil nutrition and conservation, organic cultural practices, organic crops, composting, cover crops, systems integration and integrated pest management.

This program, designed for Hawaii residents, is modeled after a program offered by Worldwide Farmers Exchange, whose mission is to provide opportunities for men and women from around the world to improve their agricultural skills while living, learning and working in another country.

"Diversified agricultural training used to occur on small family farms whenever the next generation of farmers learned from those who came before them," said Callender. "With the decline in these types of farms, there is a need for more structured, practical training programs like this one."

The mission statement says Kapalua Farms is committed to increasing food security on the island of Maui through sustainable farming methods that complement the surrounding natural environment from water quality to wildlife. To accomplish this, Kapalua Farms integrates composting, egg layers, nursery trees, vegetable and herb crops, organic pineapple and community gardens into a holistic farming program that goes beyond organic and relies on systems integration as a path to sustainability.

* Harry Eagar can be reached at heagar@mauinews.com.