After over 7 years at UHMC, we are expanding the GoFarm Hawaiʻi program on Maui at a new farm site and are able to offer incubation to future graduates.
We have broken ground on Mahi Pono land, off of Maui Veterans Highway near the Maui Humane Society. We will be offering educational opportunities and volunteer days over the next several months and we are grateful to welcome our newest cohort this October.
We’d like to mahalo Maui County Office of Economic Development, UHMC & the UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources for their continued support of current and future farmers on Maui.
We’ve put together a FAQ below to keep everyone up to date with what’s happening.
What is GoFarm Hawaiʻi?
GoFarm Hawaiʻi is a University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (UH CTAHR) extension program. The program has been providing business technical assistance since 2003 and beginning farmer training since 2012.
GoFarm Hawaiʻi has beginning farmer training sites on Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island. Our mission is to enhance Hawaiʻi’s food security and economy by increasing the number of sustainable, local agricultural producers through providing experiential commercial farm and business training to help them reach their full potential.
What’s the history of GoFarm Hawaiʻi on Maui?
GoFarm Hawaiʻi has been offering beginning farmer training at the UH Maui College campus since 2015. However, due to space constraints at the UHMC site, a graduate incubation option was not feasible.
What is the size of land GoFarm Hawaiʻi will be using for the GoFarmer Training & Incubation Program?
Our program has access to 15 acres on Mehameha Loop, Puʻunene. We willl initially utilize 6 acres for our student training site, and plan to use the additional 9 acres for incubation in future.
What does GoFarm Hawaiʻi farmer incubation mean and how do I know if I’m eligible?
Our AgIncubator training phase is open to graduates of our AgXcel program. Students who successfully progress through the initial program phases (AgCurious-AgXposure-AgXcel) are eligible to apply to AgIncubator. Selection for AgIncubator is based on site capacity, performance in AgXcel, and a production and business plan.
What kind of activity should we expect to see happening on the land?
Our new farm site is in a dry and windy area, and we are installing irrigation, cover crops, and windbreaks using native plants such as aʻaliʻi, kukui and milo. We will be trialing a variety of vegetable crops to understand what grows best in this particular soil and climate.
What is Mahi Pono’s involvement in this partnership?
Mahi Pono is leasing land to GoFarm Hawaiʻi, and supporting initial land preparation and infrastructure setup.
How is the Maui program different from programs on other islands?
The curriculum and phase timeline are the same, but we will be orienting our food production towards donation for community efforts to provide food for relief from the August 2023 fires.
Where and who will the food we grow go to?
As food is ready to harvest each participant may choose to donate their produce to families in need or donate through our partnership and collaboration with Hawai’i Agritourism Association and the Hawai’i Community Foundation to provide meal kits to families displaced from the fires in Kula and Lahaina.
What measures is GFH taking to mitigate climate change at our new site?
A primary focus for this site is on soil health and rehabilitation and we aim to reduce the environmental footprint of commercial farming by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and mitigating damage from industrial agriculture. Our methods include using natural inputs instead of synthetic options, minimizing the use of heavy machinery, and development of organic matter in the soil.
What measures is GFH taking to regenerate soil?
We are taking several steps to regenerate soil health.These include increasing soil coverage, minimizing soil disturbance, planting a diversity of plants and native trees, and keeping living roots in the soil. Sorghum grass was the first crop we planted, which grows quickly and produces a lot of biomass in a short period. We cut back the sorghum and use the plant material to cover the soil. Covered soil is less prone to erosion, retains more moisture, and is a few degrees cooler than uncovered soil. We are also planting native trees to reduce wind and erosion and shade the soil. By planting diverse crops and keeping living roots in the soil, we are building an ecosystem that encourages beneficial microbiological life to improve soil structure. Finally, we are planting cover crops to be used as green manure instead of synthetic fertilizers.
What is the water source to irrigate the land parcel where GoFarm Hawaiʻi will reside?
Our water for irrigation is metered through the Maui county water system.
What kind of farming practices will GoFarm Hawaiʻi be teaching at this site?
We teach regenerative agricultural practices that build soil health and agricultural ecosystems. We utilize chemicals that are OMRI-approved for use on certified organic farms.
If I am a GoFarm Hawaiʻi alumni from a past cohort or another island, can I apply for incubation?
We require students to complete AgXcel at the site where they will enter AgIncubator, in part to gain familiarity with that particular site and its requirements. Previous Maui GoFarm Hawaiʻi alumni are eligible for a discount on AgXcel tuition.
How can I sign up for the GoFarm Hawaiʻi program?
A cohort is currently in session. The next recruitment period is expected to begin in July 2023.
- To get on the email list to be notified about future sessions, Click Here.
If I would like to collaborate or stay connected, who do I contact?
To connect with us about collaboration, please contact us at info@gofarmhawaii.org
Follow us on social media @gofarmhawaii for all the latest statewide updates and upcoming educational opportunities.