Stories of Regenerating ʻĀina and Caring for the Microbial Realm

Join us in a lively talk story with farmers from across the islands who participated in the Hawai'i Farmer Soil Health Cohort project*, to discuss ways to deepen our understanding and management of the microbial realm. Ginger John with Sweet Cane Farm will kick-us off, sharing his process for regenerating his farmland and the evolution of his practices over time. Next, Dr. Kiana Frank will share her work, using place-based, traditional knowledge and her lab to explore how microbes mediate the biogeochemical cycling of elements such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, iron, phosphorus and sulfur and their overall functional capacity to cultivate ʻāina momona. We’ll all come together at the end in an exploratory dialog to share the processes and practices we’ve used and refined to help us better understand, relate, and improve our farms. If you've not yet checked out Dr. Frank's lab please visit Frank Laboratory, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, Pono Science for Hawaii, Science for Community, Science with Cultural Values: www.labhuiofra....
*This training program is being organized and administered by Oahu RC&D through a cooperative agreement with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Pacific Islands Area State Office.
** Artwork in this presentation is by Eric Okdeh and can be viewed as a mural in downtown Waialuku.