NSCM Executive Director Bill Howes and other NSCM board members have been actively investigating Farm Site possibilities
More pictures here:
Farm Hunt
North Shore Country Market
Organic Farm and Training Center
Concept Paper
Introduction
The North Shore Country Market Board of Directors would like to establish an Organic Farm and Training Center. The proposed Farm and Training Center will help to fulfill the organization’s mission to promote sustainable agriculture, economic, and cultural practices through education, research, and cooperation.
The North Shore Country Market has operated an open market for the past 10 years with a focus on the marketing of organic crops. NSCM Board members, staff, and supporters believe the North Shore provides a unique opportunity for developing the Organic Farm and Training Center because:
• high unemployment and underemployment on the North Shore
• world growing market for organic crops (estimated at 20% per year)
• large amount of available unused agriculture land
• agriculture skills and background of many of the residents
The NSCM is the best organization to take advantage of the opportunity due to its background and experiences in managing the weekly market, strong community support and access to community resources, history of collaboration with other community development organizations, and the promotion of organic crops over the past 10 years.
The Organic Farm and Training Center (OFTC) will provide a range of services and support to North Shore residents to increase their understanding of the nutritional, health, and economic value of organic crops and to help individuals establish small scale organic farms. The major outcomes or the OFTC will be:
• Increased consumption of organic crops by North Shore residents
• Expansion of North Shore agriculture land in organic crop production
• Increased income levels for North Shore residents
Target Populations
The Organic Farm and Training Center will conduct an education and outreach program for community residents with a special focus on grade school students and their parents. The training will be offered in collaboration with local schools and may also be conducted in collaboration with the YMCA Camp Erdman.
Organic farm training and ongoing support will be provided to community residents with a special focus on the following populations:
• High school graduates with an agriculture major
• At-risk-youth
• Low to moderate income individuals
• Unemployed and underemployed residents
Farm Site
The NSCM Board of Directors are currently considering a number of potential sites for development of the Organic Farm and Training Center to include:
• Four and half acre site at Poamoho
• Possible 6 acre site in Haleiwa
Additional land will be secured for expansion in the future.
OFTC Services
The Organic Farm and Training Center will offer three main services to the community to include:
1. Organic Farming Education and Outreach Program
2. Organic Farm Training
3. Organic Farm Support and Technical Assistance
Organic farming education and outreach program – to improve community understanding the health, nutrition, and economic benefits of organic farming.
Partner organizations that will support the outreach (recruitment of Organic Farm participants) and education component will include Waialua Community Association, Central Oahu Youth Services Association, YMCA, North Shore Chamber of Commerce, Waialua High School, Hawaii Work Links, Sunset Beach Community Association, Kamauoha Foundation, and Hui Kalo.
Organic Farm Training – provide classroom and practical training in a number of topics that will enable participants to establish and manage small scale organic farms. The curriculum will be developed in collaboration with other Organic Farm programs, but subjects will include:
• Organic farming principles and techniques
• Organic crop marketing and market research
• Selling
• Crop processing
• Traditional farming techniques
• Financial literacy
Organic Farm Support and Technical Assistance – support will be provided to program graduates and other community organic farmers to include:
• Access to land suitable for organic farming
• Equipment lease and rental
• Access to start-up capital
• Ongoing technical and marketing assistance
Crop Selection
The Organic Farm will grow a variety of vegetable and tree crops to re-establish the North Shore as the organic breadbasket of Hawaii, to maximize income, and to promote the most efficient use of land. A section of the Farm will be used to test and demonstrate the viability of niche or specialty crops identified as having good market potential and profitability. However, the bulk of crops selected for everyday production on the Organic Farm will be decided based on:
• Market research and demand
• Cost of production and profitability
• Crop compatibility
Marketing
Crops produced by the Farm will be sold through a number of outlets that will not only provide income to the Farm, but will be used to teach Organic Farm students how to market and sell organic crops. Some of the outlets include:
• Vegetable stand at the Farm
• Weekly NSCM open markets at Sunset and Haleiwa
• Organic crop distributors
• Contracts with individual buyers such as hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, etc.
• Mainland and international buyers
The OFTC will also explore the feasibility of establishing a permanent retail outlet in Haleiwa in the future.
The weekly markets will be promoted through radio and print ads, while direct mail and sales visits will be made to potential local buyers by OFTC staff. Partner organizations such as DBEDT, USDA, North Shore Chamber of Commerce, and others will help to secure local and mainland contract orders.
Structure and Staffing
To ensure the Organic Farm and Training Center receives the support and guidance required during its development, the NSCM Board of Directors will establish a Advisory Body consisting of individuals with the necessary business and technical skills. NSCM Board members may serve on the Advisory Board that will be responsible for supporting the development and operations of the OFTC.
The NSCM Executive Director will be responsible for the development of the sustainability plan, obtaining grant funding, and overseeing the establishment and management of the Farm. Staff will be recruited to provide administrative support, organic farm training and technical assistance, and business training and marketing assistance to the students once the Farm is established.
Support and technical assistance will be supplemented through partner organizations such as Hawaii Cooperative of Organic Farmers, Hawaii Farm Bureau, CTAHR, Hawaii Organic Farmers Association, Mala Ai Opio, Permaculture Institute of Australia, HACBED, and Empower Oahu.
Funding
The NSCM have a number of assets to contribute to the OFTR as follows:
• Weekly open markets at Sunset and Haleiwa
• Mobile kitchen
• Farm equipment to include rotor tiller, lawnmowers,
• Office trailer
• Greenhouse frame
• Website and domain name for the NSCM
• Existing organic farm at Bill’s house for training and Permaculture models
The NSCM will seek grant funding to purchase additional farm equipment, develop the farm curriculum, recruit appropriate staff, and generally establish the Organic Farm and Training Center.
It is anticipated that crop sales will eventually cover core operating cost, but the OFTC will need to rely on grant funding to develop and expand its programs for at least five years.
