Growing Heirloom Growing Heirloom Squash For Squash For

Hawaii’s FamiliesHawaii’s Families

By HPSI’s Ceres Trust Mini Grant Program By HPSI’s Ceres Trust Mini Grant Program recipient recipient

Anna Peach of Squash and Awe FarmAnna Peach of Squash and Awe Farm

Project Concept:Project Concept:Identify and breed a Identify and breed a strong local landracestrong local landrace

Hand pollinate Hand pollinate for seed purityfor seed purity

Visit the most interested Visit the most interested communitiescommunities

Goals : Share and inspire Goals : Share and inspire heirloom crop research. heirloom crop research.

Encourage local food Encourage local food production by providing seed production by providing seed

Na’alehu Public Na’alehu Public LibraryLibrary

Pahala Public LibraryPahala Public Library

Advise from soil to Advise from soil to seed to stomachseed to stomach

Seed breeding and Seed breeding and distributiondistribution

Providing research Providing research ideasideas

And pest control And pest control methodsmethods

Invite librarians to participate Invite librarians to participate

in agriculture educationin agriculture education

As well as cookingAs well as cooking Seeds from gifted pumpkin were saved, and shared Seeds from gifted pumpkin were saved, and shared

with the community while the pumpkins fed the with the community while the pumpkins fed the library staff in the week following the workshoplibrary staff in the week following the workshop

School visitSchool visit

Connect the farm to Connect the farm to the classroomthe classroom

Farmer to Farmer Farmer to Farmer VisitsVisits

ReachReachThree workshop locations, three farm visits, and two classrooms within the Three workshop locations, three farm visits, and two classrooms within the

underserved Ka’u district. Over 55 people received seeds from 10 hand underserved Ka’u district. Over 55 people received seeds from 10 hand pollinated pumpkins from my farm in Waimea. These individuals also pollinated pumpkins from my farm in Waimea. These individuals also

received troubleshooting advice either online or in person. 4 people were received troubleshooting advice either online or in person. 4 people were responsible for seed drying and distribution of over 200 seeds from the 4 responsible for seed drying and distribution of over 200 seeds from the 4

additional hand pollinated pumpkins that were left as gifts to the additional hand pollinated pumpkins that were left as gifts to the community. Over 40 people and library employees were able to attend either community. Over 40 people and library employees were able to attend either

a workshop, or benefit from a “farmer to farmer” field visit. a workshop, or benefit from a “farmer to farmer” field visit.

ResultResultBecause of this program approximately 445 beautiful Black Kabocha Because of this program approximately 445 beautiful Black Kabocha

plants will be feeding the people of Ka’u and beyond…120 days from nowplants will be feeding the people of Ka’u and beyond…120 days from now

Mahalo to HPSI’s Ceres Trust Mini Mahalo to HPSI’s Ceres Trust Mini Grant Grant

for helping me to help others for helping me to help others

PauPau