Project Overview
Annual Reports
Commodities
- Agronomic: soybeans
- Vegetables: beans, beets, carrots, cucurbits, eggplant, greens (leafy), peppers, tomatoes
Practices
- Crop Production: biological inoculants, intercropping, multiple cropping, nutrient cycling, organic fertilizers, stubble mulching
- Education and Training: demonstration, extension, focus group, participatory research
- Farm Business Management: budgets/cost and returns, marketing management, market study
- Natural Resources/Environment: hedgerows
- Pest Management: biological control, prevention, row covers (for pests), mulching - vegetative
- Production Systems: agroecosystems
- Soil Management: soil analysis, organic matter, soil quality/health
- Sustainable Communities: partnerships, public participation, urban/rural integration, analysis of personal/family life, community services, employment opportunities, sustainability measures
Abstract:
The rationale of initiating a nature garden project is to improve student learning and well being thereby improving test scores in reading and math. It also raises awareness in the community for alternative and sustainable funning to enhance their way of life. Tests results conducted by the State of Hawaii Department of Education in May 2002 indicate that Wheeler Elementary has improved in math and reading. A strong partnership with the Mokichi Okada Association (strong proponent of nature fanning) and military groups (98% of Wheeler students come from military families) continue to flourish.
Project objectives:
(a) to expand student learning and encourage career choices in agriculture
(b)to promote good stewardship of the land
(c)to enhance farmer's quality oflife
(d)to disseminate and encourage application of nature farming