In January Kaua'i Community Seed Bank and the Regenerations office moved to a new home in the Children of the Land Center for Polynesian Culture (Nā Keiki o Ka 'Āina) in downtown Kapa`a. This is a great move for us in a number of ways. The values and vision of both organizations are in strong alignment, and we're delighted to interact on a daily basis and also work together on various projects and programs. The new seed bank facility has upgraded cold storage equipment and a more functional working space to improve our seed-saving capabilities and better accommodate the processing and cataloging of new accessions. The new location, next to Papaya's in the Kaua'i Village Shopping Center in Kapa'a, is more centrally located and accessible to you. We plan to use our new position to facilitate the easy exchange of seed and plant material along with related books, information, and knowledge and ways to share group or individual activities and services.
   We look forward to seeing you and welcome your thoughts on the most meaningful way for you to interface with us. How can we best work together to support and inspire the care-taking and cultivation of a diversity of island-adapted plants that will ensure a resilient and healthy future? How can we help you to malama the 'aina?
    The seed bank and office are open every Thursday 9am – 5pm. If you have seed material to share please call ahead to ensure we are prepared to receive it and if you would like to volunteer, please call to make arrangements.

To celebrate, we're holding the the 9th Biannual Kaua`i Community Seed and Plant Exchange at the Center on Sunday, April 1st from noon–dark. Admission is free. Participants are asked to bring non-invasive, non-GMO, pre-cleaned, insect and disease free cuttings, potted plants, and seeds to share freely. Seed and plant check-in is from noon-2pm; presentations on the seed bank will happen from 2-2:45 pm; the pule, and exchange will follow at 3pm. Live music by Malama Pono Alstars from 3-5, then Cook Islands/Tahitian drumming begins at 5, followed by fire dancing and poi ball performance at the Center's outdoor stage. The seed lab will be open with hands-on activities. Come early to enjoy information booths, demonstrations, and live music. You can download seed & plant check-in cards here to fill out before you arrive.

    The Regenerations Seed Garden is looking as lovely as ever due to the incredible participation of volunteers in recent weeks. After harvesting seed throughout the fall and into the winter we planted cover crops in many of the beds to improve the soil in anticipation of the spring planting season. Watch for a special seed-saving issue of our newsletter in which you'll see photos and read about our efforts in recent months.
    We're having fun imagining which wondrous plants we'll work with next! Because providing you with a diverse selection of important plants from around the island and around the world is core to our mission, we get to mix and mingle with whichever fantastic flora we care to invite to this botanical shindig. If you would like to join us, our current schedule for community work days is Wednesday 2pm – 5pm and Saturday 10am – 5pm. Paul Massey will be leading activities in the garden; due to his busy scehdule it's best to call him ahead of time if you want to join a work day. His number is (808) 652-7898.
    The Seed Garden often requires care between our visits. We thank Joe Riordan for always offering help, often checking in daily by phone, and caring for the plants in whatever way is needed. His support has been invaluable and so constant that we must make a point of stopping to acknowledge his willing contribution. Mahalo, Joe.

Regenerations is collaborating with Ken Lindsey of Theobroma Farm on the design and installation of a coastal forest food garden at the Friendship House in Kapa`a. The work has begun and we are now offering participation in this model installation as a free ongoing workshop held 9am - 4pm every Tuesday and Friday until the project's completion. The recent heavy rains have delayed our progress, but with luck we'll be back on track soon and hope to finish up by the end of March. This is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in every facet of a start to finish project and all energetic workers are welcome. To register and for more information call 652-4118.

The Sustainable Gardening and Farming Training Course is currently in session at Kaua`i Community College through May 12th. Regenerations plays an ongoing role in developing the curriculum for this class. It's not too late to sign up get wise on all aspects of abundant food production for the backyard and market gardener. Call 245-8318 to register.



  
    In November the Hawai'i Public Seed Initiative held it's first "Seed Basics Workshop for Farmers and Gardeners" at KCC and the Regenerations Seed Garden. Regenerations is partnering with the Kohala Center and the University of Hawai'i at Manoa Extension Service to produce two workshops on each of the five main Hawaiian Islands over the course of the next two years. The two-day events are designed to create a practical working knowledge of seed growing, botany and biology, selection, harvesting, cleaning, and saving of various types of seed. The next workshop will be held on Oahu at the Lyons Arboretum on Saturday, March 24 and Sunday March 25 with an optional farm tour on Monday March 26. The registration deadline is March 19, 2012. The Maui Seed Basics Workshop is slated for May 19-20, 2012. For more information, please contact Lyn Howe at 808-936-7040, or e-mail seedproject@kohalacenter.org.
If you couldn't attend, the Kohala Center has compiled an excellent archive of the Kaua'i 2011 workshop where you can view the photo gallery, read the full agenda, and view and download the speaker presentations. Also, read “The State of Seed” in the Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network newsletter for a first hand account.