Eco-Kids dedicated May 8, 1999, to learning about gardening from nine-year veteran, Norman Fojtasek, at his local farm in Hawi. Grown on the farm are a wide variety of vegetables, trees, flowers and tropical plants (to name a few): peanuts, red potatoes, asparagus, lettuces, cabbage, squash, bamboo, tomatoes, oranges, papaya, and herbs, including catnip (which Norm's cat munched on during the lecture!). We learned about basic elements the soil requires for producing good crops, creating raised beds, composting, pest control, and what tools to use to save labor and energy. The North Kohala community was also invited, and all present shared a potluck lunch.

Eco-Kids spent the morning of Saturday, April 22, 1999 at the garden site preparing their plot for planting (below). Stones were removed and the soil tilled with the use of a borrowed rototiller and hand tools.

The pictures above and below show Hawaii Eco-Kids Club's April 3, 1999 "Garden Day" at the farm of Ben Nickelson in Hoea, North Kohala. Ben generously passed on his knowledge of agriculture to the next generation of Hawaiian farmers. His five-acres are located adjacent to the North Kohala Na Mahina Ai self-sustainability community garden.

Eco-Kids spent the morning studying the soil, identifying crops, planting sweet potatoes, and learning how to care for their "aloha" a'ina."

A story about the Eco-Kids garden was published in the April 21, 1999 issue of the Kohala Mountain News under the title: "Children's Garden Club Takes Root."