FArm expansion experience (FEʻE)

The FEʻE program is a hands-on internship in organic vegetable farm management and food production designed to accelerate participants’ capacity to lead organic fruit and vegetable operations through Climate-Smart Agriculture (C-SA) and cultural revitalization and community building.

Through a collaboration of 6 partner farms, the program features eight core areas of hands-on learning: (1) Field preparation and planting; (2) Harvest; (3) Processing and packaging; (4) Distribution and customer service; (5) Farmer’s market and CSA; (6) Equipment use, maintenance and repair; (7) Planning, evaluation, financial review; and (8) Leadership/mentorship of youth. This will be supplemented with programming to provide training in Climate-Smart Agricultural concepts, practices and techniques.

PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS

The FE‘ E Internship will be conducted at partnering farms across O‘ahu

Such as:

• MA‘ O Organic Farms

• Kuilima Farms

• Hawaiʻi Banana Source

• Ho‘okua‘ āina

• Kualoa Ranch

• Kāko‘o ‘Ōiwi
  

Desired Qualifications

• Driven toward a career in sustainable agriculture

• Pursuing education opportunities (e.g., undergraduate, other education program or recent college graduate)

• Knowledge of and/or interest in Hawaiian cultural traditions with a commitment to the Hawai‘i's rural communities and greater O‘ahu region

• Ability to work independently

• Driver's license

• Able to work for long periods in a hot environment

• Able to lift up-to 50 pounds

• Comfortable working with computers and relevant workplace software: especially, Microsoft Excel, Word and Powerpoint

Program

• Kauwela (Summer Institute) - technically rigorous, full-time (40 hrs/week, $2400/month) 12-week program aimed at elevating aspiring mahi‘ai (farmers) into farm careers.