Introducing ʻĀina Lessons
Take a sneak peek into this 17-episode series created to teach a wide audience about local agriculture with the goals of teaching gardening using regenerative agricultural techniques, cooking with the tropical starch crops that grow so well here, and building food security within the State of Hawai‘i. Topics include building compost, starting a garden bed, agroforestry techniques, tropical plant medicine, many delicious cooking techniques using breadfruit (‘ulu), taro (kalo), cassava, plantains and so much more!
View TeaserʻĀina Lessons - Farm 101
Building Compost
Learn how to build your own boutique compost pile and increase your soil fertility using materials you can find in your own backyard and kitchen. Dash Kuhr, Executive Director of HIP Agriculture, is joined by guest educators Bobby Grimes and high school student Sebastian (HIP Ag internship graduate) who break down the process step by step. Download our pro tips guide for easy reference.
Preparing a Garden Bed
Learn how to turn raw land in your backyard or community garden into a fertile and productive garden bed. Dash Kuhr is joined by guest educator Aaron Bradley, HIP Agriculture’s Farm Director, to take you through the process step by step. Other adults and keiki from the farm lend a hand to make the work lighter and faster demonstrating laulima in action. Download our pro tips guide for easy reference.
Propagation Techniques
Dive into the many ways to plant out your garden, from seed, to cuttings, to root division to air layering. Dash Kuhr leads us through these multiple propagation techniques showcasing various tropical plant species. Guest Educator Donna Mitts joins for a segment on seed saving. Download our pro tips guide for easy reference.
Tropical Plant Medicine
Released Jan 12, 2021
Dash Kuhr shares his knowledge about gotu kola, ‘awa, ashwagandha, and comfrey. Learn how to plant and harvest each of these plant medicines and about the benefits they impart on your health and well being. Download our pro tips guide for easy reference.
Kalo 101
Guest Educator Ka‘iana Runnels, mahi‘ai educational specialist, joins Dash Kuhr to take us on a journey into taro (kalo), the staple crop of Hawaiian agriculture. The two teach on how to plant, tend to and harvest this important crop, as well as share stories and cultural significance. Download our 101 guide for and pro tips guide for easy reference.
Agroforestry Design
Released Mar 3, 2021
Dash Kuhr is joined by two Guest Educators/Farmers in this episode, “Coconut Chris” and Travis Dodson, both farming nearby land with permaculture and agroforestry methodologies. Learn about the seven layers of a food forest, agroforestry design and tropical crop farming in this action packed episode. Download our pro tips guide for easy reference.
ʻĀina Lessons - Cooking with Tropical Starches
Cooking with Key Starches
Learn how to prep your tropical starches to get them ready to make any delicious recipe of your choosing. Erika Kuhr, Operations and Education Director of HIP Agriculture, breaks down how to peel, grate, chop, pressure cook, and steam breadfruit (‘ulu), taro (kalo), cassava, plantains, and sweet potato (‘uala). Download our pro tips guide for easy reference.
Ulu & Kalo Chowder
Learn how to make a delicious ‘Ulu and Kalo chowder with local corn from Big Island, sure to warm you to your bones. Guest Chef Ippy Aiona joins Erika Kuhr to offer up a decadent recipe perfect for fall and winter and a lively conversation. Download our recipe for easy reference.
Kalo & ʻUlu Patty Burgers
Taro and breadfruit burgers are on the menu! Join Erika Kuhr and Alohilani Keohuloa to learn how to make a nutrient-packed and flavorful meal certain to please adults and kids alike. This recipe freezes well - so make in bulk when the crop is going off and pull out for a quick meal down the line. Download the recipe for easy reference.
How to Make Plant Medicine
Dash & Erika Kuhr, power couple behind HIP Agriculture , team up in the kitchen to mix up the plant medicine into consumable form. Learn how to make a comfrey poultice, turmeric juice, farm tea, tinctures, and fresh ‘awa to treat your body right. Download our pro tips guide for easy reference.
Hot Pockets
Erika Kuhr is joined by her Aunt Cindy in this episode where they share a dish they’ve made together many times over the years - empanadas with a twist. Instead of flour for the dough base, these ladies use the gluten free tropical starch crop green plantains, packed with nutrients and very tasty. Sky’s the limit on fillings! Download the recipe for easy reference.
Tropical Herbs
Released Feb 2, 2021
Erika Kuhr shares her flavorful pesto and pizza sauce using fresh herbs from the garden. Dash pops into the kitchen again to team up with his wife on a homemade curry paste. Download the recipe for easy reference.
ʻUlu Gnocchi
Learn how to make gnocchi, a traditional italian potato dumpling/pasta, with breadfruit (‘ulu) as your dough base. Guest Chef Cherub Silverstein joins Erika Kuhr to cook up this melt in your mouth recipe from scratch. Impress your friends and family with this delectable yet super accessible dish! We recommend a brown butter sage sauce to let the rich flavor of the ‘ulu shine, but it’s up to you! Download the recipe for easy reference.
Cassava Pizza Crust
Pizza can be good for you?! Erika Kuhr of HIP Agriculture shares her expert techniques to make a savory and flavor filled pizza crust out of cassava, the nutrient rich tropical starch crop. Fry it up in a cast iron or bake it on a baking sheet, this versatile recipe works great with taro, green plantains, and green bananas too! Download the recipe for easy reference.
‘Ulu Salad
Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Producers Co-op member and farmer Lani Eubank joins Erika Kuhr to share a recipe that’s always a hit at gatherings, ‘Ulu salad. Instead of a potato, add this nutrient dense staple crop into your repertoire, and take this dish to the beach or a party for a satisfying and delightful meal. Download the recipe for easy reference.
Cassava Mochi
A sweet treat to close the series - cassava mochi! Guest Chef Jasmine Silverstein joins Erika Kuhr in our final episode to share a simple and delicious dessert using cassava (yuca). Use of this starchy tuberous root cultivated throughout the tropics is a fun and healthy twist on this very familiar dessert in Hawai‘, usually made with rice flour. Download the recipe for easy reference.
Credits
‘Āina Lessons was directed and produced by Maya Parish, produced by Dash & Erika Kuhr, filmed by Jordan Christopher & Easten Tanimoto, & Edited by Jordan Christopher.
Still Photography by: Heather Brovsky
Title Sequence Music by: Paul Izak
In Episode Music by: Paul Izak, Mike Love, Amber Lily, Tubby Love, Drew Daniels, Ydine, OK2Change, Ka‘ahele, Paniolo Prince and his Queen Maile, Tiana Malone Jennings, Noelani Love, Mila Polevia
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