Program Summary

This summer Green Collar Technologies has partnered up with the Hawaii“i State Workforce Development in supprot of their opportunity for summer work experience program. During this six week period (June 16, 2009 - July 24, 2009) individuals of various ages, backgrounds and skills have come together to learn how to become more sustainable both in the environment ("offline sustainability") and on the internet ("online sustainability"). They learned a plethora of skills that employers are demanding ranging from rainwater harvesting, growing food crop, building sustainable developments, and using alternative sources of energy to online marketing, search engine optimization, server maintenance and online collaborative skills. The hopes of this program is to build greener economies on Hawai‘i Island, but it also had another resulting hope for the trainees. This program helped expose the trainees to knowledge and experiences that will hopefully make them more competitive and appealing the in the job search, application and interviewing processes. In this difficult economy it is difficult to find a job, and even more difficult to be sustainble. Hopefully this program has taught the trainnes how to create harmony between people and the planet!

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/24/09)

It's feels awkward to say it, but today is offically the late day of training for the Green Collar Jobs Training Program. What has started on June 16, 2009 has finally come to an end on July 24, 2009. The offline workers are headed down to Nanawale to once again work on Mark Hansen's Earthship, and what a way to end the program than on a project that eiptomizes the term "sustainability." Earthships are sustainable, affordable, reliable, and help reduce the human ecological program. Not to mention that Green Collar workers are the ones that are buildings these eco-friendly developments. The online workers continued to do what they do best on the internet, finishing daily tasks of blog posting, server maintainence, and client work. What better way to end their experience using the skills they have gained over the six week period of training.

In surprise news, Brent also gave all the trainees scholarships to attend classes on sustaianbility that will be offered in the fall. We are greatful for these scholarships and think these are one of the best ways to educated the future generations about a greener, more sustainable world! A great way to end the program!

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/23/09)

The weather for today was predicted to be cloudy with a high chance of showers, due to the bad weather off the south east end of Hawai‘i Island. However, if you lived here for some time, you probably realized that the weather can turn on a dime and it could be sunny one minute and raining heavily 5 minutes later. Luckily, for the Green Collar Jobs Training Program this means we experienced a very hot and clear, sunny day on Hawai‘i Island. The weather turned out for the best because the offline sustainability trainees headed down to Nanawale to put more time and effort in the Mark Hansen's sustainable, affordable, and modern Earthship.

Trainee's refined their Earthship skills and knowledge by again mixing the special concrete mix and packing it into the white bags that will help the mix retain the specific shape needed for the wall structure. The trainees are pretty excited that they are working on a building concept that is not really well known because it gives them a skill not too many people and hopefully will help them stand out when they are looking for jobs in the future. The trainees are also are hoping to raise awareness of this greener, sustainable home option.

Back in the office, the online sustainability group continued work on server maintainence, the Hawai‘i Sustainable Buisiness Directory, and starting to put closure to the summer 2009 Green Collar Jobs Training Program blogs.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/22/09)

Just Cruisin Coffee Shop in Downtown Hilo.

Work today was essentially the same as yesterday. The online sustainability group is continuing to work on daily tasks and attempting to complete the new tasks they set forth on previously, and the offline sustainability group is working at the Just Cruisin Coffee shop. They are again spreading cinder and filling the empty spots on the coffee shop property.

With less than two days left in the program is about time we start thinking about the future. Brent has hinted to the workers that there will be another Green Collar Training Program starting in the near future, but hasn't given the exact details. If you have any interest in the Green Collar Jobs Training Program or in Green Collar Technologies in general, keep in touch with our main website at greencollartech.com!

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/21/09)

Today the online and offline sustainability groups are split up with the offline crew going to the Just Cruisin Coffee shop and the online crew staying back the Hawai‘i Innovation Center. There is a large pile of red cinder at the coffee shop and the offline sustainability crew will be spreading wheel barrows of it all over the property. Meanwhile the online sustainability crew is in the office working on a set of new tasks Brent has set forth for them to accomplish. These tasks include numerous activities such as going through the yellow pages of the phone book to find more groups and individuals to add to the Hawai‘i Sustainable Business Directory, as well as doing some needed maintainence of the Green Collar Technologies server. It's tedious work, but someone needs to do it.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/20/09)

Time sure does fly by! It's officially the last week of the Green Collar Jobs Training Program. On this very beautiful day, with clear blue skies and a perfect view of the top of Mauna Kea, the trainees are again working at the Just Cruisin Coffee shop.

The online sustainability workers are feeling quite different than they did on Friday and rather than wanting to be indoors to avoid the rain, they would rather be outside working in the nice, sunny weather. However, with the shop running on air conditioning and free samples of the smoothies and coffee drinks at hand, they really can't complain. Who said online sustainable jobs aren't amazing?

Online Workers completing daily tasks at the Just Cruisin Coffee Shop.

Offline trainees taking a break from maintenance work on the coffee shop property.

Meanwhile the offline sustainability workers used the knowledge and skills they gained at the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center and planted kalo around the Just Cruisin Coffee property. They also raked the premises to make it look even better.

Brent also dedicated this week to giving short introductory courses to the online sustainability crew about topics they were interested in such as computer applications, online marketing, and the internet in general. Today trainees asked about Search Engine Optimization, commonly known as SEO, and he taught them some tricks to increase website, blog, etc. standings when being search by engines such as google, yahoo, etc.

Daily Tips and Lessons:

1. Take advantage of the beautiful weather!
2. Use sites like websitegrader.com to assess your website's search standings.
3. Make sure to define meta description and meta keywords to increase search standings.
4. The more incoming links you have the more site visits your website may get, further increasing your search standings.
   

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/17/09)

The last few days were a bit difficult due to a combination of the lack of available resources and job opportunities. However, the tides have turned today and someone has a need for the Green Collar Jobs Training Program. The worksite is also located in area that doesn't require a lot of travel, gas, and gas money, so it's a perfect worksite candidate for the Green Collar Job Training Program. The offline sustainability trainees are working at the Just Crusin Coffee shop location in Hilo, near the the county buildings. Trainees are working on property beautification, which is just a pretty term for the tedious work they had weeding the property.

Unfortunately, the weather wasn't so cooperative with overcast skies and and occasional showers, but the online workers did get to enjoy the comforts inside of the coffee shop. There they continued daily tasks, and with the program coming to an end are working on putting finishing touches on all the things they have documented and created over the past six weeks.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/16/09)

Today was a fairly simple day being that the offline sustainability workers had a "day off." With no worked planned, there was really no reason for workers to come into the office or waste personal gas money just to get into Hilo. Also the hours the workers would be available to work made it difficult because trainees also had to attend a meeting set up the the Hawai‘i Workforce Development office. Because the program is about in end in a week, the Workforce Development advisers gave trainees a class on how to increase their success in finding, applying, and interviewing for a job. Many of the trainees will be going back to school when this the Green Collar Jobs Training Programs ends, and given the current economy some will also have to work jobs at the same time. It's difficult, but they will take with them a new and improved list of skills and knowledge that they either gained or refined as the result of the Green Collar Jobs Training Program!

Although some of the workers did have the "day off", other workers, a.k.a. the online sustainability workers, still had to come into the office and continue daily task of updating websites, writing blogs, and client work. It's just another day in the office, but they can't complain because it's work nonetheless and work is very hard to find in this current economy.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/15/09)

Today was a very difficult day in terms of work for the offline sustainability trainees, basically because there was no work. Joe Bernade is injured and can not come into work to be a worksite supervisor. What was a day planned for work at the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center became a day to brainstorm other sustainable work opportunities. It was very difficult because the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center was the fallback plan if the Earthship and greenhouse plans fell through because of gas money, so workers were very frustrated at the unfortunate events and even more disappointed when they had to end their work day early. However, before they left they did take some time to brainstorm other work options. Some of the ideas included working for Hawai‘i Parks and Recreation to help clean up and maintain the local beaches. Other plans included networking with friends and family who might need labor workers. So far nothing has been booked, but phone calls and contacts are being made. If you have or know of someone who could use the Green Collar Jobs Training Program trainees feel free to contact us with your proposition.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/14/09)

Today, the Green Collar Jobs Training Program did more work on Mark Hansen's Earthship home. There they continued to mix the mixture of cement, cinder, and dirt to make the wall foundation, very similar to what they did yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Green Collar Jobs Training Program online trainees continued to document and promote the training program and its efforts on the Internet.

Trainees helping mark build the earthship walls.

One of the first people to foremen of the Earthship design is Mike Reynolds the found of Earthship Biotecture. His design began sometime in the 1970s when we wanted to create a sustainable home that would do all of the following:

1. It would be made out of recycled and indigenous materials, whenever possible.
2. It would rely on natural energy sources and be off the grid.
3. It would be economically feasible for the average person and would required no specialized constructions skills to build.

This design has become very popular in the last decade and there is even a housing development in Taos, New Mexico that is entirely composed of earthship homes. It's inahbitants live with a strong sense of sustainability. They produce most of their energy (solar panels, etc.), harvest their own water, treat their own sewage, manufacture bio-diesel, and grow majority of their own food. Because their homes and buildings are earthships they also recycle and utilized much of the "trash" that other communities throw out.

Inside one of the Earthship huts.

In 2004, the first eartship was built in Europe. It was built by volunteers of the SCI charity and opened in Kinghorn Loch in Fife, Scotland.

There are many advantages, as well as disadvanages to having an earthship home, but overall it's an amazing concept that supports the push for global sustainability. Everything is a learning process, so you can be sure that in the years to come, earthship designs will become even more advanced and efficient in reducing the human footprint.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/13/09)

Today the Green Collar Jobs Training Program offline trainees did another change up and headed back down to Nanawale to work on Mark Hansen's earthship again. Construction progress is going really well with most of the wall foundation up and the windows in. Mark is already starting to fill in the crevices with the mix of cinder, dirt, and cement.

Mark Hansen filling the crevices of the wall with a mix of cement, dirt, and cinder.

Meanwhile, workers continued to pack the white bags with the cement mix and stack them upon the previous laid bags laced with barbed wire for added support.

Trainees working on the earthship walls.

Just to re-emphasize earthship are affordable, sustainable home options. They are made of locally found materials, and are strong enough to withstand hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and pesky termites. Although they may not look the most esthetically pleasing they save a lot of energy, and in most cases can designed to meet the owners want and needs. They will also outlast the life a normal home, making it appealing to those who want to keep their homes for generations to come. Again the site to look up more information about earthships is www.earthship.org.

The online workers continued to work on blogging, and are waiting to be updated on the status of client work. Trainees are also working on compiling the accomplishments of the program into a format that will be easily understood and attractive to individuals and business that might want to support this training program in the future.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program (7/13/09)

It's the beginning of week 5, and the days are flying by. There is still much to do though, in terms of what needs to be done before the Green Collar Job Training Program ends on July 24, 2009. The greenhouse in Mountain View still needs to be finished, along with furnishings of the tree house "classroom". Offline worker are going where the clients need them so they haven't really had much time to accomplish the tentative task set in the beginning of week 1. Similarly, the online workers are figuring out how to deal with client work with the set of skills they have had or have learned through the duration of the training program, as well as continue daily tasks of adding daily blog post updates, photos, and videos.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/10/09)

In the last day of week 4 members of the Green Collar Training Program spent their day at the Hawai‘i Innovation Center in Hilo to get evaluated. Every two weeks the Hawaii State Workforce Development makes the program advisor sit down with the trainees to evaluate their past work. This allows the trainees to learn what they are doing well, and what they can do to improve. It also allows the trainees to get their paychecks!

After the long and tedious task the work day went on with the offline crew going to Garden exchange in Hilo to get an estimate on the price of plants for the Greenhouse at the Green Collar Technologies "classroom" in mountain view. Even though the Green Collar Jobs Training Program doesn't have many finances, it was a good idea to do this estimate to give workers an idea of what the goals are in terms of what plants they should grow in the greenhouse and what their goals are in terms of the funds needed to start and maintain a greenhouse.

Meanwhile, the online sustainability crew worked back at the Hawai‘i Innovation Center completing the everyday tasks of blogging, video editing, and client work.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/9/09)

The Green Collar Jobs Training Program offline sustainability trainees are spending more time at the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center at Keaukaha. With the amount of time they spend there, they should be expert sustainable kalo farmers by the time the summer opportunity for work experience ends on July 24, 2009. What better way to educated trainees about sustainability than front line conservation in the fields!

The online sustainability trainees spent their day at the office in the Hawai‘i Innovation Center in Hilo. There they continued to refine their blogging, video editing, and online sustainability skills. With program in its fourth week of existence, online trainees have enhanced their skills on the internet, as well as their skills in computer applications such as iMovie, flash, and fireworks.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/8/09)

With the training program about to come to an end, the online crew members started helping Green Collar Technologies with its client work. Using the skills they gained over the last few weeks, workers will help promote a company in Boston, MA by managing blogs and increasing search engine optimization. If all goes well, the income made from these client jobs will be used to fund the sustainable efforts of Green Collar Technologies. As Brent says it, "To put gas in the tank." Trainees also got to talked with some of Brent's colleagues, Cooper and Faizah, who will also give workers classes on some of the ins and outs of online sustainability (such as geo-mapping, twitter, flash, etc.). Cooper just moved from California where he worked with 2Advanced Studios. You should check out the site, it's pretty amazing!

The offline sustainability crew continued laboring at the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center, again working with Joe Bernabe. They are out in the center grounds, refining their kalo farming skills.

Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center

The Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center in Keaukaha.
Picture from http://pacrc.uhh.hawaii.edu/

The Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center is a research and development center at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo College of Agriculture, Forestry & Natural Resource Management. It's mission is to:

"Advance longer-term sustainable use and conservation of coastal areas worldwide through aquaculture and resource management."

It's for this reason exactly that Green Collar Jobs Training Program workers spend most of there time learning about sustainable practices. The center is operational at two site on Hawai‘i Island: Keaukaha and Panaewa. The kalo farms the trainees have been working at are located at the Keaukaha facility. It used to be a wastewater treatment plant, but was recently converted in to the Center with an initial focus on ornamental fish culture and cultivation of pearl oysters. It is also because this facility (among other incentives) that make the Univeristy of Hawai‘i at Hilo a premier location for education in the fields of marine sciences, aquaculture and coastal resources.

For more information visit http://pacrc.uhh.hawaii.edu/.

Green Collar Tech Training Program Update (7/7/09)

Nothing new is happening this week for the offline team. They're helping out Joe at the Aquaculture Center almost everyday now. So until we find other activities for them to do, nothing new will be happening on their side. As for us (the online team), the situation is pretty similar. We've been doing the same thing for a while now (editing videos, posting up blogs and pictures). But this week we might do something a little different. We're not too sure on the details yet, but I'll update our progress in the next blog.

-Ashley

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/7/09)

After working a long day in Mountain View yesterday, the trainees spent Tuesday working at the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center. We at the Green Collar Jobs Training Program can't over emphasize what an amazing plant kalo is and why it is so useful in terms of sustainability. Unlike other agriculture plants, all the parts of kalo (from the corm to the leaves) can be used, and for centuries kalo has been a staple food for both traditional and contemporary Hawaiians. Cooked, boiled, steamed, fried, and mashed kalo has been present in many family recipes. Everyone loves laulau, although favorites such as poi and squid luau might be a more acquired taste for some. However, the underlying fact is that kalo exemplifies self-sustaining stewardship. If you care and nurture the kalo farm, the crop will grow and provide many benefits. It's the most basic and most important concept that the Green Collar Jobs Training Program is teaching its trainees. While laboring at the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center the workers are learning that "If you take care of the land, the land will take care of you", and it's exactly this sense of harmony that the sustainability movement in general hopes to achieve.

Kalo patch at the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center.

In terms of the current economy, growing your own food such as kalo isn't a bad idea either. Joe mentioned that during graduation season, kalo leaves become a high commodity for parties and people pay a lot of money for crop. He suggested that people should really think about growing their own patches. Kalo is very low maintenance has a high turnover rate (1 adult can produce 5 offspring), and you can save money on party expenses while also being self-sustainable. Not a bad idea!

Back at the Hawai‘i Innovation Center the online crew also had a learning experience. Brent gave a short lecture on the concept of creating websites for companies and getting paid for it. Some trainee caught on more than others, but the main idea is that there are a lot of opportunities on the Internet that can help you pay the bills. You just have to take the time and effort to consider these opportunities.

Lessons and Tips of the Day:

1. It you take care of the land, the land will take care of you
2. There are many opportunities on-line to make money. You just need to take the time and effort to consider them.
   

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/6/09)

It's officially the beginning of Week 4 of the Green Jobs Training Program! So far the trainees have had numerous sustainability experiences ranging from online blogging to building environmentally friendly Earthships. With a total of less than 3 weeks left in their summer opportunity for work experience there's still a lot to accomplish and very little time.

According to the tentative six week plan brainstormed in Week 1 trainees were expecting to jump into the more client work, but like mentioned before, workers head where the work is needed. Therefore, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the trainees are back in Mountain View building a greenhouse at the Green Collar Technologies treehouse "classroom".

Beginnings of the Green Collar Technologies greenhouse.

Dominic, Leroy, and Dylan building the greenhouse.

There workers, with the help of Brent, Connor, and Faizah, used recycled wood to build the foundation for the Green Collar Technologies greenhouse. This greenhouses will be used to enhance the learning experience when the Mountain View "classroom" is fully functioning as a site for sustainable education.

Once again, the online members are back in Hilo keeping the sites up to date. Online trainees also placed some time aside to "get in touch with their inner Zen". With a few hundred brochures to fold, trainees learned a few more lessons about being patient.

First Annual Green Jobs Day of Action in Hawaii

Check out these clips from the First Annual Green Collar Jobs Day of Action at the Hawai‘i Innovation Center in Hilo, Hawai‘i. It was hosted by Green Collar Technologies.

Green Jobs Day of Action (9/27/08)

On Saturday, September 27, 2008 Apollo Alliance and Green For All presented the Green Jobs Now National Day of Action.

Green for All and the We Campaign are joining with tens of thousands of Americans for Green Jobs Now: A Day to Build the New Economy. People of all backgrounds are organizing Green Jobs Now events, with a special focus on low-income communities and communities of color. Whether it’s an intimate house party or a giant rally, your event can keep the pressure on our leaders to build a new, clean economy that begins to heal the planet and ensures prosperity for all.

In support, Green Collar Technologies had its National Day of Action to encourage green collar jobs and technologies on Hawai‘i Island. It was held at the Hawai‘i Innovation Center in downtown Hilo and offered free courses in sustainability and google applications, as well as guest speeches from individuals and companies supporting the new type of economy. Everyone, green collar or non-green collar affiliated, was invited to celebrate the day that was set aside to work and learn about all green topics of interest.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/2/09)

You're probably wondering, where's the worksite today? It's probably not a surprise that the Green Collar Jobs Training Program is back at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center refining their kalo knowledge and skills. Again under the supervision of Joe, workers spent taking care of the kalo fields.

Workers cleaning the kalo fields.

Dominic shoveling out the weeds.

Similarly, the online workers continued daily tasks of uploading blogs, editing videos, and promoting the program. It was also brought to attention that the pictures on the Green Collar Jobs Training blogs were very difficult to load. Online trainees are working to reload the pictures in a smaller format so that the "People of Puna" can also see the images and sustainable efforts! Lastly workers started a letter to the County Council to raise their awareness of Green Collar Technologies, in hopes to educate, promote, and build a more sustainable Hawai‘i Island.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (7/1/09)

Another day in the office! For the offline workers, the office again was the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center where they would be working with Joe Bernabe. The trainee's task for the day was collecting and prepping kalo for transplanting.

With the help of Joe once again, the team was able to emphasize their taro knowledge with some cutting, sorting, and replanting lessons. The whole process of preparing the taro there pretty much involves cutting off the roots and using the stem for re-growth. But by now, the group has gotten the hang of it since this is their third visit to the facility.

Joe Bernabe and trainees clearing the center grounds.

Green Collar Training Program worker Dylan separating the collected kalo crop.

Back at the office in the Hawai‘i Innovation Center the online training team continued to update the websites, blogs, images, and videos.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/30/09)

Great news! The work that the Green Collar Jobs Training Program trainees did helped Mark Hansen pass the inspection for the Earthship building permit. Today, the workers are back in Nanawale to continue work on the sustainable home. Brent Norris also went down to the site to document the work and brought back these great pictures of the Green Collar Jobs Training Program in action.

Workers (from left) Dylan, Dominic, Leroy and Sandy
take a moment to smile before helping Mark with his Earthship.

Workers packing a mix of cement, dirt, and cinder
into white bags to form the wall foundation.

The finished Earthship structure will look like the building behind the workers. It almost looks like a tropical igloo. Earthships can also vary in appearance depending on the wants and needs of the individual owner.

Back in the office, the online workers continued working on promoting the program. Trainees also made work site signs to promote our workers out in the field. If you see the "Green Job Worksite" signs around feel free to stop by, ask questions, and get involved! You can also check out the daily updated websites, blogs, images, and videos!

ACES Act is Passed by House!

In national news, The House of Representatives voted and passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act on June 26, 2009! Also known as ACES, the act hopes to benefit the United States by transitioning the nation to clean energy and by creating jobs needed to rejuvenate the American economy. The bill was only introduced on May 15, 2009 and was very popular because it would allow low-income communities to access quality, clean energy jobs, as well as the training that is required for these green collar jobs. The vote was very close, but it is nonetheless a victory for a cleaner, greener, and sustainable nation. Provisions also include, "a cap-and-trade global warming reduction plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 17 percent by 2020," among other incentives for grants, green jobs, sustainable opportunities and options.



Reference:

1. American Clean Energy And Security Act of 2009." OpenCongress. 2 July 2009. <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h2454/show>
   

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/29/09)

At the beginning of Week 3 the Green Collar Jobs Training Program brainstormed the goals for the week. For the online sustainability crew goals included gaining more web traffic, followers and subscribers. The tentative goals for the offline sustainability crew were to prepare the classroom in Mountain View by harvesting bamboo and koa for the trimming, and to paint the siding. However, the Green Collar Jobs Training Program trainees go where the work is needed and after the morning collaboration the offline crew ended up the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center to plant more kalo. Workers also had to prep the soil with the same 103010 and chicken manure mix that was used similarly at Moku's farm.

The University of Hawai‘i Hilo Pacific Aquaculture & Coastal Resource Center.

Leroy and Dylan planting kalo.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/26/09)

Just another day in the Green Collar Jobs Training Program office! The online sustainability group spent another day on the Internet blogging, posting images, and editing videos. Meanwhile, the offline crew took a long trip to Pahala in the Ka‘u district. They worked with Mati from Moemoea and picked up corrugated, aluminum roofing. After loading the tin roofing onto the flatbed, they spent the rest of the day driving back to Hilo to distribute the roofing at the Hilo recycling station. Hopefully the corrugated roofing will be put to better use!

Workers loading the corrugate roofing onto the flatbed.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/25/09)

After taking a short lunch break, the offline sustainability group moved to another greenhouse to plant kalo. There the workers tilled the soil and fertilizer mix manually and planted kalo corms into the newly turned ground. When that was done they covered the plant crop with mulch to increase the kalo's chance for successful growth. Trainees also took the time to inspect the kalo that has been previously planted.

The look Green Collar Job Training Program workers will give you
if you talk about not being sustainable!

Trainees manually tilling the soil with pitch forks.

Workers (from left) Riana, Dylan, Dominic, and Leroy spreading mulch.

As if they hadn't done a lot of work that day, the labor group also made a trip to Mountain View to pot more kalo at the Green Collar Technologies property. It was a day full of work and lots of achievements in the world of green collar jobs and sustainability practices and opportunities.

Leroy potting kalo in Mountain View.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/25/09)

Today the online crew continued to refine their skills on the Internet, and trainees continued to write blog posts, update twitter, upload images and edit videos taken of the offline sustainability group. Meanwhile, the labor crew went to Moku's Farm in Aloha Estate to plant basil and kalo in the greenhouses. There were approximately six greenhouse at Moku's farm.

Workers spread fertilizer mix onto the soil before Moku used the tilling machine.

Workers spread a fertilizer mixture of 103010 and chicken manure, and Moku informed workers on how to use a tilling machine to mix the fertilizer into the soil. Unfortunately, it is against Hawai‘i Workforce Development policy for trainees to operate machinery on the worksite, so they just had to settle for a visual demonstration.

Moku showing trainee's how far apart basil plants should be planted.

After tilling the soil workers started planting the basil into neatly spaced and organized rows. Moku showed workers how he wanted the basil to be planted (picture above). In time, the rows off basil will turn into the lawns seen in the top left corner of the picture seen below.

Trainees planting basil in neatly organized rows.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/24/09)

After harvesting the kalo in the fields, the workers prepped the crop for transplant. They sliced the leaves, cut the corms and separated parts of the crop into organized piles. However, transplanting the kalo will be saved for another day of work.

Dylan and Leroy prepping the kalo.

Organized piles of kalo parts.

The online crew continued their efforts to document and promote the Green Collar Training Program on the web, in hopes to gain more support from individuals, businesses, and possibly the government. Check out the news and updates on the greencollartech.com website, various blogs, and twitter!

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/24/09)

Today was another change-up for the offline sustainability group. They headed to the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center, located in Keaukaha, to work with Joe Bernabe. Joe taught trainees how to identify and pick kalo, and guided the workers as they spent much of the day harvesting kalo and prepping crop for transplanting.

Joe showing trainees how to handle kalo.

Leroy, Dominic, and Dylan weeding, while they pick kalo.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/23/09)

Today the offline crew traveled back to Nanawale to continue work on Mark's Earthship. Trainees learned how to create a mixture of dirt, cinder, and cement to form a wall foundation that will be placed around the framework of the sustainable home. The concrete mixture was placed into white bags and placed on top of each other. Barbwire was also placed between these bags to add for increased support.

At the same time, the online crew continued work on the web. They shared information, discussed the Hawaii Sustainable Business Directory, wrote blogs, and edited videos. However, the day came to an early end because the Internet server went down.

Lessons and Tips of the Day:

1. Patients is a virtue!
2. Earthships are a sustainable, reliable, and affordable option.
   

Earthship

An Earthship is a type of home construction made of natural and recycled materials such as cinder, dirt, and tires. The advantages of this type of construction is that it utilizes available local resources and also naturally regulates indoor temperatures. Windows allow for light and heat, but thick outer walls allow for an effective insulation from intense summer heat. Variable constructions can also provide natural ventilation systems. In general Earthships are "off-the-grid" constructions and reduce the need for fossil fuels. However, the main reason why this concept is becoming an increasingly popular sustainable option is that it is economically feasible and doesn't take a lot of skill to create. More importantly, the design of and Earthship allows it to withstand hurricanes, earthquakes, termites, and water damage. Many will outlast regular homes! So instead of investing in a home that will only last a generation before demanding to be renovated or rebuilt, invest in an Earthship that will lasts the generations of an entire family. If you're interested and want to learn more, check this site out: www.earthship.org!

Green Collar jobs Training Program Update (6/22/09)

At the beginning of Week 2 the online trainees assessed their progress on the web. Using the Google Analytics program, it was found that visits to the Green Collar Technologies website were up and on average viewers were spending more time on the site. This might suggest that people are becoming more interested about green collar jobs, sustainable options, and opportunities here on Hawai‘i Island. This is also one of the intentions of the online crew's efforts. However, there is room for improvement and that only comes with more experience on the Internet.

Outside of the office, the offline crew gained knowledge, skill and experience with building Earthships. In the picture below, workers (from left) Dominic, Sandy, Dylan, and Leroy take a moment to smile before working with Tom Hansen. Tom is the owner of this Earthship that is located in the Nanawale sub-division of the Puna district.

Tom Hansen and the Green Collar Jobs Training Program trainees.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/19/09)

Meanwhile the online crew continued to blog and video edit at the Hawai‘i Innovation Center back in Hilo. It's taking some time to learn some of the tricks of online antics and advertising.

After a lunch break the offline crew began planting kalo in the raised rock beds, and for the rest of the work day they transplanted kalo from their potting containers into the designated patches. They also watered the crop using rainwater collected in buckets placed around the property.

Workers planting kalo.

Kalo is a great plant to work with because not only does it add aesthetics to the property, but also allows for greater self-sustainability by allowing you to harvest your own food crop. Furthermore, working green collar jobs and living more sustainably can be rewarding for both you and the environment. If you are interested in increasing your sustainable practices or learning about green jobs check out our site to gain more information about classes, green jobs and sustainability on Hawai‘i Island.

Before and after workers planted kalo.

Lessons and Tips of the Day:

1. It may be common sense, but wearing protective gloves may save you from the uncomfortable feeling of a decent sized splinter logged deep in your finger (as one of our workers found out the hard way).
2. Kalo is a useful, self-sustaining plant.
3. Rain is a natural occurrence, thus rainwater catchment is a great, self-sustainable investment.
4. Green collar jobs and living sustainable is rewarding for both you and the environment!
   

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/19/09)

Today the offline crew headed back to Big Island Eko Systems (at the Hilo dump) to collect more mulch before the shipment ran out.

Dylan, Dominic, and Leroy shoveling mulch into the flatbed.

Loading the mulch into the truck went very efficiently this time because there was enough equipment for everyone. So after a few minutes of shoveling and racking, they took a trip up to the Mountain View property to unload the mulch.

Sifting through the mulch to get the good compost.

While unloading the mulch they used a common, industrial bread rack to sift for the good compost. This compost will be used to fill the raised rock beds for kalo planting. After unloading the mulch the workers also took some time to help Brent plant a tree in honor of his recently deceased friend. With time the tree will grow big enough to provide shade for the visitors and workers that come to the Green Collar Technologies office in Mountain View.

Workers then moved the nursery tables (shelves for plants) to the area where the new greenhouse will be constructed.

Trainees moving the nursery tables to the greenhouse site.

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/18/09)

Workers started off the day by braining storming a tentative plan for the next six weeks of work. Ideas were plotted onto the white board and left up for further consideration.

The offline crew then went to a house in the community to help clean a yard and move spare lumber to someone who needed it. It's so true that one man's trash, is another man's treasure! After that workers spent the rest of their day transporting mulch from Big Island Eko Systems to the tree house in Mountain View.

At the same time online workers became acclimated to the joys of online blogging. After creating accounts and learning a few of the bells and whistles, the intense blogging began. The online crew wrote numerous blogs on the Green Collar Tech, Green Hawaii, and Kanu Hawaii websites. You should check them out because many of them come from different perspectives of the same events and it's interesting to learn what each person thought of the same work. Quick links to the blogs are located under the News and Updates section on the top right of the Hawaii Green Collar Jobs Training Program blogger homepage. Check them out daily because we update daily!

Trainee's Lessons and Tips of the Day:

1. One man's trash is another man's treasure. So recycle!
2. Blogging is easy, fun, and can earn you income if you're good at it!
   

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/17/09)

Just another day in the office! After a quick brainstorm about the the day's tasks, the online crew continued to work on the sustainable business directory. There were about 420 companies accounted for, but lots of missing contact information so the trainees searched frantically to obtain the vital information. One of the online workers, Adam, also put his video skills into use by editing clips of previous Green Collar Technologies events. Videos will soon be posted on the web on sites such as Youtube.

In the meantime, the online crews "other half" went to the Big Island EKO Compost at the Hilo dump to collect valuable mulch before the next shipment ran out. Trainees shoveled a load of mulch into the flatbed, then headed back to Mountain View to add the mulch to the raised rock beds they prepped yesterday. The workers also spent time for beautification by weeding the property.

Big Island Eko Systems.

You can also get more information about Big Island Eko Systems on their twitter site.

Lessons and Tips of the Day:

1. You might want to invest in a few shovels and pitch forks if you have quite a few workers. Having one pitchfork saves money and workers don't get as tired because they take turns, but a small investment in more equipment may lead to more productive work day.
2. There are lots of sustainable options available on Hawai‘i Island. Sometimes you just need to take the time and effort to consider them.
   

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/16/09)

Not wasting any time, Green Collar Jobs Training Program trainees were immersed immediately into work after the quick but informative orientation. The offline crew took a trip to Mountain View to work on the property at the Green Collar Technologies tree house office. There they moved large lava rocks, some ranging over 50 lbs, from the driveway to the tree house. Rocks were stacked purposefully on the hill to make a boarders for raised bed kalo patches, which will hold the mulch and fertilizer needed for the kalo to grow. The natural soil of the forest isn't as fertile as you think because most nutrients are held within the trees, so the raised bed technique is used to enhance the growth of the kalo. However, planting of the kalo will held for another day's work.

Workers produced this raised bed kalo patch.

Meanwhile, the online crew stayed back at the office at the University of Hawai‘i Innovation Center to work on a Hawai‘i Island Sustainable Business Directory. Trainees gathered contact information and searched for other companies that also strive for a cleaner, greener environment and economy. This directory will hopefully build or strengthen partnerships between Green Collar Technologies and the other green companies, business, and individuals.

Online crew members (from left: Riana, Ashley, and Cody)
smile for quick moment before continuing work on the directory.

Lessons and Tips of the Day:

1. Always were safety equipment (gloves, shoes, etc)!
   
2. If you move heavy items such as lots of large lava rocks, you might want to invest in a wheel barrow. Makes the task a lot more efficient.
3. Use available services like Gmail to allow you and co-workers to work remotely and stay in touch. This will allow you to save on gas and other unnecessary fees and actions.
4. Many options are available to generate sustainable income online:

• Writing Blogs (Paid Blogging, Semantics)
• Tweets on Twitter.com
• Video Editing and Posting
• Search Engine Marketing (S.E.M)
• Posting and Advertising Events

Green Collar Jobs Training Program Update (6/16/09)

Today was the first official day of work for the Green Collar Jobs Training Program trainees and Brent Norris, founder of Green Collar Technologies, gave workers a brief overview of what to expect over the next 6 weeks. He stated the 3 P's of sustainability, People/Profit/Planet, and emphasized how the harmony between these concepts can create cleaner, greener developments and economies.

Workers were also split into two groups (the "offline sustainability" trainees and the "online sustainability" trainees) in order to maximize the efforts and achievements of the Green Collar Jobs Training Program. In summary, the "offline" group does front line, sustainable labor such as building sustainable products (Earthship, Rainwater catchment, etc.), growing food crop, and learning to use renewable sources of energy; While the "online" group works on sustainable practices on the Internet by documenting the "offline" efforts and promoting the company through website updates and other media such as blogs, images, and videos. The two sectors work hand-in-hand because the online group needs the offline group to produce material for documentation, and the offline group needs the online group to advertise and promote the company so that more job opportunities, income, and partnerships may become available.

Lessons and Tips of the Day:

1. The 3 P's of sustainability: Planet, People, and Profit
2. Two types of sustainability: Offline and Online
   

Green Collar Jobs Training Program, Summer 2009

This summer Green Collar Technologies has partnered up with Goodwill Industries of Hawai‘i such as Ola I Ka Hana and the Hawai‘i State Workforce Development in support of their opportunities for summer work experience programs. During a period of six weeks (June 16 - July 28) 10 individuals of various ages (16-24), backgrounds, and skill levels will learn how to become more self-sufficient in hopes to build greener economies on Hawai‘i Island.

The Green Collar Jobs Training Program will focus on two main areas of sustainability: Online Sustainability and Offline Sustainability.

• The trainees in the "online sustainability" sector will learn how to use the Internet to become economically self-sufficient. This includes learning several of the skills employers are demanding such as online marketing, search engine optimization, and online collaborative communications. The goal is to prepare the trainees for remote collaboration and telecommuting jobs.

• The trainees in the "offline sustainability" sector will learn knowledge and skills about the labor aspects of sustainability such as in the development of rainwater harvesting, growing food crop, and using renewable energy sources for power. The goal is to provide the trainees with knowledge and skills needed to produce these sustainable practices.

Regular updates on the progress of the Green Collar Training Program will be posted on this site as well as many of the other sites affiliated with this program. Comments and suggestions are appreciated! This is the first year for this summer program and every lesson gained is valuable to both us and the community.

Sustainable Education for Hawai‘i

GET INVOLVED! Learn how to help create a positive, sustainable change on Hawai‘i Island.

Learn OFFLINE sustainability practices and become more self-reliant:

• Catch and store you own water supply.
• Grow and prepare your own food.
• Produce your own alternative energy.

Learn ONLINE sustainable practices and earn money at home by telecommuting to work anywhere:

• Use the Internet to telecommute and earn money from home.
• Reduce business costs with free online services and tools.
• Increase sales through online marketing and ecommerce.

Interested in sustainable education classes? Subscribe here to get email updates.

Green Collar Jobs

What exactly is a "Green Collar" job? In honesty, there is no standard definition, but in general a green collar job is one that satisfies the demand for sustainable development by applying environmentally conscious design, policy and technology in hopes to improve sustainability and conservation. It's a concept that strives to conserve the environment, reduce mankind's ecological footprint, and create an entirely new branch of employment. What doesn't sound great about this idea?

An organization at the front line of this movement is Green For All. Their main vision is to shift to clean energy economy to improve the health and well-being of low-income people who suffer disproportionately from cancer, asthma and other respiratory ailments in the dirty-energy economy. Another aspect is also to create entrepreneurial, wealth-building opportunities for those who need new avenues of economic advance. This organization was founded by Van Jones who is the public face of this organization and the Special Advisor for Green Jobs to the White House. Check out the website at: www.greenforall.org. There lots of information on their mission, their current position in the green movement, images, videos, resources, and ways you can get involved!

Green Collar Technologies

With the Hawai‘i Furlough Plan, possible budget cuts and layoffs on the horizon the demand for local jobs will only increase in the days to come. However, in this difficult economy finding a job is a task easier said than done. Businesses all over are reducing their budgets and available job positions. So how do we cope with this current economic crisis?

Green Collar Technologies is a company located in Hilo, Hawai‘i that is working to create more jobs, specifically "green collar" jobs, by promoting and educating people about the sustainable opportunities and options available here on Hawai‘i Island. In the long run, the larger goal is to create a global model for sustainability by creating partnerships, raising awareness and delivering training programs. For more information check out the site www.greencollartech.com!