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.