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 (6/19/09)

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.