Groundwork to Grow Schedule
Groundwork to Grow is a series of 4-week courses on various agriculture topics, offering exposure to community resources, local experts, and experienced farmers. Each course runs through Tuesday Zoom sessions and Saturday in-person field days.
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AUGUST 2026: Seed to Plate
Seed to Plate covers the basics of growing food in Hawaiʻi. We’ll bring in community experts to cover how to get your garden started, keep it healthy, harvest it, and cook with your freshly grown ingredients — plus farm tours to learn directly from local growers and farmers.
Dates: August 4 – August 29, 2026
Format: Tuesday Zoom sessions + Saturday field days
Location: East Side of Hawai’i Island (various locations)
Cost: $99
Scholarships: Available for veterans
Cohort size: 10–12 participants (space is limited)
Seed to Plate Schedule
Tuesday (Zoom), August 4 — Welcome & Garden Prep
Facilitator: Tara Waller & Katie Neil of Hoʻōla Farms
Location: Online (Zoom)
Time: 3:30 – 5:00 PM
First session of Seed to Plate! We’ll do introductions, walk through the course schedule, and cover how to prep your garden space before planting.
Saturday, August 8 — Mayan World Farm
Facilitator: Tony Vera, Mayan World Farm
Location: Mayan World Farm
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Visit Mayan World Farm to learn from Tony Vera about different growing practices and see what can thrive here in Hawaiʻi. Tony is a disabled combat veteran with 20+ years of agricultural experience and a background in tropical plant agronomy.
Tuesday (Zoom), August 11 — Common Pests in Hawaiʻi
Facilitator: Jade Miyashiro, Big Island Invasive Species
Location: Online (Zoom)
Time: 3:30 – 5:00 PM
Learn from Jade Miyashiro of Big Island Invasive Species about common garden pests in Hawaiʻi, including slugs, rat lungworm, the Queensland longhorn beetle, and more.
Saturday, August 15 — Seed Starts & Transplanting
Facilitator: Tara Waller (Hoʻōla) and Peter Boches (Mountain Sol Farm)
Location: Hoʻōla Ranch in Hilo
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
We’ll meet at Hoʻōla Ranch to learn how to start seeds and transplant your starts into your garden bed. Peter Boches of Mountain Sol Farm holds a PhD in tomato breeding and has grown food in Hawaiʻi’s subtropical climate since 2018.
Tuesday (Zoom), August 18 — Plant Management
Facilitator: Peter Boches, Mountain Sol Farm
Location: Online (Zoom)
Time: 3:30 – 5:00 PM
Peter Boches returns to share practical tips on managing your garden through the growing season.
Saturday, August 22 — McCall Farms
Facilitator: Jeff & Claudia, McCall Farms
Location: McCall Farms in Volcano
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Field day to McCall Farms in Volcano to see a small-scale, working farm in action!
Tuesday (Zoom), August 25 — Perennials & Annuals for Your Backyard
Facilitator: Laura Rieber, CTAHR Jr. Extension Agent (Pacific Crops, Komohana Research & Extension Center)
Location: Online (Zoom)
Time: 3:30 – 5:00 PM
Laura Rieber of the University of Hawaiʻi’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience shares what perennial and annual crops work well in a backyard garden. Laura also runs the Hawaiʻi Master Gardener program!
Saturday, August 29 — Harvesting & Cooking Class
Facilitator: Andrea & Matt, Ancient Valley Growers
Location: Hoʻōla Ranch
Time: 9:00 AM – 12 PM
Celebrate the end of the course with our friends from Ancient Valley Growers, who’ll teach a cooking class using Hawaiʻi-grown food!