Claudia Ziroli from the University of Hawaii at Hilo Conference Center and Green Collar Technologies led the class. Claudia’s husband Eric also joined us. I rode with Eric and Claudia and learned more about the biology and wildlife on Saddle road than I have learned in a long time. We saw, Mouflon, goats, horses, cows and turkeys.

Students learned how to build a raised bed garden using hog-wire and shade cloth. This is a technique invented by Claudia that can really help folks on lava rock grow more with less. Claudia’s next class, Introduction to Sustainable Gardening is Thursday March 11th in Waimea.

Hog wire was donated by Green Collar Technologies. Recycled shade cloth was donated by Rudy’s Shade cloth (959-3475). Liz Bowen from Habitat for Humanity donated compost. Habitat for Humanity Kona picked up lunch from Tres Hombres who donated lunch -whoa! Awesome food!

Claudia’s class resulted in a big knowledge exchange and two large crop circles. Yep, that’s right, crop circles. At least that’s what one of our former students calls them. Thanks Chris, the name stuck. See photos below. Three teachers from Teach for America built a raised bed garden using rocks around the job site. It looked really great.

Kaena, the new homeowner already has lots of gardening experience and she’ll be planting a variety of food crops in her new raised beds. We also delivered a kalo starter.

L / R - Claudia, Eric, Kaena, Paul, Liz & Brent

The home was obviously well-built, yet modest with incredible views. What a great place to hold a class. The whales breaching just offshore seemed to constantly catch everyone’s eyes at once. Being on Hawaiian home lands always feels like home for some reason.

Mahalo Claudia and Eric for giving a day to spend working and helping others. Your devotion is truly island-wide. Mahalo Paul for sharing your time between commitments. Mahalo Josephine and Athea for going that extra mile to make the class. Mahalo Liz for introducing us to so many great people. John, Margo and everyone working the job site, mahalo a nui loa for a great day.