• Burn bans • Thank You Kekaha Community Garden • More ag inspectors needed Burn bans This letter is regarding the letter on May 21 “Include Chimneys in Ban” I agree open burning of garbage is a problem and should
• Burn bans • Thank You Kekaha Community Garden • More ag inspectors needed
Burn bans
This letter is regarding the letter on May 21 “Include Chimneys in Ban” I agree open burning of garbage is a problem and should be banned; however, Lori MacDonald’s statement about including fireplaces is just ridiculous. What next? Tiki torches, fire knives, barbeques, candles, incense, matches, car exhaust, restaurant smoke? How foolish would it be to police all of these things? How, pray tell, would you suggest we accomplish this? How about burning ideas like these?
Roberta Sargent, Kapa‘a
Thank You Kekaha Community Garden
Thank you Kekaha Community Garden. I know I have not helped out a lot with the garden, but even so, I have been fortunate enough to receive some of the tasty veggies. I am so glad our kids can walk by and see growing food as a normal and necessary part of our community. It seems we have lost a sense of how important it is to eat fresh wholesome food, and how important it is to retain the knowledge to grow fresh and wholesome food. It is great to have the Community Garden as a resource. You have inspired me; I now have a little garden at home. Thank you for helping me all the times I have come asking for advice. I hope your countless hours bear good “fruit.”
Danielle Teter, Kekaha
More ag inspectors needed
Re: ag inspection backwards — I would say to the author if you think it’s not difficult to intercept pests, why don’t you and your like-thinkers volunteer to be trained and help the short-staffed inspectors? I believe there are only two to cover Kaua‘i, so get your posse together and help out. Many of the pests (fruit flies/weeds) came into the islands via WWII soldiers returning. My yard doesn’t have all native plants; does yours? What state did you come from? It may be exporting pests to Hawai‘i via plant materials, because the exporters don’t ship clean plants and expect Hawai‘i inspectors to catch everything sent. The Mainland ‘declares’ us as foreign and demands clean produce to be shipped out of Hawai‘i but they send crap to us and don’t care if the inspectors aren’t able to catch all. In one case, Mexico has fruit flies but, when one is found in southern California. they blamed Hawai‘i. Now, with the mongoose and small hive beetle, I almost suspect that someone intentionally put them onto the barge in a shipment that allowed them to escape. Mongoose traps may not be present on piers, so barges can get them as passengers. So, if you dislike paying for the understaffed inspectors, go volunteer.
S.M. Shirai, Lihu‘e
