Maui Family Farmer Training Network

By Georgia Pinsky

Georgia Pinsky

My name is Georgia Pinsky, and I would like to share with you about the Maui Family Farmer Training Network.

We offer Farm Support Services, Farmer Navigational Coaching, and online educational sessions. We are currently founding a Tool Library for shared tool use among small Maui farmers.

Navigational Coaching from the Maui Family Farmer Training Network will provide you the focused time, support, and guidance you need to move forward with your Maui Farming Goals. We have the connections in the industry and the knowhow, and we’re here to help you make it happen. Coaching is offered primarily by Dr. Phyllis Robinson and myself, and we bring in additional coaches to meet specific needs of our participants.

Funding for Navigational Farmer Coaching is provided in part by the County of Maui Office of Economic Development. This funding is designated for permanent Maui farmers. Farmer Coaching is available to all aspiring farmers at an hourly rate, even if you don’t meet the requirements for the funding from the County of Maui. Additional funding provided by Atherton Family Foundation, and the Savitt Family Foundation.

Freshly harvested kalo leaves and tomatoes.

Georgia Pinsky

Maui Family Farmer Training Network is a membership-based organization. We have a “Name Your Price” membership fee with two levels of participation. It includes all MFFTN programming —Navigational Coaching, Tool Library Membership, Online Educational Sessions—and invites to Person-to-Person Networking Events (as allowed by COVID-19 guidelines).

We recommend $200, $250, $300 or more. It’s up to each Farmer to determine the exact amount that’s right for their farm.

Your membership fee is not tax deductible, but it is a deductible Farm Business Expense. We offer scholarships for membership to those who need support, so please ask if you feel the need. Please visit mauifarmernetwork.com or email me directly at mauifamilyfarmer@ gmail.com to become a member.

Alex Pinsky and Pat Simmons Jr guide a workshop in kalo planting at Companion Plants Hawai‘i farm and nursery.

Georgia Pinsky

Georgia Pinsky is committed to improving our local access to good, clean food. She is focused on working with and for organizations that are working to improve our community, and our planet. She is reliable, enthusiastic, and motivated. She holds a BA from UH Hilo, and she was born, raised, and homeschooled K-12 here on Maui. She will help connect you to the resources you need to meet your goals. Her Coaching is focused on you and YOUR FARM and she can connect you with resources to help you make your farm vision a reality.

Dr. Phyllis Robinson

Dr. Phyllis Robinson holds a doctorate in adult education and has taught agriculture related courses in both the credit and non-credit side of UHMaui College. As the co-founder and six-year program-director of the Farm Apprentice Mentoring (FAM) Program, she brings the experience of 43 years of organizational development and 15 years managing the educational needs of our farmers and businesses in climate change, regenerative agriculture and food production in Maui County.