Friday, June 5, 2015

What needs to be inspected by the Hawaii or US Departments of Agriculture and what doesn't - and shipping delays

I posted some of this on Facebook (it's public, you don't have to be on Facebook to read it), but I thought I might make it available to a wider audience.
I'll be trying this being away thing again next week, so if you're ordering anything that needs to go through ag inspection after today/yesterday early morning it will be delayed until next week Friday or possibly the Monday after. I can get orders out that don't need to be inspected through Sunday morning (going out Monday) and may be able to throughout (and I'll try to delete this part after I get back as well as that part of the title).

What needs to be inspected and what doesn't:

I just realized that it may not be clear what needs to be inspected and what doesn't. Obviously plant seeds need to be inspected, including Job's Tears and mgambo seeds, even if they're drilled - when going to most places, see below. I have been meaning to call the USDA whether mgambo seeds still need to be inspected if they are temporarily strung but haven't gotten around to that yet, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture guys told me that I'd have to ask the USDA - because: jewelry made with any of these seeds doesn't have to be inspected (neither does jewelry made with Job's Tears but I won't string those in the amounts that I sell by just to get around ag inspection, so please don't ask). Some seeds cannot be shipped to some states (e.g. citrus seeds cannot be shipped to Florida, though Florida is generally pretty open in what can be sent there). Orders to Puerto Rico require a phyto. This phyto is issued by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and is free but requires extra paperwork (and an extra day in most cases).

Non-propagative seeds (e.g. drilled mgambo seeds or Job's Tears) don't have to be inspected if they are staying within Hawaii. Coffee seeds cannot be shipped to destinations in Hawaii.

Orders going to Canada also don't have to be inspected here - but Canadian customs/inspection will make sure that you're not getting anything that may become invasive in Canada. As that's rather unlikely for tropical plants those seeds usually go through (I have never experienced a problem there - other than that clove seeds got frozen and didn't survive.).

Orders going to the mainland have to be inspected by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and we have an inspection place in Hilo. They are open on weekdays only, and they are closed on State Holidays.

Orders going abroad (other than to Canada) have to be inspected by the US Department of Agriculture. Their inspection place relocated not too long ago and is much easier to get to (and the new facilities are much nicer), but they are also only open on weekdays, and they are closed on Federal Holidays. Small orders going to the EU don't require phytos and I usually don't have large orders. I don't ship to countries that require phytos for any seeds or inspection by entities approved by their government (e.g. Belize or Nigeria).

Not being a certified nursery (you won't believe the paperwork required for that) I cannot ship plants out of State, but I can ship within Hawaii, or could the last time I asked. Plants still have to be inspected (think little fire ants and the like. We do have them here, and you seriously don't want them), and as they're usually bulky the postage is going to be quite a bit.

Having written this, I know it contradicts the signs you see at the post offices. What they are saying is that you can't just put it in the mail, you have to comply with the inspection regulations before you do so.

State Agriculture inspection (for domestic orders) will be closed on Thursday, June 11, 2015 for Kamehameha Day.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Just another update

This update has been sitting in the drafts for a year. Most of the things in the included treasury are probably in the sold or expired forever in the meantime (but I do have both unsorted and mixed Job's Tears available - white and brown will take a while longer).

Publishing, just to get it out of my drafts folder.

'Subtle Tones' by gregorgrace



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A day of use-it-or-lose-it leave

Please keep in mind that in reality I wrote this in October :)

I have a job. It really is a bit more than full time job (overtime exempt, so I'm not getting paid extra in case people think that). Each year towards the end of the year comes the time to count one's left over vacation hours because we can only carry over 80 hours into the next year. Some time in September I counted up the hours and realized that I have to take a minimum of 9 days off because by the end of the year I will have accumulated 19 days left over in total. I could take all 19 days but I very much doubt there will be time for that. - I wrote this in October, and believe it or not, I didn't officially lose any vacation time, but I did work during some of it LOL

Made in Hawaii

Whether grown , designed or crafted by hand, these featured items are made right here in the great state of Hawaii

Bed of Roses - Botanical Perfume - Sumptuous Rose with Champaca, Violet, Carnation, Angelica and more - 15 ml glass bottle
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DREAMCATCHER BRACELET made with genuine leather and a moonstone
Sold
Girls Hawaiian Tunic Dress Muu Muu Pink Pua Lei 6mos to 12
$32.00
Clove tree seeds (10) - syzygium aromaticum - grown in Hilo, Hawaii
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Homegrown Organic Loofah Sponge for cleaning bath or pet toy use!
$5.00
Gold Shell Bangle Bracelet Hawaiian Bracelet Hawaiian Jewelry Beach Bangle Beach Jewelry Shell Bracelet Puka Shell Bangle Hawaii Seashell 02
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Radish Mania Hydroponic Microgreen Grow Your Own Kit, grow 3 crops of organic Non GMO Radish, USDA organic certified compostable grow mats
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Burlap Drawstring Backpack. Repurposed Coffee Bag. Handmade in Hawaii.
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Made in Maui, 100% hand stitched, applique Hawaiian Quilts
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Flip Flops-  Kyla Rose  Mermaid .  Artwork by Candace Lee.  Made in Hawaii with Aloha
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Reusable Organic Cotton Coffee Filters Cone Style Size 1 Eco Friendly – All Organic Cotton Fabric & Thread, Set of 2
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Kuliouou - Hawaiian Knee Drum
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Good Luck Elephant Leather Wrap Bracelet on Premium Distressed Greek Leather. Beach Fashion Jewelry
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Customizable Feather Mohawk / Headdress - "Pele's Passion"
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Hand Painted Large Silk Scarf, Hawaiian Rainbow Flowers. Charmeuse Silk Shawl Scarf. Multicolor Floral Scarf, Approx 22x90 inches.
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