Dustin Barca’s Charity For Ohana Farms: How To Support

Dustin Barca’s been a long time advocate for sustainable living. The ex-CT surfer and MMA fighter has no qualms about standing up for his cause. Two years back, he ran for Mayor of Kauai after watching his home island become ground zero for pesticide testing, and the engineering and development of GMO’s (genetically modified organisms). A trend that is continuing today. In America, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is scrutinised for lack of regulation, especially pertaining to the labeling of GMO’s in our food. In the states transparency is vacant when it comes to GMO’s. According to the Center For Food Safety – an U.S environmental, non-profit organisation – up to 92 percent of U.S. corn is genetically engineered (GE), as are 94 percent of soybeans and 94 percent of cotton (cottonseed oil is often used in food products). It has been estimated that upwards of 75 percent of processed foods on supermarket shelves — from soda to soup, crackers to condiments – contain genetically engineered ingredients.

“The biggest war chemicals corporations in history are now in charge of most of the world’s seed production and have changed the DNA of certain crops. They have patents for a lot of crazy stuff in food, from viruses to chemical warfare. No joke!” says Barca. “I don’t advise anyone to just listen to me. Go do your own homework, dig deep and follow the history of DOW chemical, duPont/Pioneer, MONSANTO , BASF and Syngenta. These are the chemical corporations who have taken over our food sources.”

To raise money for Ohana Farms and create a Farming Education program for kids and local Kauai residents, Dustin along with Bruce Irons and manager Logan “Chucky” Dulien have put together four limited edition, “Bad News Bears x Snapt3 (the sequel to Snapt and Snapt2 with Andy and Bruce)” jerseys that are available today.

“We live in one of the most self sustainable places in the world, but we import around 90 percent of our food. This to me is a joke and it’s on us. They tell us we are independent but when you do some world traveling and critical thinking, you realise that we are not. We have become the most dependent people on earth. We depend on the someone else to give us water, grow and raise our food, power, and transportation. It’s crazy. Growing your own organic food is the first step in really becoming independent.”

“With Ohana Farms we have seven acres for rotational grass grazing cows, sheep, pigs and chickens. Rotating your animals in this order is the most beneficial method for the nutrients in your soil. We also have a one acre for fruits and vegetables. This is our first small project to educate and motivate the next generation in the most environmentally sustainable farming practices.”

Go ahead, pick one up.

The Bad News Bears, spawned from a trip to Costa Rica, where Bruce and company are currently filming for Snapt3. Barca was set to be on there but… “I hurt my shoulder three weeks ago,” he tells Stab. “I got dragged down the road by a horse. The rope wrapped around my leg, it was like a scene from a movie. I luckily, somehow, hit the rope off my foot before I got too hurt. Only my butt cheeks and shoulder got messed up.”

“The Bad News Bears is just an all time movie and cool idea some friends came up with to promote the new surf movie Snapt3 and raise money for our program,” Mr Barca continues. “It’s an honour to have people believe in you and go out of their way to help you reach your goals. Anybody who supports this by buying a shirt…thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

“Our goal is to raise enough money for a tractor, build an educational building and positively change the future of our island,” he says. “Hopefully, someday, our little island can be motivation for change around the world.”

If you’re feeling charitable you can donate here and get a shirt.