The good folks at Urban Garden Center, along with Oʻahu high school students, departed for their holiday breaks knowing that fresh produce would make it onto the plates of many Hawaiʻi families in need.
With lettuce seedlings in hand, the Extension faculty, volunteers, and staff worked together to propagate and grow several lettuce varieties in raised beds, static hydroponic systems, or under shade in newly designed beds.
They were joined by students and teachers from ʻIolani, Waipahu, Pearl City, Kapolei and Mililani high schools, who learned to sow, grow, and harvest fresh produce, and better understand the importance of food resiliency and access for all – as well as advance Extension’s pursuit of developing a local agricultural workforce. One industrious Mid Pacific Institute student not only volunteered at UGC and personally deliver the lettuce, she hopes to connect the college with more local charities in 2024.
Over 300 heads of specialty lettuce were donated to Aloha Harvest and Iolani Schools, which also donated its bounty to Aloha Harvest; all produce was subsequently distributed to local communities.
“No lettuce was left behind,” says Jari Sugano. “Everyone pitched together to bring the crop to harvest, by washing and packing everything during a downpour of liquid blessings.”
Foodland
A generous donation of thousands of seeds to CTAHR, via UH Foundation, was made by Foodland to promote crop production and food sustainability. The seeds were distributed during Master Gardener and 4-H educational events at UGC.
Seeds were also distributed via City Mill, Kapiʻolani Community College Farmer's Market, Aloun Farms community events, Halawa Xeriscape Garden, Kailua Methodist Church, Ward Village, Hoʻopili Urban Garden Learning Fair, Ka Makana Homeowners Fair, Hawaiʻi State Farm Fair, Waimea Valley Kalo and Awa Festival, etc.
“Foodland has been an outstanding community partner, champion of promoting local businesses and friend of CTAHR’s Extension programs,” says Jari. “It has donated thousands of seeds to promote more aina-based growing and learning, and with our distribution at various outreach events, Foodland seeds taking root in local communities. We are thankful to Foodland for seeding CTAHR with the resources to build a greener future, for all.”
Fruit Hui
Let’s not forget the UGC’s Fruit Hui members: Linda, Glenn, Dale, Susie, Karen, Jessie, Tommy, Clarence, Christina and Kazumi. Besides their weekly sanitizing of fruits, weed control, and participating in fruit orchard tours and CTAHR’s Ag and Environmental Awareness Day, the members managed to harvest, wash and deliver more than 3,000 pounds of breadfruit, assorted citrus, mangoe, banana, papaya, jaboticaba and star fruit to the Hawaiʻi Food Bank in 2023. Mahalo!