If you don’t know- Nancy Redfeather has been hard at work and has helped network together and launch about 50 school garden programs here on the Big Island. This is crucial work for educating our youth about healthy food and for growing future farmers- a critical piece in our local food self-reliance pie.

From Nancy: On Friday October 16, the Hawai’i Island School Garden Network will host a gala luncheon aboard the Golden Princess when she is docked in Hilo. The purpose of this luncheon is to share the successes and the challenges of building this new curriculum for all the schools on Hawai’i Island. At least 20 of our School Garden Teachers will be in attendance, along with Mayor Kenoi, Senators Kokubun and Takemine, and many other supporters. We cordially invite each of you to join us and support the future for our keiki and communities.

All tickets for this wonderful event must be purchased by September 30. Please contact Molly Hui at The Kohala Center for easy ticket purchase. mhui@kohalacenter.org

Please forward this email to anyone who supports building this living laboratory for our keiki and youth. The School Gardens and Agriculture Programs at our High Schools provide nutritional education, physical exercise, connect our youth with their food and cultural values, introduce them to concepts of a healthy ecosystem and stewardship, and help them to connect their classroom studies with “hands-on” work. Ma ka hana ka ike… By doing the work we will learn. These ideas when practiced will help us build a sustainable island community.