Grow Some Good

GROW SOME GOOD IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS A HEALTHY COMMUNITY BY STRENGTHENING LOCAL AGRICULTURE AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS, AFFORDABLE FOOD. OUR SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO CREATING HANDS-ON, OUTDOOR LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT CULTIVATE CURIOSITY ABOUT NATURAL LIFE CYCLES, CONNECT STUDENTS TO THEIR FOOD SOURCES AND INSPIRE BETTER NUTRITION CHOICES. IN ADDITION TO HELPING ESTABLISH FOOD GARDENS AND LIVING SCIENCE LABS IN LOCAL SCHOOLS, WE PROVIDE RESOURCES AND CURRICULUM SUPPORT THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN AGRICULTURE, SCIENCE, FOOD EDUCATION, AND NUTRITION. WE SERVE 8,000 STUDENTS IN 35 SCHOOLS ON MAUI, LANA'I, AND MOLOKAI AND ENVISION OUR ISLAND COMMUNITY FULLY SUPPORTED BY A THRIVING, LOCAL, AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM THAT IS LESS RELIANT ON IMPORTED FOOD.

ADAPTATIONS AND NOVEL INNOVATIONS CHARACTERIZED FY2020. THE UNCERTAINTY CREATED BY THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC CHALLENGED TRADITIONAL IN-PERSON MODELS OF EDUCATION AND COMPELLED US TO DEVELOP NEW WAYS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS AND FULFILL OUR MISSION. IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, WE LEVERAGED OUR PAST SUCCESS IN ASSEMBLING AND DISTRIBUTING GARDEN LEARNING KITS TO STUDENTS BY INTEGRATING THEIR DISTRIBUTION WITH AN ONLINE CURRICULUM THAT SUPPORTS ALL CURRENT LEARNING MODELS IN SCHOOLS (BLENDED, REMOTE, AND IN-PERSON). THIS INITIATIVE IS NOW KNOWN AS THE "KUMU MEA KANU" PROJECT. CONTENTS OF THESE KITS INCLUDE A GARDEN JOURNAL, COLORED PENCILS, A MAGNIFYING LENS, POTS, SOIL, AND SEEDS. THE STUDENTS PLANT, OBSERVE AND PERFORM VARIOUS ACTIVITIES OUTLINED IN THEIR INTERACTIVE GARDEN JOURNAL WHILE THE TEACHER EXECUTES SPECIFICALLY TAILORED ONLINE LESSONS AND VIDEOS LINKED TO EACH ACTIVITY. AT THE END OF 6-8 WEEKS, STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO "GIVE BACK" BY RETURNING A PORTION OF THE PLANTS THEY HAVE GROWN FOR REDISTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY. DURING FY20, 1,312 STUDENTS AND 42 TEACHERS ACROSS 11 SCHOOLS GREW AND CONTRIBUTED 4,433 PLANTS TO OUR COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS. BY ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO DONATE THEIR PLANTS BACK TO THOSE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE, WE FOSTER A CULTURE OF CONTRIBUTION, EMPATHY, AND AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF GROWING FOOD AS A LIFE SKILL. BY LEVERAGING ADDITIONAL FUNDS, BRIDGING PROGRAMS, AND COLLABORATING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, OUR STAFF, STUDENTS, AND VOLUNTEERS SUCCESSFULLY PROPAGATED 13,758 ORGANIC PLANT STARTS THROUGHOUT THE PAST FISCAL YEAR AND DISTRIBUTED THEM TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OTHER GROUPS THAT PLANT, GROW, HARVEST, AND PREPARE FRESH PRODUCE FOR MEALS DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE IN NEED. THUS FAR, OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, MAUI FARMS AND HUNGRY HOMELESS HEROS HAVE RECEIVED 3,392 OF THOSE PLANTS, TRANSLATING INTO AN ESTIMATED 10,000+ MEALS AND COUNTING FOR THOSE IN NEED.

WE BEGAN FISCAL SPONSORSHIP OF THE NAPILI COMMUNITY GARDEN IN DECEMBER 2020, A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES ALLOTMENT PLOTS FOR WEST MAUI'S COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WISH TO GARDEN.

FISCAL SPONSORSHIP FOR HOALOHA 'AINA WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SEA GRANT IN DECEMBER OF 2020.