Common Ground Collective

IT IS OUR MISSION AT COMMON GROUND COLLECTIVE TO TRANSFORM MAUI INTO A BOUNTIFUL AND PRODUCTIVE ISLAND THAT BENEFITS BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURAL/ BUSINESS EDUCATION IN REAL-LIFE SETTINGS, AND HANDS-ON ASSISTANCE; WE WILL HELP TO ELEVATE DISTRESSED AND UNDERPRIVILEGED MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY THAT ARE NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE OR OBTAIN EDUCATION IN THESE AREAS. BY SPREADING AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE, WE WILL WORK TO INCREASE FOOD SECURITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL ISLAND COMMUNITY AND SET-UP THE FRAMEWORK TO BRING THIS MODEL TO OTHER MUCH DESERVING AREAS IN HAWAII AND ABROAD.

THE FOSTER FARMING HARVESTING PROJECT: AIMS TO PREVENT FOOD WASTE AND EDUCATE LANDOWNERS ABOUT HOW TO CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ON THEIR PROPERTY BY TRANSFORMING IT INTO PRODUCTIVE LAND. COMMON GROUND COLLECTIVE OFFERS: ON-SITE EDUCATION; CROP HARVESTING SERVICES; CROP DATA COLLECTION; DISTRIBUTION OF CROPS TO NON-PROFIT PARTNERS AND SCHOOLS; DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING OF CROPS TO LOCAL RETAIL OUTLETS AND RESTAURANTS; ONGOING CONSULTATION; AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. COMMON GROUND COLLECTIVE GIVES RESIDENTS THE KNOWLEDGE, INCENTIVES AND ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO GET THE UNUSED PRODUCE FROM THEIR LAND OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, CONTINUE TO DO SO LONG-TERM, AND EXPAND THEIR OPERATIONS TO GENERATE GREATER POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM. IN 2021, COMMON GROUND COLLECTIVE PERFORMED 150 HARVESTS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, HARVESTED 42,025.95 LBS. OF TOTAL PRODUCE THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BECOME FOOD WASTE. OF THAT 13,987.5 LBS. SOLD TO LOCAL BUSINESSES TO PUSH OUT IMPORTS AND 28,038.45 LBS. DONATED TO LOCAL NONPROFITS WORKING TO FEED RESIDENTS IN NEED.

HOMELESS FOOD SECURITY HARVEST PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM ALLOWED FOR THE CREATION OF A NEW CHANNEL OF LOCAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION, IN WHICH BACKYARD PRODUCE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO TO WASTE WAS HARVESTED AND DISTRIBUTED TO MAUI'S HOMELESS COMMUNITY. IN 2021, COMMON GROUND COLLECTIVE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE 13,078.92 POUNDS OF PRODUCE TO MAUI'S HOMELESS VIA 16 NONPROFIT DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS AND VIA DIRECT DELIVERY TO HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.

HAIKU HOUSE COMMON GROUND COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT: THE MISSION OF THE HAIKUHOUSE COMMON GROUND COMMUNITY GARDEN IS TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF LOCALLY GROWN FOOD TO DONATE TO MAUI COUNTY'S FOOD INSECURE RESIDENTS. THE PROJECT ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR GUESTS AND RESIDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH SUSTAINABLE GROWING PRACTICES VIA A HANDS-ON OUTDOOR IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE.