‘AINA In Schools Garden Party Report

Posted On: Feb 01, 10

For ‘AINA In Schools, January is a time of renewal for school gardens. In preparation for the ‘AINA IS spring garden lessons, school, family, and community volunteers reinvigorated garden soils with compost donated by Kokua Kalihi Valley and made with schools’ own green waste. Children added vermicast tea to each garden bed to add extra nutrients, and the fruit trees on campus benefitted from the weed preventing and moisture retaining properties of mulch.

                                                                                                                 

Waikiki Elementary school hosted over 200 Kaiser Permanente staff who, in celebration of the Hawai’i Permanente Medical Group’s 50 year anniversary, turned out in force to create new garden areas at the school and erect a shade house to protect the school’s heirloom tomato crop from birds.

                                                                                                   

Ala Wai, Sunset and Wai’alae elementary schools utilized the enthusiastic help of 4th and 5th graders during their after school programs. Volunteers from HIHO (Hands in Helping Out), a community volunteer group that regularly supports ‘AINA IS garden projects, and Leeward Community College students also prepared gardens and fruit orchards for new growth.

Thank you to the parents, teachers, and community members who showed up for our weekend and afterschool ‘AINA IS garden parties this month.