Maui School Garden Network

SLIM works closely with the Maui School Garden Network (MSGN).  MSGN was founded in the fall of 2008 by Lehn Huff, a SLIM steering committee member and former interim executive director.  Ms. Huff started MSGN after retiring from 30 years working as a teacher and administrator at Seabury Hall, an upcountry college prep school grades 6-12. Ms. Huff initiated an herb garden and small composting project at Seabury Hall in the middle school prior to her retirement. The MSGN currently has 42 schools out of a possible 53 schools K-12  throughout Maui County engaged in various stages of school garden planning and implementation.  A number of the garden programs were running before the network was established.  Two of the four USDA FFVP (Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Program) schools started garden programs within the past two years.

The goal of the MSGN is to reconnect students with the aina in a natural setting so as to teach them where food comes from and how to grow their own food that will ultimately result in agricultural literacy, food security, healthier food choices, and increased learning and achievement across all subject disciplines.

In addition to SLIM, MSGN works closely with the Agriculture Department, the College of Tropical Agriculture, the Maui County Farm Bureau, the Maui Economic Development Board, the Community Work Day program and community farmers to train teachers and community members who work with our youth on gardening and related skills including but not limited to soil composition and design, vermiculture, permiculture, and composting.  MSGN also works closely with the regional sustainability organizations on Maui including South Maui Sustainability, West Side Sustainability, Upcountry Sustainability and the Hana Mahele Farm program.  Other community supporters include The Maui Farm, Maui Aloha Aina, Whole Foods, Market Bistro in Makawao, Capische! Restaurant in Wailea, and Cilanto Grill in Lahaina.  Finally, MSGN recently established a close working relationship across the state with three other island garden network coordinators and has extended into the Nutrition and Physical Action Coalition operating through the Healthy Hawaii Initiative funding from the DOH.

If you are interested in supporting the efforts of the MSGN, please email Lehn Huff at msgn@hawaii.rr.com.  The msgn website will be posted in March of 2011.

UHMC Community Garden

SLIM is currently working with several community groups, including WeFarm and Community Work Day, to implement a community and school garden on the campus of Maui College. The goals of the UHMC community garden are to:

• Increase food security in the Maui County community
• Increase community food networks on Maui
• Serve as an exemplary model for providing school garden education and learning
• Implement a farm-to-school initiative on Maui College campus

If you are interested in supporting this effort by volunteering or through sponsorship, please contact us at sliminfo@hawaii.edu.