School is back in session and ʻĀINA In Schools is off to a great start! Around the island, volunteer docents are gearing up to teach garden-based lessons, composting, and nutrition education in 23 participating ʻĀINA schools.

We’re excited to report that almost all of our ʻĀINA gardens are ready for planting!  Although our garden beds have been resting through the summer, our ʻĀINA teams have kept active preparing our students, soil, and schools for this year of ʻĀINA in Schools lessons! 

In the past few weeks, parent and community volunteers have gathered together to accomplish so many things, including:

• Kainalu Elementary’s 12 aging garden beds were replaced with recycled composite building material.
• Nuʻuanu Elementary added 3 garden beds to accommodate the 1st graders participating in ʻĀINA for the first time!
• Keolu Elementary added a school staff garden to encourage the ʻĀINA school growing culture and community!  

More improvements include:

• 3 irrigation systems repaired 
• 5 beds relocated to better areas
• 20 new garden beds constructed

From the hard work of everyone who participated in garden parties this fall, clearing the weeds and preparing the soil, we are happy to report that garden beds across the island are ready for a new crop this school year.

Mahalo to all our ʻĀINA community partners including World Centric for the generous donation of compostable serveware for ʻĀINA Nutrition Lessons, Kaiser Permanente for their printing donation of the ʻĀINA Curriculum, and the Hawaiʻi Seed Growers Network for sharing their winter squash with 5th grade students.