LIHU‘E — Planting seeds, enriching soil and tasting fresh, organic vegetables were just a few of the enlightening adventures 85 of Kalaheo’s first graders got to experience Wednesday morning at Kaua‘i Community College’s community garden. Traci Sullivan, Americorps VISTA (Volunteers
LIHU‘E — Planting seeds, enriching soil and tasting fresh, organic vegetables were just a few of the enlightening adventures 85 of Kalaheo’s first graders got to experience Wednesday morning at Kaua‘i Community College’s community garden.
Traci Sullivan, Americorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) coordinator and Parent-Teacher-Student Association president of Kalaheo School, organized the event as a way to blend the students’ standard book studies with hands-on gardening experience.
“The concept goes along with the curriculum of what’s going on in the classroom,” she said. “We’re teaching them about eating locally, eating healthy and sustainability.”
According to Glenn Hontz, coordinator and director of the Food Industry Program at Kaua‘i Community College, the children emanated excitement and were eager to learn as they dug their hands into nutrient-rich soil and tasted organically grown lettuce.
Students learned from professional organic farmers such as Kelly Ball, Neil Brosnahan, Auntie Billie Dawson and Tom Legacy.
“The kids were so receptive and enjoyed it very much and asked very perceptive questions,” said Legacy, who said the experience was extremely beneficial to the children. “Many of them kept saying that they want to eat healthy and be healthy and many of them said, ‘I’m going to go home and make an organic garden.’”
Hontz also agreed that their enthusiasm was enjoyable.
“First grade students are just as cute as a button,” he said. “They huddled around the table in the pagoda and were all watching Billie Dawson explain how to plant seeds with such big eyes.”
Sullivan said she would love for the excursion to become an annual event for Kalaheo’s first grade class.
“The gardeners had kids holding compost and sand. They showed them spirulina algae and how to feed good bugs. They got to plant, tour and eat vegetables from the garden,” she said. “They had such a great time.”
Sullivan explained that some of the students have already been growing their own food at school and are making homemade dishes with the garden vegetables in class, including saimin made with bak choy and pesto pasta made with basil.
Sullivan added that the first graders have also been drying their own fruit and eating it as snacks, learning that a nutritious diet is an attainable and practical idea.
The excursion was an overall eye-opening experience for the children, and Sullivan said it helped them to understand and witness the increasing popularity of organic farming. As a part of their career day, it let them know that it is a viable option for future employment.
“We are so thankful to the community garden at KCC,” she said. “It’s a great place and the concept is a really good for the island.”
Hontz wishes for the concept to spread across the island and advocates more community gardens and home gardeners.
“The children learned about organic gardening and we hope they take some of the skills home and start their own garden,” he said.
• Coco Zickos, business writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com
