Kekaha Community Garden grand opening today

KEKAHA —  Maybe all this rain will help the Kekaha Community Garden grow. But organizers are also hoping to get lots of hands — regardless of experience level — to help cultivate organic produce.

Organizers plan to hold a grand opening at 2 p.m. today introducing the community to the garden where locals will learn how to grow, harvest, prepare and eventually cook the fruits of their labor, literally.

“For a lot of people on this island, it’s a luxury to have organic produce,” said Diane Rosenkranz, the garden’s coordinator and a founding member. But not anymore.

Considered a model resource community-based organic garden focused on sustainability, its mission is to provide land, training and affordable organic food to gardeners in exchange for a bit of elbow grease.

The Kekaha Community Garden will also give back to the community by sharing food and resources, while supporting the development of other gardens, fruit stands, farmers’ markets and food co-ops, according to a handout on the garden.

Membership is open to anyone, but will be initially limited to 30. For $35 a month, along with a commitment of at least two hours of gardening per week, members will receive boxes of organic produce, training, support, exercise and new friends, according to a notice from the garden group.

Future member Julia McGovern is ecstatic over the idea. She has already worked on the garden — and donated some tools and other supplies — through a gardening class for Kaua‘i Community College. The school uses the garden as a satellite site.

“It is just amazing, and to know it’s not just for me, but that other people are going to be able to share in the fruits of this, is truly an expansive feeling,” McGovern said Wednesday. “We’ve just got to share it.”

She and Rosenkranz said that anyone from keiki to kupuna will be able to garden.

“It’s hard work but it’s thrilling,” McGovern added.

Rosenkranz said she got the idea for a community garden after moving to Kekaha, and having to drive across the island to get organic produce.

“I thought this was ridiculous,” she said.

After hosting an organic gardening class with the nonprofit Malama Kaua‘i, which attracted over 40 people, she and other interested parties formed a taskforce to create a community garden. Two years later, “We are finally prepared to bring on new members,” she said.

The garden is located next to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of West Kaua‘i, 8610 Kiowea Road. The church provided the land to make the garden a reality.

The garden group will apply for its 501(c)(3) status, becoming a nonprofit, Rosenkranz said.

She added that while many may have vegetable gardens in their yards, participating in a project like this gives people a social opportunity to learn more about gardening and work together toward a common goal. Plus, community gardens are dependent on one person remembering to water and weed.

“You are now sharing all of that with other people,” she said.

Although the garden was practically empty on Wednesday, Rosenkranz said organizers have harvested a variety of vegetables there, including sweet potatoes, chard and butternut squash. KCC instructor Michael Zelko will plant starts in coming days to get the garden moving for its first crop of gardeners.

Zelko, who will also serve as an instructor for the community garden, said he sees it as a learning center to show people how to grow large quantities of good food.

They will be able to share the produce, and varieties of vegetables will be tested at the site. That, in turn, will show participants what might work best on their own property, Zelko said.

 “Food self-sufficiency and cultural identity — that’s what community is all about,” he said. “Community gardens are the first step to people actually farming in a sustainable manner.”

Zelko will provide a tour of the garden during today’s grand opening. It will also include compost bin distribution, garden registration, orientation and pupus.

Can’t make it today? Rosenkranz said that’s OK. Members may still be accepted.

Call Rosenkranz at 651-5197 or e-mail her at d.rosenkranz@yahoo.com for more information.

• Jessica Musicar, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or by e-mailing jmusicar@ thegardenisland.com.