The average age of an American farmer is 58, according to news reports. That makes farming one of the fastest-aging professions in the country.
But here on Maui, a special group is cultivating some very young, vivacious farmers, some who know more about agriculture than most adults do! It’s called Grow Some Good.
The nonprofit got its start in Kīhei as the South Maui School Gardens Project in 2008, then evolved into Grow Some Good in 2012. It has since expanded into 12 schools around Maui, helping to set up student gardens, teaching kids about the whole process — soil building, composting, planting, feeding, maintaining, harvesting. Grow Some Good incorporates agriculture into the class in various forms; science, math, even art! The organization strives to create healthier communities by encouraging local ag and improving access to nutritious, affordable food.
We had a chance to speak with Grow Some Good leaders at a fundraising dinner hosted by Chef Paris Nabavi in June. We realized how much their work connects with our mission of #EatLocalEatHealthy: to support our island’s agriculture, expand nutritional awareness and make farm-to-table cuisine within reach for more people.
So we decided to help. We invited Grow Some Good to our Grand Opening celebration in August to share its programs and encourage home gardens with free plant and seed giveaways. We’ve also established a charitable partnership with Grow Some Good, where we’ll donate $1 of every Beet & Goat Cheese salad purchased at Fork & Salad to the nonprofit through March 2017.
But the support doesn’t end there. Our other restaurant, Three’s Bar and Grill in Kīhei, is contributing to the cause, selecting Grow Some Good as our Kama’āina Give Back recipient in September AND October. That program offers 10% off to local residents, then donates 10% to a recipient of the month. Which means YOU can take part in supporting Grow Some Good right now, simply by eating at Three’s and letting them know you’re local.
Our goal is to raise around $7,500 for Grow Some Good by March, and we hope you’ll join us in helping an awesome nonprofit, and in turn, supporting our farmers and keiki! #EatLocalEatHealthy
