Founded in 2003 and in operation since February 2005, Mala’ai is
privately funded with grants and patron donations. We operate on a modest
budget with one full-time and one half-time employee and a cadre of
volunteers and serve over 200 WMS students as a part of their regular school
day. Working in the garden during math, science, social studies and health
classes, children are engaged in outdoor physical and academic activities
such as planning, measuring garden plots, digging, composting, planting,
building a tool shed, etc. Seventh grade health classes conduct tastings
from the plants they have cultivated and compare mainland to local Hawai’i
organic salad greens. Students observe differences in taste and quality,
nutritional value, distance traveled and time since harvest, and the
environmental and social impacts of farming methods. Student response to our
program is enthusiastic and teachers report improved attendance and class
engagement.
Please contact us if you have any questions, or would like to volunteer with
us.
| Matilda Tompson, Executive Director TompsonP001@hawaii.rr.com |
Amanda Rieux, Program Director & Garden Teacher iamrieux@speakeasy.net |