The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and the Hawaii Public Health Institute, in partnership with the Philippine Consulate, recently launched the Hawaii Fund for Food Gardens.
The Hawaii Fund for Food Gardens aims to support community efforts toward food self-sufficiency and will provide resources for individual residents, nonprofits, and community groups to create their own food gardens. The fund will include monetary support through microgrants, as well as training and supplies including seeds and tools.
“We have been looking at the problem of food insecurity, and we really want to promote awareness and understanding of the importance of growing our own foods,” Dr. Susan Mercado, director of food systems and resiliency of Hawaii Public Health Institute, told Pacific Business News.
Mercado noted that the issue is increasingly pressing as food prices and costs of living continue to rise.
Mercado said the organizations have a goal to raise about $100,000 by next year for the fund.
“If we raise $100,000, we will be able to support microgrants — we are thinking about anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 per person or household that wants to start their own backyard garden,” Mercado said.
“We are trying to get people to do their own food production, so it’s about resources, not just money — it’s also about teaching others how to plant … and having the seeds or the tools you need to do it.”
To raise funds, Mercado said they are inviting other community partners to join the effort, including public and private sector organizations and businesses, and are seeking donations.
“When island communities across Hawaii rely on 90% of its food being imported, it is all of our kuleana to help find solutions that work to address the long-term food security and food self-sufficiency needs of our residents,” said Kūhiō Lewis, CNHA president and CEO, in a statement. “Partnering with [the Hawaii Public Health Institute] on the Hawaii Fund for Food Gardens program will help to provide better community-based access to fresh grown produce, especially for those in AAPI and economically disadvantaged communities.”
In addition to increasing food security, the organizers hope the project can help people eat healthier.
“Of course we can’t produce everything that we eat, but if we can produce more of the staples like root crops and leafy green vegetables, I think that would be a big plus,” Mercado told PBN.
She pointed out that unhealthy diets can lead to illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension, and although it’s not the only risk factor, improving one’s diet is something that can be changed to reduce the risks.
“This is one of those things that we can modify — we can help people have a more balanced diet. But we can’t do that unless there is access,” she said. “Food access is a huge public health issue. So we have to think creatively about how we are going to address that problem, and while backyard gardening is not the solution to everything, it’s a solution that can be done immediately.”
For more information on the project, contact Mercado at susan@hiphi.org or 808-591-6508 extension 20.
Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/inno/stories/news/2022/05/03/initiative-aims-to-increase-food-security.html