People’s Garden USDA Grant Press Announcement

NEWS RELEASE United States Department of Agriculture • Rural Development • Hawaii State Office Room 311, Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Phone: (808) 933-8380 • Fax: (808) 933-8327 • TDD: (808) 933-8321 • Web: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov

For Release on November 15, 2011 

 Media Contact: Chris J. Kanazawa, State Director (808) 933-8302

Timothy W. O’Connell, Assistant to the State Director (808) 933-8313

USDA EXPANDS PEOPLE’S GARDEN INITIATIVE TO SOW SEEDS FOR COMMUNITY BASED AGRICULTURE IN CAPTAIN COOK ON THE BIG ISLAND Captain Cook, Hawaii, November 15, 2011

Today at Konawena High School, Chris Kanazawa, State Director for USDA Rural Development, announced a People’s Garden Grant award of $110,500 to Heritage Ranch, Inc. of Captain Cook, Hawaii. This is in conjunction with USDA’s announcement of 10 grant awards to support 155 People’s Gardens in neighborhoods in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan and Ohio. These projects will continue the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s effort to combat malnutrition while supporting local and regional food systems. “The simple act of planting a garden can help unite local neighborhoods around a common effort and inspire communities to find solutions to unique challenges facing Hawaii,” said Kanazawa.

Marcy Montgomery of Heritage Ranch, Inc., named this project the Same Canoe Community Gardens Project. The Same Canoe Community Gardens Project will foster a network of 12 organizations, 24 non-profit community People’s Garden projects, and 120 neighborhood mini-garden demonstration projects. “The goal of these projects is to empower West Hawaii’s low income, high poverty, food desert and at-risk populations to gain access to healthier foods they grow themselves,” stated Marcy Montgomery of Heritage Ranch. A total of 144 community and neighborhood People’s Garden plots will be the outcome of this project and is expected to generate 1,500 pounds of fresh nutritious foods.

One of the beneficiaries of this grant is Konawaena High School which has started a Konawaena Garden Exchange (Food for Food). In exchange for vegetables and plants grown by the students of Konawaena High School, the school will not accept money, but instead, accept donations of non-perishable foods. These food donations will in turn be offered to families or organizations in the community. Konawaena agriculture teacher, Maverick Kawamoto stated, “Students will learn that if everyone puts their hands to the plow, they can accomplish any goal. They will also learn the very important concept of giving and helping those in need.”

The People’s Gardens Initiative was launched by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on February 12, 2009. Presently, there are more that 1,400 People’s Gardens across the nation and three U.S. Territories. USDA, Rural Development State Director Kanazawa stated, “we are extremely happy in our partnership with Heritage Ranch that enables greater outreach into our local communities and organizations like Konawaena High School. These sustainable community gardens will give residents direct access to fresh fruits and vegetables in underserved neighborhoods. A lack of access to fresh and nutritious food fuels obesity and domestic food insecurity, where households experience limited or uncertain access to adequate food.”

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of nearly $149 billion in loans and loan guarantees.

Visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov for additional information about the agency’s programs or to locate the USDA Rural Development office nearest you.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

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