KILAUEA — The Kaua‘i Garden Project’s contest ended in mid-May by awarding two winners custom-made garden beds to start their dream gardens.
The recipents of the garden beds were Darshan Wright of Kilauea and Millie Olanolan and Sarah Garrido of Ha‘ena.
Each winner received a custom-made garden bed, soil and starts to get their garden project started.
Darshan Wright shared her experience and talked to TGI about how she learned about the contest.
“I saw Paulina post it on Facebook. She previously posted on kupuna donations (Adopt a Kupuna program). I filled out the survey for that and got a weekly delivery for my dad. I saw the (garden contest) post and signed up,” said Wright. “I had already gotten the seeds to kick (start) my garden.”
Four years ago, when Wright purchased her home, she wanted to build a garden in the front and in the back of her home. Due to her work schedule and not having the time, she started a small garden, but let it go. Now that she has been furloughed due to COVID-19, she said she has the time to work on it.
“Now I got a lot more time and the means to get motivated on the project. Paulina brought the truck with soil, and my family including her worked together to get it off the truck into my back yard,” said Wright.
“I feel very fortunate and super blessed that Paulina has taken the time to share the knowledge of gardens to the community, especially at this time since we can’t rely on anyone else except self-sustainability.”
Ann said her partner Michael Dumbauld of Hanalei and her daughter Bea Ka‘aumoana of Hanalei went with her into each of the winners’ back yards and made the 4x8x12-foot garden beds by hand together.
The wood and screws were donated by SG builders of Kilauea, and the compost was purchased at GEM in Moloa‘a. The starts (planted seeds) were purchased at Kaua‘i Farm Connection in Moloa‘a.
Garrido said she thought the contest was a scam, and she had never won anything before.
“I randomly entered not thinking anything of it, but also thought it could be nice to have something since we have room for it,” said Garrido. “I was very surprised. Actually, (I) didn’t even believe it. I had to keep asking if it was real.”
Garrido feels grateful, and said it’s very important to start a garden in case any other disasters happens or they get cut off from anything. If that happens, they will have their own, local-grown vegetables.
“Just want to thank Paulina and her little Obama for coming and completing the project for me and, most importantly, choosing me as a winner. Feels great to know we can just grow our own veggies in our back yard. It has been a project I put aside for a long time, but got it done,” said Garrido.
They also received over 20 starts that included lettuce, kale, cucumbers, arugula, a couple of different varieties of lettuce, beets, basil and broccoli. Each start was about 3 inches tall, big enough to transplant into their garden.
Paulina Ann, founder of The Kaua‘i Garden Project, said it was created to give hope in a time of uncertainty, to teach and encourage all to connect with the earth that gives so much abundance.
“To know where your food source is coming from and how beautiful growing your own can be. Food security is our today,” said Ann. “We started the contest to give away free garden beds to a few individuals who really would love to have a garden but may not have the means at this time to purchase all the supplies.”
Within 24 hours of posting, Ann said she received 100 applicants. All they had to do is fill out her intake form. The winning numbers were picked on May 17.
Ann has been giving and volunteering her time during this pandemic since she lost her business.
“I had a whole business built on the tourism industry and lost all my income. I have been volunteering with Adopt a Kupuna program that my friend Megan Wong and I started six weeks ago, where we make and distribute CSA (community-sourced agriculture) boxes to kupuna from Ha‘ena to Kilauea,” said Ann.
She continued: “Aina Ho‘okupu O Kilauea has been the farm that we have been getting our veggie boxes from. Seeing the happiness we give when we are helping to feed our kupuna during this time is priceless. I wanted to extend the giving with The Kaua‘i Garden Project.”
For more information on how to help with the next garden contest, contact Ann at petalskauai@gmail.com.
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Stephanie Shinno, features and community reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
