Summer Fling: A Time to donate

Hawaii Islanders are asked to search through their kitchen cabinets, drawers, closets, gardening sheds and garages for seldom used or no longer needed treasures to donate to a Culinary and Garden Garage Sale which will be held from 7 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Aug. 27 at the Waimea Hawaiian Homestead Farmer’s Market.

Themed a “Summer Fling,” the sale is being sponsored by Slow Food Hawaii, partnering with Mala’ai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School. All proceeds from the sale will benefit Mala’ai, which has become a statewide model for hands-on, experiential learning focused on health, wellness, environmental and cultural stewardship and academic progress.

The Aug. 27 sale will be under a large tent at the Waimea Hawaiian Homestead Farmers Market on the lawn fronting Kuhio Hale (Waimea’s Hawaiian Homes hall). It will feature kitchen and dining items — pots, pans, culinary gadgets, small appliances, dishes, glassware, utensils, bakeware, table linens, baskets, cookbooks and more — plus gardening staples including pots, tools and equipment, all at bargain prices.

For those happy to “fling” items for the sale, please drop them off at any of the following locations, or call Clare Bobo (936-6511) of Slow Food Hawai’i to arrange a pick up in Kona or Hilo, or Jeanne Oshima (887-1027) of Mala’ai for a pick up in Waimea, Kohala or Honoka’a. Drop-off locations:

* Island Thyme Gourmet booth at Parker School Town Market in Waimea on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

* Everett & Sandy Pang’s ESP Nursery booth at the Waimea Hawaiian Homestead Farmers Market any Saturday except Aug. 13, 7 a.m. to noon.

* Waimea Middle School office – Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

* Mala’ai’s Crop Share at Waimea Middle School, 12:30 and 3 p.m., every Saturday in the garden.

* Island Charcuterie at Keauhou Farmer’s Market (Breakfast burrito booth, makai end), Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon

Slow Food Hawai’i, a local chapter of Slow Food USA, is a hui of more than 100 Hawai’i Islanders. They are part of an international movement with more than 85,000 members worldwide in 45 countries promoting good, clean and fair food based on the principles of sustainability and cultural diversity. Their programs are dedicated to taste, culture and the environment, often through sharing pleasures of the table.

Slow Food Hawai’i has helped underwrite and support Mala’ai since it was founded nearly eight years ago by Dr. Michelle Suber, a Waimea physician. This _-acre organic garden classroom provides 6th, 7th and 8th grade public school students with the transformative experience of working with the earth to grow nourishing food, and to experience the pleasure of preparing and sharing that food. Integrated into the garden experience is a wide range of curriculum including language arts, math, science, social studies, technology and cultural learning and values.

Mala’ai is a private not-for-profit partnership with Waimea Middle School and is almost entirely funded by community generosity through donations, grants, endowments, events and, quite recently, the sale of student-grown herbs to Waimea restaurants at and the Homestead Farmers Market. Fundraisers such as the Culinary and Garden Garage Sale are essential to keep the garden serving the students and families of Waimea Middle School as well as the wider community. Financial contributions, tools, equipment and time spent in the garden and assisting with fundraising are all needed and appreciated. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.