Derek Chow teaches at Campbell High School which is on the Leeward side of the island, the same side that I grew up in Wahiawa. In fact, Derek and I played baseball in the same league, and for Leilehua high school. He teaches Agriculture, but more importantly at a Learning Center, which teaches kids important life skills and values. We have visited his class many times to talk to the kids, and in fact, the managers got together and donated Blue Tomato cookbooks to the class for study as part of their curriculum. Derek takes concepts from the book and relates the stories and lessons to what the kids can learn from . He came by and dropped off some veggies like he usually does and brought butter lettuce, green beans, fresh mamaki leaves, star apple fruit, and oak choy. Here is last night's salad special featuring the butter lettuce.
It's important to tie in schools with the private business sector. Campbell is a public school and all of them are going through budget cuts and what not. We do the same by partnering with UH Hilo in the Adopt-A-Bee Hive with Alan Wong program. Together we can achieve more: TEAM.