Founded by Issei pioneer B.D. Mukai in 1926 as a strawberry farm, Mukai Farm & Garden today is on the National Register of Historic places with our rare heritage home, Japanese Garden, and Barreling Plant. Open and free to the public, we celebrate Vashon Island’s Japanese American and agrarian heritage. Come visit!
Calling All Poets. Can You Haiku?
Friends of Mukai is calling on poets both near and far to enter Mukai Farm & Garden’s 2025 Haiku Festival and Contest. This is the sixth year that Mukai Farm and Gardens has held the Festival and Contest. Submittals will be welcome between March 18 and April 14.
Haiku is a 17-syllable unrhymed poetic form that emerged in Japanese literature arranged in three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. The scholar Matsuo Bashō (1644 to 1694) was a pioneer in mastering the art of haiku in the 17th century. Haiku is considered the world’s shortest, traditional style of poetry. Although haiku has traditionally focused on topics related to nature, today, it is used in humor to raise social awareness or consider history.
Participants in this year’s Haiku Celebration and Contest must submit their poems online in one of the following categories:
- Nature
- Heritage
- Reflections
- Social Justice
- Young Poet (Ages 5-13 )
- Young Poet (Ages 14-18)
Board Co-President and event organizer Kay Longhi said, “In previous years, we have been privileged to receive hundreds of entries from around the globe. The event has gotten so popular that, with our finite human resources, we are now forced to limit entries to one per person, and only the first 250 entries will be printed for display in the garden during the month of May, but all submittals will be eligible for jury review.” Awardees will be announced on May 4, 2025.
Between March 18 and April 14, enter online directly at the link to the left.
March Greetings from Mukai Farm & Garden
Our March newsletter is here! Check out the latest updates and events happening at Mukai:
- We’re thrilled to welcome Jade Keala Agua as Mukai’s new Executive Director! A longtime Vashon Island resident and nonprofit leader, Jade brings a wealth of experience in education, fundraising, and community engagement. Join us in early April for a celebration and a special surprise announcement!
- Calling all poets—Mukai’s 2025 Haiku Festival is open for entries! Submit your original haiku between March 18 and April 14 in one of five categories, with winning poems announced in May.
- Our Day of Remembrance event drew a powerful turnout, featuring a documentary on Japanese American draft resisters and a moving speech by Dr. Joe Okimoto on civil rights.
- Exciting changes are coming to the Fruit Barreling Plant, soon to be a vibrant local food hub—but it needs a name! Share your ideas for this new community space.
- And don’t miss Movies at Mukai on March 13, featuring the Japanese thriller Alley Cat!
Restored Barreling Plant Promises a Lively Mix of Local Entrepreneurs and Non-Profits
Friends of Mukai has secured agreements with four new tenants who plan to set up businesses early next year when the Fruit Barreling Plant is fully restored and open. Three of the tenants are food related: Fernhorn Bakery, Fuku Ferments, and a community commercial kitchen operated by the Vashon Island Growers Association— all coming together as part of the emerging Vashon Food Hub. The fourth tenant, Refill Vashon will create sustainable products from plant mixes for home use. There is one remaining space available at this time.
The front portion of the building, adjacent to the entry areas and loading dock, is 1200 sq. ft of shared community space that will be used by the tenants and broader community for events, meetings, classes, workshops, exhibit storyboards on the history of the building, loading dock performance stage support, and more.
Friends of Mukai plan to begin the $3M restoration late this summer, unless federal funding previously granted to us is rescinded. Our goal is to finish in early 2026, just in time for the building’s 100th Anniversary. At long last, we can celebrate the Barreling Plant’s return to its original purpose of food production and preservation!
Check out the tenant space plan showing five separate tenant spaces, including the one remaining available space. It’s an exciting time for Vashon Island! Stay tuned for updates…
Consider Mukai Farm and Garden for your next event!
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the historic home and grounds are a perfect setting for a perfect event. As you plan your 2025 calendar, remember we are ready to accommodate private events at Mukai for groups of all sizes — from small parties, meetings, and larger events such as showers, weddings and celebrations of life.
The ease and convenience of being able to walk in and have everything you need from chairs and tables, plates glasses, and silverware, to tea and coffee service is a real gift. Our rates remain modest at $75 per hour for the house and $150 per hour for the house and garden. Eligible 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations may receive a 30% discount off posted rental rates.
Seating inside the house can accommodate 40 people. An outside event can accommodate a larger group. During the summer months, we have two large tents (20×40) and you will have access to smaller pop-up tents (10×10) as well.
To request a tour contact us at [email protected] And for further information: https://mukaifarmandgarden.org/rentals
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US CONTINUE TO OFFER HISTORIC AND MULTI-CULTURAL ENRICHMENT FREE OF CHARGE TO THE COMMUNITY.
Please support Mukai; make a donation here!
We rely heavily on community financial support that allows us to produce all of these events—for you! Donations are tax deductible.
