Email Newsletter
April Greetings from Mukai Farm & Garden
From our New Executive Director: Dr. Jade Keala Agua
Dear Friends,
As I write this, I want to say how inspired I am by the momentum Friends of Mukai now has in moving forward on many initiatives. We are so close to achieving our fundraising goals to transform our Fruit Barreling Plant into a new local food hub to support local farmers and producers. We have received a 3-year commitment of partial operating support through King County’s 4Culture Doors Open Program. And we are thrilled to announce (see article below) the receipt of funds from T-Mobile, through its Home Town Grant program, to install a Nikkei Memorial sculpture at Ober Park this year.
And as I write this, we are also witness to Federal efforts to decimate our democracy on various fronts including but not limited to executive orders calling for the end of birthright citizenship, slashing anything related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and designating English as the official language of the US. The recent invocation of the Alien Enemies Act has especially chilling echoes of Japanese and Japanese American incarceration during WWII. Yes, there is chaos.
But there is also light. Mukai Farm & Garden serves as a poignant reminder of what one island family realized and endured and of what our Vashon community recognized as critical history and restored. It stands as a testament to resilience and the power of collective action—an affirmation that we can and must remain vigilant and proactive in uplifting our histories. The lessons of Mukai are more relevant than ever, reminding us of what matters as we shape our future forward. And we are doing what we need to do at the local level to strengthen a just and inclusive community.
I am so grateful to everyone who has worked to make Mukai what it is today. I am excited to join at a time when the future of Mukai Farm & Garden and the Fruit Barrelling Plant shines bright. I will do my best to usher it into fruition with you all.
Onwards,
Jade K. Agua
Executive Director
Haiku Festival in Full Swing
Mukai is accepting haiku poetry for the 2025 Annual Haiku Festival until April 24. Poems — written in the ancient Japanese 17-syllable poetic form arranged in three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables — can be submitted and considered for the following themes and prizes:
- Nature, with an award for the haiku with the most elegant and poignant depiction of some aspect of nature.
- Heritage, awarding the haiku that best portrays the history of some other aspect of Mukai Farm & Garden.
- Reflections, awarding the remembrance of meaningful moments that are important or personally significant.
- Social Justice, awarding insight on social equity
- Young Poet, with awards for the best haikus written by youth in elementary and secondary grades.
In recent years, the popularity of the contest has grown to such an extent that a rule has become necessary: only one entry per person, please.
Between March 18 and April 14th enter online using the button below:
T-Mobile Awards $45,000 Grant for Ober Park Nikkei Memorial Installation
Friends of Mukai on Vashon Island is honored to announce that we have received a $45,000 grant from the T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program to construct a memorial sculpture at Ober Park to honor the legacy of the 111 Vashon residents of Japanese descent who were expelled from their homes on Vashon Island on May 16, 1942, in response of Executive Order 9066. That Executive Order, signed by President Franklin Roosevelt two months earlier, directed the expulsion of 120,00persons of Japanese descent living in the Westcoast “Zone of Exclusion” into inland concentration camps.
“This grant allows us to bring into fruition a dream that we’ve had for many years” said Rita Brogan, Co-President of Friends of Mukai. “The statue allows us to tell the personal stories of Vashon residents who were unjustly imprisoned because of their race. Two-thirds of those who were incarcerated were American-born citizens and had committed no crime.”
The original conceptual design was funded by private donations to Mukai Farm & Garden to create a “shovel ready” project, as required by the terms of the grant. “We are so grateful for the early private donations making it possible for us to apply for the T-Mobile Funding,” said Ms. Brogan. “And we are also grateful to the Vashon Parks District, for providing a site for the installation.” The T-Mobile grant will fund the bulk of construction and design of the new installation although final costs of the installation may be impacted by potential tariff increases.
An unveiling event for the design of the statue will be held at Ober Park at 10:00 on May 18 at Vashon’s annual Day of Exile ceremony. The public is invited to attend the ceremony. Construction of the installation is planned for completion this year.
Get Your Hands Dirty (or Not!) on April 26 at Mukai Farm & Garden’s Spring Work Party!
Spring is officially here! Mukai Farm & Garden is bursting with life and needs your help! We’re hosting a work party on April 26 from 10AM to 4PM and invite you to join us for a day of community and contribution.
We’re dividing into two teams to tackle essential tasks around the property:
Inside Crew: If you prefer staying dry and indoors, join our team focusing on sprucing up the historic house. We’ll be doing paint touch-ups throughout the house, organizing the basement, taking inventory and organizing our rental supplies (think tablecloths, napkins, etc.), and inventorying and organizing our durable signs.
Outside Crew: For those who love the fresh air and getting their hands dirty, our outdoor team will be busy setting up two 20×40 tents, taking inventory of additional outdoor tents, chairs, and tables (checking for any damage!), cleaning outdoor tables, and clearing moss from the stairs.
No matter your preference, there’s a task for everyone! This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with your community, support a local treasure, and enjoy the beauty of Mukai Farm & Garden.
What to bring: Comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting dirty (or paint on!), sturdy shoes, and a can-do attitude! We’ll provide tools and refreshments.
RSVP by April 12th so we can get a headcount. Fill out the volunteer form below to sign up and let us know which team you’d prefer to join: Mukai 2025 Spring Work Party
We can’t wait to see you there and make Mukai shine!
The Fabulous Furoshiki: A New Twist on an Old Idea
Learn the traditional Japanese art of fabric wrapping at the Vashon Library on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, between 6:00PM – 7:30PM. In this hands-on workshop, learn the knots and techniques for gift wrapping and transporting items using this versatile cloth. All materials provided. The program is offered by the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle.
Appropriate for ages 13 and older.
To register, contact [email protected]
Movies at Mukai: Alley Cat
Ooops!
Last month we jumped the gun in announcing that Movies at Mukai would be showing Alley Cat.
The 2017 movie will actually be showed on April 10th at 7:00PM. This thriller, directed by Hideo Sakaki features a retired and brain-injured Boxer who adopts a stray cat. Unfortunately, the cat strays off and is subsequently adopted by a punk mechanic. They become rivals, competing for the cat’s affection, but ultimately become partners in the fight to protect a young single mother from her evil ex-husband.
Welcome Jeannie Berwick!
Friends of Mukai is thrilled to share that Jeannie Berwick has joined our Board of Directors.
Jeannie brings a rich mix of experience to Friends of Mukai, including many years of work in local food systems. She also has a lifelong commitment to advancing the human rights of immigrants and refugees, including being part of the group of lawyers who started the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. Jeannie speaks Spanish fluently and is an avid home organic gardener.
She says, “I am eager to support the mission and vision of Friends of Mukai Farm & Garden as a member of the Board, especially now as Mukai enters this next phase of developing the community Vashon Local Food Hub in the former barreling plant.”
Many thanks to Fred and Takayo Harriman for Hosting an Otsukemono Workshop at Mukai!
To request a tour contact us at [email protected] And for further information: https://mukaifarmandgarden.org/rentals
Newsletter Archive:
12/01/2024 – Happy December from Friends of Mukai
11/01/2024 – Happy November from Mukai!