Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Maui celebrated a new chapter for its youth support mission with the grand reopening of its revitalized community garden on October 16, 2025. Thanks to vital assistance from Bayer Hawai‘i and Seminis/Bayer Vegetables, this outdoor space now serves as a dynamic classroom for growth and positive mentorship.

Located at the Mentor Center at Hale Makana O Waiale in Wailuku, Maui, the community food garden was initially established in 2018. The garden’s existence is rooted in the vision of Yarrow Flower, a dedicated Bayer employee who championed the cause, seeing it as an educational space for the keiki (children) of this low-income housing community.

A Sustainable Transformation

In July 2025, a team of approximately 15 Bayer employees dedicated their time and expertise to a major transformation project focused on sustainability and longevity. The volunteers replaced rotting wooden garden beds with durable cinder blocks reinforced with rebar. This crucial step ensures the garden will last for years to come. The team didn’t stop there. They completely overhauled the outdated irrigation system, replaced the broken compost system, and performed a thorough cleanup, clearing out large obstructive plants and wire fencing. 

They also installed a metal shelf for efficient supply organization and restored the hydroponic lettuce stand to working condition. To kickstart the harvest and ensure the children and mentors had fresh crops to learn with, the team provided Seminis/Bayer Vegetables seeds, including onions, sweet peppers, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Cultivating Growth and Hope

“It's incredibly rewarding to see our team come together to support BBBS. This garden will be a place of growth and learning for the children, and we're proud to be part of this transformation,” said Becky Ryan, Bayer Hawaii Breeding Lead and volunteer board member at BBBS Maui.

These efforts exemplify how Bayer puts its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” into action, demonstrating corporate social responsibility through positive, hands-on contributions to local communities. Earlier in 2025, Bayer Hawaii partnered with U.S.VETS to break ground on the “Seeds of Hope” garden on Oahu, addressing similar challenges faced by vulnerable populations.

“At Seminis, we're passionate about empowering communities through access to healthy food,” said Jeanmarie Harty, Seminis West Agronomy Lead. “We were thrilled to partner with our Bayer colleagues in Hawaii on this project, knowing that the seeds we provided would help cultivate not only a garden, but also hope and nourishment.”