Growing Green and Living Clean

This month, the MST community has been buzzing with exciting sustainability initiatives. From planting trees to making green smoothies to student-led fundraising projects, there has been a lot of inspiring action to celebrate.

Willow Arborists Green the MST Garden

Willow children took part in a very special project to green the MST Garden on Thursday, April 24. Forty-eight saplings were provided to MST by NPO Silva and each child had the opportunity to plant a tree just behind the arbor in the MST Garden, creating the start of a mini forest that will grow and thrive for generations.

Kawashita-san, from NPO Silva, demonstrated to the children how to plant a native chinkapin tree (スダジイ, castanopsis sieboldii). First, she showed how to dig a hole the length of the trowel, and to massage the pot in order to remove the plant from its previous home, where it grew for the past two or three years. Afterwards, she showed how to put the plant in the hole, leaving some room at the bottom of the hole for the roots to grow into and then how to cover the plant with dirt in a way that wouldn’t choke the plant.

If we were able to protect the life of our mini forest from any future human interference, Kawashita-san suggests that it could grow to be at least 9,000 years old, which is when the next ice age is predicted to occur! It is remarkable that the children got to be at the beginning of something that could potentially last so long, a beautiful gift to humanity, and our best tool to fight climate change. These memories will stay with the children for years to come.

Parents’ Sustainability Committee Cooking Workshop: Health in a Cup

The MST Parents’ Sustainability Committee hosted a delicious and educational cooking workshop titled "Health in a Cup!" on Wednesday, April 23. Parents gathered to make vibrant green, purple, and red smoothies, along with tasty vegan carrot muffins.

The workshop included a talk on the power of plants and the importance of reducing chemical exposure in our daily lives. Participants learned how adding more dark green vegetables and plant-based foods to our diets can help reverse some of the negative health effects linked to chemical pollutants.

We also heard the inspiring story of a doctor who overcame severe autoimmune disease through a plant-based diet. After a rich discussion, everyone enjoyed sampling the smoothies and muffins, proof that healthy eating can be both simple and delicious. Some additional tips shared included drinking lots of water, reading food labels carefully, using natural soaps, and remembering to smile every day to boost health naturally.

Students’ Sustainability Committee Fundraising at Spring Fair

MST HEAL students showed great leadership at the Spring Fair by organizing a fundraising event focused on protecting animals, nature, and reducing pollution. They worked in three teams: Animals, Plastics/Pollution, and Nature, each bringing thoughtful ideas and creative products to support their causes.

The Animal team sold second-hand clothes, watercolor paintings, oatmeal raisin cookies, and coloring books, with proceeds supporting organizations that help protect animals.

The Plastics/Pollution team focused on waste reduction by selling rice crackers without using disposable plates or cups, encouraging visitors to return reusable plates.

The Nature team promoted recycling and forest conservation by creating art from scrap paper, sharing natural soap tips, and presenting a touching "Story of the Forest" at the Garden stage.

Through their hard work and passion, MST HEAL students demonstrated how small actions can lead to big changes. We are so proud of their efforts to protect the Earth!

–Naoko Kikkawa, Sustainability Lead, with Maria Hovi and Manamaya Peterson