Following the success of the G3 community gardens in Hagåtña and Talo’fo’fo, Guam’s northern residents are encouraged to check out the newest G3 community garden at the Dededo Sports Complex.
This recent edition is part of the islandwide initiative between G3, Guåhan Sustainable Culture, AmeriCorps, and government and non-government organizations to develop community gardens in Guam’s villages, which ultimately aims to foster more knowledge and engagement about food sovereignty and overall sustainability.
According to Michelle Crisostomo, President and founder of GSC, a unique feature that sets this particular garden apart from the other two is the upcycled and found materials in the garden. These materials include the used tires filled with seedlings now utilized for pollination, the raised beds from Farm to Table, which contain herbs like mint and basil, and the re-purposed concrete blocks with crops including okra, radish, and hot pepper.
In tandem with the fresh produce to be grown in the garden, Crisostomo shared the additional benefits she hopes residents will avail of, “It’s (the community garden) going to provide opportunities for health, recreation, exercise, stress relief— a lot of opportunities for education, we’ll have a lot of workshops here, we will do as we do in our other community gardens, is give out free seeds— free seedlings, and you’re welcome to come and learn how to garden.”
These opportunities through the community garden encompass the United Nations Sustainable Developmental Goals, specifically, zero hunger, good health and well-being, and sustainable cities and wellbeings.
PNC spoke with Dr. Austin Shelton, Director of the Center for Island Sustainability and UOG Sea Grant, at the event, who shared his confidence in Guam’s ability to achieve the UN’s SDGs.
He said, “We’re making a lot of progress toward getting to our sustainable future— and as I mentioned earlier, we knew how to be sustainable, but along our pathway to where we are— our present-day, we started importing over 90% of our food and goods we consume. So, it’s time to take some of our lessons from our past and build a bridge to a future where our island will be completely sustainable again.”
Individuals are encouraged to visit the garden at the Dededo Sports Complex. For more details, contact G3 on social media platforms: @guamgreengrowth.
Destiny Cruz, PNC News.
