Extension agents at the University of Guam College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS) work with the public to assist with finding information about healthy food choices, how to grow plants and vegetables, how to trap coconut rhinoceros beetles, and more. Extension Associate Phoebe Wall has been helping various individuals and groups around the island start and maintain community gardens since 2013. In collaboration with the Non-communicable Disease Consortium, Wall has been instrumental in helping people plan and actualize community gardens to increase their access to fresh fruits and vegetables in order to decrease the incidence of obesity, diabetes, chronic heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

Yigo resident Jeanette Reilly contacted Wall regarding some issues she was experiencing with her community garden project. As a diabetic, Reilly wanted to make sure she was getting plenty of good-quality vegetables in her diet, so she began a community garden with her four sisters who call themselves the “Golden Girls” and named their garden The Golden Girls Garden. “As a retired teacher I have time to work in the garden every day. We started planting in the bare ground, but we had problems with erosion. I contacted Phoebe and she suggested we try a different method and we are very happy with the results,” said Reilly.

Because of the slight slope of the land where Reilly was planting, Wall suggested incorporating sheet mulching, enhancing the soil using compost mixed with topsoil, shredded paper, chicken manure, coffee grounds, etc. “It is like making lasagna, putting down a layer of compost then a layer of cardboard or shredded paper, then soil,” explained Wall. She also encouraged Reilly to use raised beds instead of planting on bare ground. The Office of Minority Health Resource Center (OMHRC) supplied funding for cinder blocks and many other necessities. These changes have increased the number of vegetables the families harvest and decreased the amount of weeding needed.

Salvation Army’s Lighthouse Recovery Center contacted Wall to help the center start a garden for the community of individuals there. She assisted them in getting tools, seedlings, seeds and other supplies with funding from the OMHRC. Wall worked with them regularly giving demonstrations on gardening techniques from planting seeds to harvesting. They now have eggplant, hot peppers, green onions, and okra in the raised gardens as well as calamansi and other fruit trees they are tending. “They eat what they grow and they are very excited to have more fresh vegetables available for meals,” said Wall.

Her next garden project is for Guma Trankilidat, the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority’s Guam Elderly Project. This will involve different types of gardening methods to suit their needs, as some of the residents have disabilities. She will be looking at ways to accommodate wheelchair gardeners and those using walkers. Wall already has a commitment from military personnel to volunteer their time in setting up the garden. She also has two retirees, Wayne Brown and Sebastian Pelivanian, who have been volunteering with several other gardens.

Community gardens are not only a great way to grow fresh fruit and vegetables, they also foster intergenerational relationships, provide volunteer opportunities, and give the satisfaction that comes with nurturing plants and connecting with nature. For more information about extension and outreach activities, please visit http://cnas-re.uog.edu/.