Learning Garden: Planting the seeds of food sustainability, healthy living

Dandan Elementary School students will soon be able to harvest the own fruits and vegetables, thanks to Tan Holdings, which unveiled yesterday its latest “green initiative” that promotes food sustainability, nutrition awareness, and environmental stewardship among public school students.

Dubbed as the “Learning Garden,” this initiative is patterned after school learning gardens in the U.S. where public and private groups partner with schools and communities to create gardens that would provide students with hands-on learning, teaching them how to grow their own crops and much more.

Tan Holdings president Jerry Tan led company executives in launching Learning Garden at Dandan Elementary School, where three small plots will soon be home to tomatoes, onions, corn, and, possibly, other produce in the near future.

The same project will be introduced to two more public schools, Oleai and Garapan elementary schools, in the coming weeks.

“We’re just glad that Tan Holdings is able to partner with PSS in looking for initiatives to teach children to do something different and help them learn to become good corporate citizens when they grow up,” Tan told his audience.

Yesterday’s event was also attended by school officials and staff, students, parents, and representatives of partner agencies such as the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance and the Northern Marianas College – Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Service.

Tan said the Learning Garden is a different kind of initiative as it will have a significant impact among the students by teaching them the value of farming in the community which, in turn, may develop in some of them the desire to pursue a career in agriculture.

Tan noted that Saipan relies “too much” on imports and that people should look into farming the vast agricultural lands on island or even begin in a small way by creating a small garden in their own backyard.

“I think it’ll be great to see farming become a very important part of our community and we rely less on import, which is costly,” he added.

NMC-CREES director Ross Manglona first demonstrated to the fourth grade students under the class of Jonathan Ulrich the proper way of planting and caring for the plants. Tan and Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan then joined the children in planting tomato saplings.

“The students should recognize the great opportunity to learn something as important as agriculture which is a big part of our lives. Learn from the teachers and agriculture experts and look forward to the final product that you’re able to grow and be proud of the efforts you put in,” said Tan.

Sablan, for her part, disclosed that the Public School System had a vegetable garden project before she came on board in 2008. The project, however, was discontinued due to lack of funding.

“With the support and the partnership with Tan Holdings, we will now be able to again revive the learning garden that allows many of our kids to learn about vegetables, fruits, and farming,” Sablan told Saipan Tribune, describing the project as “excellent” and “something that we are going to forever remember.”

The fourth graders themselves had the chance to be a part of the launching of the initiative as they planted some onions and corn seeds.

“I’m very excited because this is my first time to plant something,” said April Lynn Chipwelong, 10.

Nine-year-old Koby Santos, who helps in gardening chores at their house, said he will regularly check the onion he planted yesterday.

“I would tell my classmates and the other students to take care of this garden,” he added.

Ulrich said the Learning Garden will not only teach the students to care and nurture the plants but it will also instill in them accountability. “Thank you for making this dream a reality.”

For school principal Martha Kintol, the unveiling of the Learning Garden is a beginning of a great thing not just for Dandan Elementary School but for other schools as well.

“It’s a learning garden and children are not only going to learn skills in planting but other life-long skills,” she said.

Tan urged other businesses to sponsor a school so that Learning Garden will reach the rest of public schools in the CNMI. For just $600, a company will be able to help one school develop a garden.

“We’re inviting other companies in the community to sign up and be a part of this program,” he said.

For more information, call 235-2769 or 8747.