Community garden donated to JKPL

The public library had a ribbon cutting ceremony during the proclamation ceremony for National Library Week.

The Joeten-Kiyu Public Library successfully opened the newest exhibit and the newest extension to the library, a community garden.

Imperial Pacific International donated the garden to the library in commemoration of National Library Week.

Imperial Pacific Corporate Social Responsibility executive director Geralyn DelaCruz explained that Imperial Pacific is a community partner of many agencies, the public library being one of them.

According to DelaCruz, Imperial Pacific donated laborers and supplies to build the garden.

“We have people who have knowledge on planting and building planter boxes…we also collaborated with the library and came out and we all worked together to make this possible,” said DelaCruz.

According to DelaCruz, the cost of the donated garden was less than $100, “all the materials that we’ve used were all recycled materials from our previous projects and I am proud to say that,” said DelaCruz.

She hopes that the community will take part in marinating the community garden so that it may serve its purpose.

Imperial Pacific’s purpose for the garden is for children and people of the community to visually learn how crops are grown and how it is maintained.

JKPL acting director Erlinda Naputi explained that to the library, the garden symbolizes growth in everything, most especially knowledge.

“Knowledge never stops growing and having a garden in the library is proof that we want the children and the community to continue to grow,” said Naputi.

The garden is also helpful in encouraging healthy eating for the community, according to Naputi.

The first ever harvest from the library’s garden will be donated to the man’amko, according to Naputi. She said it is to show respect for the elders. Where the next harvest of produce will go has yet to be discussed by the library in partnership with Let’s Move Marianas.

Naputi hopes library staff will tend the garden with the help of the community. Imperial Pacific will also come down to help from time to time to maintain the community garden.

Funds needed to maintain the community garden would come from the Division of Agriculture as well as the community, according to Naputi.

JKPL welcomes all community members who are interested to see the community garden.