Sustainability Endures

April 30, 2024 

Guåhan Sustainable Culture had the privilege of participating in the University of Guam’s 15th Conference on Island Sustainability, where local leaders and visitors from around the world discuss their visions for a sustainable future for our island and beyond. The theme for this year’s CIS was “Sustainability Endures.”

With the help of our AmeriCorps GSC members and our founders Michelle Crisostomo and Marlyn Oberiano, we kicked off the conference with a special tour of our Hagåtña G3 Community Garden. Visitors from off-island, coming from Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, and beyond, were captivated by the bountiful offerings of Guåhan. They admired our raised garden beds, thriving plant nursery, vibrant Farm to School beds, and picturesque flower beds. They also enjoyed refreshing butterfly pea tea made with flowers grown in our garden. It was a true showcase of our island's unwavering commitment to sustainable living and food security. 

At the main conference event, we showcased some of our unique, local products to our off-island guests, including Tåsi Salt’s Achiote Salt for that unique, local flavor, Håfa Adai Honey’s oatmeal, honey, and lavender soap, as well as Håfa Adai Honey’s bottles of local, raw honey. For our local attendees, we handed out donne’ tiao seedlings to kickstart their own gardens and bags of fresh produce!

Meanwhile, AmeriCorps GSC had a blast at their Build Your Own Spice Blend table! Members guided participants in creating their own spice jars, using an array of dried herbs and spices freshly sourced from our garden - lemon grass, turmeric, oregano, basil, and hot pepper. What a fun way to introduce visitors to what our island has to offer! 

GSC’s founder, Michelle Crisostomo, moderated a thought-provoking panel on food security featuring Dave Crisostomo from UOG Sea Grant, Jessica Nangauta from UOG Triton Farms, Matt Sablan from GDOE’s Child Nutrition Program, and farmer and educator Marcela Takai. Together, they discussed topics such as solar-powered aquaculture, healthy food access for children, and how to introduce youth to the fun of farming and gardening. This was one of many enlightening presentations AmeriCorps GSC members attended as they joined in on the conference and expanded their knowledge on all things sustainable! 

In reflecting on the enriching experiences of the University of Guam’s 15th Conference on Island Sustainability, one thing remains abundantly clear: the enduring spirit of sustainability is alive and thriving. As we continue to cultivate local solutions and global partnerships, let’s carry forward the inspiration and momentum from this gathering, working together to create a more sustainable future for our island and beyond!