By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, March 7: Community garden Tanami is inviting the public to learn how to grow their own fruits and vegetables in a sustainable manner while also encouraging youth involvement in environmental advocacy.
The Tanami project, which is open to the public and spearheaded by Sarawak Eco-Warriors and Kuching Beach Cleaners, aims to raise awareness about the importance of food security and to educate people about sustainable planting techniques.
This project, which is supported by the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), also promotes youth empowerment by providing youth with leadership opportunities.
According to a press statement, the team is actively working to develop similar programmes such as workshops, webinars, and events, in which they have come up with a creative writing competition that will take place from March 7 to March 19, 2022.
Youths aged 13 to 24 are encouraged to participate in the “Green Microfiction Challenge,” a writing competition that will train participants to write and think critically about the environment. Those who are interested are welcomed to visit the website at www.kuchingyounggreen.com/microfiction.
“I am grateful to be involved in such a meaningful community project. I hope my little steps can lead to something that can benefit others in the long run,” said Nicole Kueh, a Tanami project assistant.
During Tanami’s soft opening, visitors were given a tour of the community garden and had the opportunity to paint rocks.
Visitors were also introduced to the concept of ‘permaculture,’ which encourages the planting of various plants in close proximity. The idea is to allow plants to support one another while also creating a living space that naturally repels pests and organically fertilises the soil.
Aside from the establishment of an in-person community garden, the team understands the implications of Covid-19 and provides an alternative planting kit for those who want to experiment with planting from the comfort of their own homes.
Tanami is a combination of the words ‘Tanah’ and ‘Kami’ and is located at the Dyslexia Association of Sarawak. The Tanami community garden is open every Sunday from 9am to 12 noon. — DayakDaily
