Residents are welcome to join forces with Talo’fo’fo’s AmeriCorps VETCORPS team in their latest stride toward food security and sustainability education, which initiated Jan. 12 at the Jeromy Newby Community Center.   

David Crisostomo, University of Guam (UOG) Sea Grant aquaculture specialist, led VETCORPS staff and volunteers in the assembly of an aquaculture system, which will eventually transform into an aquaponics system by incorporating plants within their community garden.  

“Our primary focus in the nationwide priority of needs is food security. We’re more vulnerable to food issues being isolated out here. That’s been a key thing, and, also, the idea of recycling and reducing waste,” Crisostomo said.  

This ongoing aquaculture project, funded and supported by the UOG and University of Hawaii Sea Grant programs, allows for recirculating aquaculture systems to be established at partnering local and nonprofit organizations.  

Crisostomo approaches such projects with the goal of zero waste and was pleased to know VETCORPS had established raised-bed gardens and small aquaponic systems utilizing recycled appliances, such as freezers, refrigerators, and washing machines.  

“Since I saw they had a good interest in the same kind of things we were doing, I offered them to be one of the partners in our aquaculture (and) aquaponics community program. They were very happy to accept that,” Crisostomo added.  

The tank will be stocked with up to 200 Nile tilapia (Sarotherodon niloticus). 

VETCORPS staff and volunteers will manage the system, backed by training and technical support from Crisostomo on fish feeding, growth cycles, water quality, planting, marketing, and other knowledge vital to the system’s success. 

VETCORPS members are educated in different focus areas relative to their mission. In this case, its environmental stewardship, which they plan to promote among the population of veterans and others they serve in the community. 

“The members will provide education and training for veterans to become self-sustained and live independently,” said Andrea Cruz, VETCORPS program director. “What better way to live independently than to grow food in your backyard, or to learn a system that will alleviate you going to buy your vegetables? If this island shuts down for any reason, we will still maintain food.” 

Crisostomo explained the potential for a cooperative of people within the neighborhood to feed the fish, share maintenance costs, assist with system monitoring and security, and, once the fish have matured, divide the fish to feed their families. He said 200 fish can provide fertilizer and nutrients for 1,000 plants, and that what is produced can be sold for income that goes back to contributing residents.  

“That is the biggest, greatest model of a true community partnership. From here, we can spread our wings to other villages,” Cruz added. “You’ve got to start somewhere, and here we are.” 

The Sea Grant team most recently partnered with Island Girl Power to add an aquaponics system to their community garden. VETCORPS was the second, with Guahan Sustainable Culture, the Piti Mayor’s Office, and Harvest Grace International to follow.  

All participants have undergone initial training with Crisostomo to run successful aquaponic systems in their respective locations, promoting the Guam Green Growth (G3) initiative, and U.N. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, Zero Hunger; Goal 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth; and Goal 14, Life Below Water.