From Engineer to Master Gardener: NAVFAC Pacific Employee Serves Community Selflessly

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific celebrated Earth Month April 18 by highlighting an employee who doesn't mind getting some earth in her fingernails throughout the year.

This year's Navy theme, "Global Reach... Local Action" is suitable for NAVFAC Pacific General Engineer Ann Tanaka, who works in the Public Works Department. During her free time, Tanaka volunteers with the Oahu Urban Garden Ohana and University of Hawaii Master Gardener (UH MG) program, which support educational outreach programs. The programs provide the public with research-based information and sustainable management practices for home gardens, local landscapes, urban environments and the community.

The concept of improving health via nutrition during a turning point in her life motivated Tanaka to join the Ohana and UH MG program to learn organic and sustainable methods to grow her own vegetables and herbs. She enjoys teaching folks how to grow their own fresh food even if they don't have much space to garden and hopes to encourage people to eat healthy.

Since becoming an Ohana member and certified MG in 2006, Tanaka has volunteered with planting and giving away of trees for Arbor Day at the Pearl City Urban Garden Center (UGC), answering plant-related questions, doing demonstrations, and conducting workshops at public outreach events at the UGC, county fairs, farmer's markets and other community events. One of her favorite events was partnering with a chef in a garden-to-table demonstration, where she demonstrated how to plant, grow and harvest ginger in buckets, and the chef demonstrated how to prepare delicious dishes with garden-fresh ginger.

Some upcoming events at which UH MGs host "Got a Plant Question" booths include Windward Farmers Market on the first Wednesday of the month from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m., Kailua Farmers Market on the third Thursday of the month from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., and Kapiolani Community College Farmers Market on the last Saturday of the month from 7:30 to 11:00 a.m.

UH MGs will also have a "Got a Plant Question" booth at the 6th Annual Grow Hawaiian Festival at the Bishop Museum this Saturday, April 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Hawaiian Electric Company sponsored event is free for kama'aina and military families with valid identification. In honor of Earth day, this will be a celebration of Hawaii's native plants and culture, where families can learn ways to help protect the island environment and contribute to a clean energy future in Hawaii. For more information on this event, visit http://goo.gl/rAEcc.

The Oahu Urban Garden Ohana and UH MGs also host workshops on the second Saturday of the month at the UGC in Pearl City. The next workshop will be held on May 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ougc/.

"On Earth Day and throughout April, we have the opportunity to take local action to demonstrate our commitment to protecting the environment," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Environment) Donald Schregardus. "No matter where you serve, you can take action by participating in local clean-ups, reducing waste, increasing awareness of neighborhood recycling programs, saving energy, or planting indigenous trees in your area."


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For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navfachq/.