PHILIPSBURG:--- Twelve doctors-in-training from American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine assisted the St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation with its self-sustainable organic garden project as part of the students’ Community Action Day held recently.
The AUC students were guided and assisted by 12 Tzu Chi volunteers. The project was held at the Tzu Chi Foundation’s organic garden located on the L.B. Scott Road.
During the day students and volunteers engaged in a number of tasks that were geared towards protecting and sustaining Tzu Chi’s garden in an environmentally friendly way. Students and volunteers helped to prepare fresh batches of the natural enzyme, which is, amongst other things, used as natural fertilizers for the garden.
They also helped to fertilize plants and trees with an enzyme; prepared environmental friendly garden pots and trimmed tree branches.
Other tasks included clearing existing pileup of leaves, weeding unwanted growth weed, preparing soil; preparing soil beds; seeding beds and transplanting plants as well as harvesting organic vegetables for lunch.
The day of volunteering wrapped up with students and volunteers enjoying lunch together and participants sharing their views about the day’s exercise. The students who shared their experiences for the day said they thoroughly enjoyed the day’s activities.
Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung said she was grateful for all the students who came out to participate in the volunteer programme and expressed hope that they learned something new that they can use in their own environment. She also thanked all the Tzu Chi volunteers who always make themselves available to assist in Tzu Chi activities, such as this one.
