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Good Food Project Garden Newsletter
 July 2015  
 
Foodapalooza: Farm to School Edition
Pineville Youth Center Garden Club Members (Photo Courtesy of Brandy Orlando, LSU AgCenter

The LSU AgCenter and the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance sponsored Foodapalooza: Farm-to-School Edition on July 14. This event served as a regional follow-up to Louisiana's Farm to School Conference in May. Advocates and educators from across the state of Louisiana came to Coughlin-Saunders  Performing Arts Center in Alexandria to attend the day-long event. Those who attended came together to encourage the introduction of local foods into schools and to promote food and agriculture. The Good Food Project's children's garden and nutrition program at the Pineville Youth Center was one of the featured tours of the day. The youth garden club members served as tour guides to the folks who visited their garden. Many of the kids expressed great surprise at the number of people who were interested in their program. They proudly showed the visitors the vegetables they are growing (some of which they had started from seed this past winter), the compost bin, and their chicken coop. The vegetables harvested and eggs gathered by the children are used on site. The garden club is entering its third year with many of the kids having belonged since it began in the summer of 2013. The Good Food Project salutes the PYC children who are helping to lead the way so that more young people will know how to grow their own food.
For information about partnering with the Good Food Project, or for other GFP program opportunities contact the Good Food Project staff at 318.445.2773 or via email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],  and on the web: www.goodfoodprojectcenla.org    
Recipe of the Month

 

Seven Layer Dip (Using Ingredients from the Five Food Groups)
 Kids Café of Winnfield Participants 

Did you know?

  • Kids (and adults) love this snack - It's the most requested at GFP's satellite gardens
  • Preparing this dish with kids can be a great conversation starter about the five food groups.
  • Kids (and adults) are surprised to learn that many of the foods we think of as vegetables are actually fruits!

Ingredients:

1 31 Oz. can refried beans (Meat and Beans Group)

1 16 Oz. tray of prepared guacamole (or even better, make it fresh) (Fruit group)

1 16 Oz. carton sour cream (Dairy Group)

1 Cup shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese (Dairy Group)

1 Can sliced black olives (Fruit Group)

2 Roma tomatoes chopped (Fruit and Vegetable Group)

2 Shallots chopped (Vegetable Group)

Corn tortilla chips (Grain Group)

 

Directions:

1. Spread refried beans evenly on the bottom of a 9X12 baking pan 

2. Spread guacamole evenly on top of the beans 

3. Spread sour cream evenly on top of guacamole

4. Sprinkle shredded cheese over sour cream

5. Continue layering with black olives, tomatoes, and green onions

Use as a dip with tortilla chips

Serves 20  

 

 

 

In July plant:

  • Broccoli (Seed)
  • Brussels sprouts (Seed)
  • Cabbage
  • Cantaloupes
  • Cauliflower
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Collards
  • Eggplant (Plants)
  • Okra
  • Peas, Southern
  • Pepper, Bell (Seed)
  • Pepper, Bell (Plants)
  • Potatoes, Sweet
  • Pumpkin
  • Rutabagas
  • Shallots
  • Summer Squash
  • Tomatoes (Seed)
  • Tomatoes (Plants)
  • Watermelons                        

 

 

In August plant:

  • Beans, (Snap, Bush, Pole, Lima)
  • Beets
  • Broccoli (Seed)
  • Brussels sprouts (Seed)
  • Cabbage
  • Cantaloupes
  • Cauliflower
  • Chard, Swiss
  • Chinese Cabbage 
  • Collards
  • Cucumbers
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lettuce
  • Mustard Greens
  • Okra
  • Peas, Southern
  • Pepper, Bell (Plants)
  • Potatoes, Irish
  • Pumpkin
  • Rutabagas
  • Shallots
  • Summer Squash
  • Tomatoes (Plants)
  • Turnips
  • Watermelons

  

 

 

Scenes from Pineville Youth Center's tour for Foodapalooza: Farm-to-School Edition 

                                
Garden News

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Good Food Project began a partnership with Save the Children/Head Start programs a few months ago. GFP installed gardens at the main office on Jackson Street and at the Pineville Head Start on Lakeview. We're happy to report that both gardens are doing well and producing. Starting kids early in gardening helps them develop life-long skills that keeps them connected to the food they eat.

 

Cucumbers at the Lakeview Head Start (Pineville).

 

To learn more about the Good Food Project and its community partners contact us at -318-445-2773 or [email protected]  

 
Workday Wednesday

You are invited to join us at the GFP demonstration garden on Workday Wednesdays. In the garden, you will experience learning to grow food in a sustainable, organic way, while getting an opportunity to meet new people, and to help those in need in the community. If you, your organization, or work place would like to be involved, please give us a call. We would love to hear from you!


Each Wednesday from 7:30-11:30 AM all adults and children are invited to come out for a fun day of learning and giving back  to the community. Let's grow together! Learn more.

If Wednesdays aren't good for you, call us to set up another volunteer day! 318-445-2773 

 

 

Garden Quote

"You have a chance to plant a seed of something very special in the hearts, mind, and spirits of young children as you garden together." --Cathy James
Keller Enterprises Director of GFP, Frances Boudreaux,  and youth gardener, Neveah of Pineville Youth Center Garden Club (Photo Courtesy of Brandy Orlando, LSU AgCenter)
Derien Mitchell and Jennifer Baum

Volunteers of the Month

Phoenix Family Life Center Staff and Clients

 

Each Wednesday this month, GFP has welcomed staff and clients of the Phoenix Family Life Center to the demonstration garden. Counselors and mental health specialists have brought 2-3 elementary and high school age children each to volunteer. According to counselor, Jennifer Baum, who is working on her LPC licensure, this community-based counseling program looks for community resources that the children can participate in. Phoenix staff works with the kids in their home, school, and community to help them develop stronger social skills, adapt to change, problem solve, have positive outlets that take them away from stressors, and to have experiences that allow them to give back to their community. Mental Health Specialist, Derien Mithchell, says that working in the garden teaches his charges responsibility, how to problem-solve, to follow directions, and to be able to interact with people they might not have had an opportunity to meet otherwise. Good Food Project staff has marveled at the therapeutic benefit that the demonstration garden has afforded these children. Ms. Baum reiterated that the garden gives them an outlet to get out of the house, away from video games and affords them a place that is calming. We at the Good Food Project have long noted that the demonstration garden has great therapeutic value; these fantastic volunteers have truly helped deepen our belief. We thank them sincerely for their efforts this month and hope that this will be a long-lasting relationship.

 

GFP welcomes  individual and organizational volunteers at our community gardens and at the Good Food Project on Wednesday mornings in the demonstration garden, 3223 Baldwin Avenue - Food Bank of Central Louisiana 71301 - 318-445-2773

 

 
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