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Good Food Project Garden Newsletter
October 2015
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| A "Living Classroom at L.S. Rugg Elementary" |
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| L.S. Rugg Elementary "Living Classroom" |
Good Food Project (GFP) partnered with educators at L.S. Rugg Elementary recently, to obtain a National Farm to School mini grant in order to expand the school's existing garden into a "living classroom." With the $5,000 grant, a third 4X8 foot raised garden bed, two vertical beds, two convert-a-benches, an outdoor dry/erase board, soil, seeds, transplants, and pine straw mulch have been added to the site. Previously, the garden consisted of two raised beds (made possible through a generous donation from the Rapides Soil and Water Conservation District which partners with GFP to install gardens at Rapides Parish schools) and a unique raised keyhole garden bed installed through a partnership between First United Methodist of Alexandria, L. S. Rugg, and the GFP. A workday was held on October 8th to install the new raised bed, refresh the existing beds with soil and amendments, plant fall crops of mustard and turnip greens, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, radishes, and green onions, and lay down the pine straw pathways. Community and parent volunteers, educators, and the GFP staff were on hand to complete the project. With the garden expansion, teachers will use the protected setting to instruct science, math, language arts, and many other subjects that can utilize a garden setting. Produce from this garden will be shared with students through taste-testings at the school, and other activities with GFP during the 2015-2016 academic year. Good Food Project looks forward to an exciting and successful year with our friends at L.S. Rugg Elementary.
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| Easy-Grow Fall Salad
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| Fall Bibb Lettuce and Radishes at GFP |
Did you know?
- Lettuce is very easy to grow in pots that you can keep close to the kitchen for easy harvesting
- While iceberg lettuce is one of the more popular lettuces, it is the least nutritious and least flavorful
- Lettuce can be harvested every few weeks
- Lettuce provides color, texture, and fiber to your best salads
Ingredients: 3 Cups lettuce such as leaf, butterhead (Boston or bibb), or Lolla Rossa (frilly, red and green lettuce) 1 Cup mixed micro greens (kale, chard, collards, Chinese cabbage) 2 green onions 2 radishes Pumpkin seeds (pepitos), or your favorite seeds 1/4 Cup dried cranberries 1/4 Cup feta cheese crumbles Your favorite tangy dressing such as honey mustard, or a nice vinaigrette Directions: Wash and prep lettuces, drain or spin well, remove any tough stems Thinly slice radishes and green onions Toss all ingredients in a large bowl Serve as a side dish or as a light lunch with your favorite grilled poultry |
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| In October plant:
- Beets
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Celery
- Swiss, Chard
- Chinese Cabbage
- Collards
- Garlic
- Kohlrabi
- Mustard Greens
- Onion, Leek (Seed)
- Peas, English
- Radishes
- Shallots
- Spinach
- Turnips
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In November plant:
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Celery (Seed)
- Garlic
- Mustard Greens
- Shallots
- Turnips
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 Bountiful harvests of bell peppers are still coming in October at the Hope House of Central Louisiana |
| GFP Receives the Central Louisiana Community Foundation 2015 Impact Award
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| Central Louisiana Community Foundation Presentation of check to Good Food Project (Photo Courtesy of Jeff Matthews - Alexandria Town Talk) |
Good Food Project of the Food Bank of Central Louisiana would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Central Louisiana Community Foundation for selecting this project to be the recipient of its 2015 Impact Award in the amount of $75,000.00. The award will enable GFP to expand its garden reach by creating 10 new gardens across the eleven parishes served by the Food Bank, to improve the infrastructure at the demo garden with an open-air pavilion, a wheel chair assessable walkway and other features to improve the staff's ability to teach the community about growing and sustaining their own food. Updates to follow. Eugene Warner Neighborhood Garden
Our first community garden, the Eugene Warner Neighborhood Garden was re-tilled this month with the help of two great community volunteers: Don Bullock and Charles Cheatham. Fall crops of cabbage, broccoli, carrots, radishes, mustard and turnip greens were planted for the folks in this community. For the third year, Food Bank and GFP staff will join the good folks of this South Alexandria neighborhood for its annual Halloween block party on October 30. A good time is always had by all who attend! To learn more about the Good Food Project and its community partners contact us at -318-445-2773 or [email protected] |
| 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
Asher McDavid volunteering on Workday Wednesday |
| Garden Tip: If it starts to get cold and you have tomatoes still ripening on the vine - save your tomatoes! Pull the plants up and bring them inside to a warm, dry place. Hang them up and the tomatoes will ripen on the vine.
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Hope House bounty shared with Manna House Ministries Staff
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Volunteers of the Month
Erin Guidry and Children
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| Erin Guidry and Children: Eden, Salem, and Ireland |
Homeschool mom, Erin Guidry heard about the Good Food Project from some members of her church, The Gathering Place. As part of the church's small homeschool group, Erin hoped to teach her children one of their core principles: "going out into the community to do good for the community we live in." This month's theme for the homeschoolers was "Harvesting," and what better place to learn about harvesting than the GFP demo garden? Erin says she always wanted to have her own garden, but never got around to it because she thought it would be difficult. Because she has only lived in Louisiana seven years, she did not realize until recently, that a person could have a garden all year round here. Once she participated in Workday Wednesdays, Erin says she immediately knew she was addicted to the idea of learning about gardening and especially about the notion that from something small, so much could grow. Since their first visit earlier in the month at the demo garden, Erin and her children, Ireland, 6, Salem, 4, and Eden 2, have planted sugar snap peas, green onions, mint, and basil at their home. They are all excited that they will be able to pull snacks from their own backyard soon. Erin has definitely got the gardening bug and declared that if she could do it with her "crazy schedule," anyone could! We hope to continuing inspiring Erin and others here at GFP, and look forward to many more Workday Wednesdays with anyone who wants to grown their own sustainable food. 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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