GFP Logp 
Lori Garton's
Garden Philosophy
 
"I believe that a garden will flourish if stewarded sustainably. As responsible land care-takers we should be growing our soil -- not depleting it. That means not using any synthetic substances, including pesticides and fertilizers. It also means adding to the soil.
 
Composting is a key component to our Good Food Project garden. The more biodiverse an ecosystem is the healthier it is. That's why we grow as many different species as possible, including worms, chickens and bees. The more things that we have growing ... the more natural nutrient cycling and weed, insect and disease control there will be (and the less we have to do!).
 
This type of growing takes patience -- Mother Nature does take her time. So take a deep breath, take one step at a time, and let's grow together!"
 
-- Lori Garton, Director
Good Food Project
Good FoGGod Project
 
Worms
 Worms
Garden's Best Friend
 
A dog may be man's best friend, but no garden ever had a better buddy than a worm.
 
Vermiculture -- which is basically a fancy way of saying worm composting -- is one of the easiest and most effective ways to build and continually enhance garden soil.
 
What worms do to add natural fertilizer to soil is nothing short of remarkable.  What goes into a worm comes out as a casting at least 10 times higher in beneficial microbial activity than what the worm ingested.  Think worm manure, which efficiently converts nutrients already in the soil into a form on which plants thrive.
 
Studies have shown that this vermicompost is richer in nutrients than compost produces by most other composting methods.
 
And worms do much more.  Castings contain mucus which helps prevent nutrients from washing away and improves water holding capacity.  The burrowing of worms also aerates the soil.
 
In large-scale worm-raising operations the critters consume significant amounts of biowaste that otherwise might be headed to landfills or water sources.
 
The Good Food Project utilizes worms grown in two worm bins, and the wrigglers in short order have demonstrably improved the quality of
of the community garden's clay-based soil. 
 
Red Wrigglers is the species of choice for worm bins in our region, although some folks cultivate European nightcrawlers.  Worms are easy to grow, and they require little maintenance after the low-cost initial set up.
 
Worm bins for home gardeners may be ordered, or they can be made from plastic containers, Styrofoam or wood containers.  Most food scraps are fine for worms, and the bedding material is readily available.
 
If you would like more information about worm composting or how to begin raising your own worms, including start-up plans, contact us at [email protected].
 
What They're Saying About Worm Class
 "This class motivated me to try vermiculture on my own, and I learned that it can be done inexpensively."
 
"I am excited to learn that worms multiply so fast.  I was hesitant to start worms, but I learned that it's not difficult or time consuming."
 
"I was unaware that worms are such good sources of nutrients for the soil.  The class was fun and practical."
  
forest hill kids
workshop pix
corn plants
variety of herbs
-- Thank You --
 The Good Food Project earnestly thanks the following businesses and individuals for their support in providing plants, supplies or services for the community garden.
 
Acme Brick
Lowe's of Alexandria
Petrus Feed & Seed
Inglewood Farm
Burford Trees
Southern Loggers Co-op 
 Richard "Ricky" Melder
Bruce Richerson
Rebecca Richerson
Rodney Verzwyvelt

Sustainable Garden

Web Resources

 

 www.groedibles.com

 

http://plantingjustice.org

 

http://groworganic.com

 

http://attra.ncat.org

 

www.plantmaps.com

 

www.redriverbeekeepers.org 

 

What Our Garden Needs
 The following items are needed to enhance our community garden.
 
 Manure
Cinder Blocks
Bricks
Plant Growing Containers
Leaves
Wood Chips
Paving Stones
 
Please contact Lori Garton at [email protected]
 or 445-2773 if you are able to donate any of these items.
 
Thank You! 

Sprout

Good Food Project Garden News

 

March 2012

Thank you for your interest in the Good Food Project, which is operated under the direction of the Food Bank of Central Louisiana in partnership with the Central Louisiana Community Foundation and funded through the generous support of Keller Enterprises.
 
Our Sprout newsletter will keep you current with the Good Food Project (GFP) and provide useful information about growing your own healthy food and enjoying the lifelong benefits of gardening.
 
 
 Spring Workshop
Schedule Set
 
Six more Good Food Project garden workshops have been scheduled this spring, announced director Lori Garton.
 
Garton and local experts will teach the free classes.  Each participant will receive a complimentary Topsy Turvy aerial planter.
 
Workshops are held at The Food Bank of Central Louisiana at 3223 Baldwin Ave. in Alexandria.  Registration for planning purposes is requested at 445-2773 or [email protected].
 
The additional workshops bring to 12 the number of classes the Good Food Project will have offered through the first five months of this year.  The year-long series of workshops deals with organic gardening, sustainable soil practices, biodiversity, conservation, composting, gardening on a budget, growing vegetables, and other topics.
 
The Good Food Project garden, which is adjacent to the Food Bank, serves as a living laboratory for the workshops.  Produce from the garden also is distributed to Food Bank clients. 
 
Workshop Lineup
 Spring Planting
March 3, 10 a.m.
 
Spring Planting
March 12, 10 a.m.
(Repeat from March 3) 
 
Homemade & Organic Fertilizers
March 16, 3 p.m.
 
Organic Gardening
On a Budget
(Including Container & Square Foot Gardening)
March 30, 10 a.m. 
 
Homemade/Organic Pest Control
April 14, 10 a.m.
 
Composting
April 23, 9 a.m.
 
Water Harvesting & Irrigation
April 27, 9 a.m.
 
Garden Animals & Wildlife
May 12, 9 a.m.
Vegetable Varities
Recommended
For Louisiana
 
The LSU AgCenter recommends these varieties of vegetables for Louisiana gardens.  They all can be planted this month.
 
Lima Beans (Bush)
 
Henderson, Fordhook 242, Thorogreen, Jackson Wonder, Dixie Butterpea
 
Lima Beans (Pole)
 
Carolina Sieva, Florida Speckled, Willow Leaf, Christmas, King of Garden
 
Snap Beans (Bush)
 
Provider, Contender, Blue Lake 274, Royal Burgundy, Strike, Festina, Ambra, Magnum, Golden Rod Wax, Green Crop (flat), Roma II, Bronco, Hialeah, Storm, Derby (AAS), Valentino, Caprice, Dusky Grenable, Lynx, Nash, Shade
 
Snap Beans (Pole)
 
Kentucky Blue (AAS), McCaslin, Blue Lake, Volunteer, State, Louisiana Purple, Kentucky Wonder 191, Rattlesnake, Yardlong Asparagus Bean
 
Sweet Corn
 
Supersweet - Honey 'N Pearl (AAS), Summer Sweet 8101, 8102 or 7210, Ice Queen, XTender 378, 372, 270 or 282, How Sweet (AAS), Passion, Gold Queen, Accelerator
 
Enhanced Sweet - Silver King, Lancelot (BC), Precious Gem (BC), Sweet Ice, Argent, Bodacious, Incredible, Sweet Chorus (BC), Honey Select (AAS), White Out, Avalon, Temptation (BC)
 
Cucumbers
 
Slicers - Dasher II, General Lee, Thunder, Speedway, Poinsett 76, Slice More, Intimidator, Daytona, Rockingham, Taledega, Indy, Sweet Slice, Sweet Success(AAS), Fanfare (AAS), Diva (AAS), Salad Bush (AAS), Stone Wall
 
Picklers - Calypso, Fancipak, Jackson, Sassy, Vlasstar
 
Squash
 
Zucchini - Declaration II, Dividend, Independence, Payroll, Revenue,  Senator, Tigress, Spineless Beauty, Gold Rush (AAS), Justice III, Cash Flow, Leopard
 
Straight Neck - Cougar, Enterprise, Goldbar, Liberator III, Multipik, Patriot II, Superpik, Fortune
 
Crook Neck - Destiny III, Dixie, Gentry, Prelude II, Supersett, Medallion
 
Scalloped - Sunburst, Peter Pan, Patty Green
 
Tomatoes
 
Vine Type - Big Beef (AAS), Champion, Terrific, Better Boy, Jet Star, Creole, Husky, Gold, Sun Gold, Pink Girl
 
Bush Type - Amelia, Floralina, Crista, Celebrity (AAS), Bella Rosa, Mountain Fresh Plus, Mountain Spring, Mountain Crest, BHN 640 and 669, Carolina Gold, Florida 47, Floralina
 
Heat Tolerant - Florida 91, Phoenix, Sun Leaper, Sun Chaser, Sunmaster, Solar Set, Heatwave II, Solar Fie, Talladega
 
Others - Cherry Grande, Brixmore, Small Fry, Mountain Belle, Cupid, Jolly, Navidad, Juliet (AAS), Sweet Million, Elfin, BHN 685 Roma, Muriel Roma, Smarty Grape, Picus Roma, Marcelina Cherry, Sun Gold Cherry
  
Garden Crop of the Month
Maize
Much of the world knows corn by "maize," a derivative of the Spanish "maiz."  No matter what you call it, this grain domesticated in prehistoric times by people in Mesoamerica has been a staple in the human diet for several thousand years.
 
It's also a favorite of spring gardeners, who already can almost taste the hot-buttered sweet corn that will be available in May and June. 
 
Corn is the most widely grown grain crop in the United States (and the world) with a harvest of some 330 million metric tons annually.  About 40 percent of that is used to make ethanol.
 
In its natural, non-hybridized form, maize somewhat resembles bamboo and grows to a height of nearly 40 feet.  A standard of about eight feet has been developed for field corn, and sweet corn is usually shorter.
 
A healthy ear of corn usually contains between 200 and 400 kernels and matures at four to 10 inches in length.  Kernels can be  black, blue, purple, green, red and white in addition to the familiar yellow.
 
Domestication of maize is thought to have started between 7,500 and 12,000 years ago. 
 
Native Americans planted corn in a symbiotic system known as Three Sisters.  Corn stalks provided support for climbing beans, and the beans delivered nitrogen to the corn through nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria that live on bean roots.  Squash was planted around the maize and beans to provide ground cover that inhibited weeds and reduced moisture evaporation from the soil.
 
Corn is a major source of starch and cooking oil, and it can be treated to produce corn syrup and grain alcohol, a traditional source of Bourbon whiskey.
 
Maize is widely used in biofuel production, and it also is burned in specially designed home heating stoves.
 
For most of us, though, corn is one of the simple pleasures of the palate in late spring and early summer.

 

Central Louisiana

Herb Society

 

 

Are you interested in herbs?  If so, you should consider membership in the Central Louisiana Herb Society.

 

The group, which was established in 1999, meets the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. in the Cascade Room of Rapides Women's and Children's Hospital.

 

Anyone who wants to learn more about herbal history, culinary and medicinal use, aromatherapy, cosmetics, and growing herbs is welcome.

 

Dues are $25 annually.  Members receive a plant or dried herb, herbal refreshments, and informational handouts at each meeting.  Additional information is available at www.cenlaherbsociety.com.

 

The group has donated a variety of herb seedlings to grow in the Good Food Project community garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Help!
Volunteers Needed
 
There are multiple opportunities to assist in growing the Good Food Project year-round community garden at 3223 Baldwin Ave. in Alexandria.
 
The only thing necessary is enthusiasm.  Gardening experience is not required.
 
Volunteers may participate in planting, harvesting, soil preparation, composting, pruning, weeding, watering, landscaping, building projects, general maintenance and other needs.
 
Individuals, families, groups and students are welcome to tend -- and learn -- in the Good Food Project demonstration garden.  Please contact Lori Garton at [email protected] or 445-2773 for more information about volunteer activities.
 
Produce from the garden is distributed to Food Bank clients.
 
We earnestly appreciate your help!
 
Sustainable Garden
  Tip of the Month

Let your winter crops flower!
 
Some people call it bolting, but after your winter greens and cold crops are done for the season -- or it gets too warm for their liking -- they flower in preparation for making seeds.
 
It's our first instinct to rip them out of the garden and get ready for the next crop.  But wait ... leave those flowers for a week or two.
 
This will encourage beneficial insects like pollinators and predators to your garden. Anything you can do to increase the biodiversity in your plot will help you in the future.
 
Besides, they look pretty, and if you can wait a little longer you might just get free seeds.

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