Volunteer of the Month 

Growing up in College Station's sister city, Bryan, TX, Jackie Duncan never dreamed she would end up living in Tiger Country... and love it. Receiving her undergraduate degree in Accounting from Texas A&M, Jackie worked as an accountant for an oil and gas company, but after 14 years of working in an office, she had enough. "I didn't want to live in concrete and air conditioning for the rest of my life," Jackie explained. "So I went back to school and got a degree in forestry," she continued. In 1991 that degree landed her a job with the U.S. Forestry Service which brought her to the Pelican State. Jackie worked in the Kisatchie National Forest as a silviculturist until she retired this past December. "I've always been into nature. I enjoy backpacking, and I was a member of the Hiking Club, but I have a strong preference for plants," Jackie said. Well she came to the right place. Since she's been in Alexandria, Jackie has kept herself busy as the Treasurer of the Louisiana Native Plant Society, President of the Cajun Prairie Society, and a board member for the Louisiana Ornithological Society which promotes interest in the value of birds.

Now that she is retired, Jackie is able to focus on a true passion of hers that she has deliberated for many years- community gardens. In May of last year, she finally took action after being offered the use of the Unitarian Fellowship of Alexandria's backyard. "The biggest obstacle was finding land because that's what you need first. And after talking to members of my church about the project, they were eager to help me," Jackie explained. Soon after, the Elliot Street Community Garden was formed. Jackie's main drive for starting this garden was being able to help the people living in that community. She wants to provide them with fresh produce and a way to learn about sustainable living.

The Elliot Street Community Garden remains a work in progress, and Jackie still has much to learn in terms of gardening. Although spending her Wednesday's at the Good Food Project's demonstration garden has taught her a great deal. "Lori has been a great influence and has offered a lot of guidance. I've been able to carry over what I've learned from her to my fellow gardeners and put it into practice at the Elliot Street garden," Jackie said. "And Lori is all about organics which I have never really practiced, but after working with her and seeing the difference that it makes I refuse to use pesticides," she explained. Jackie views the Good Food Project as an extension of what she's doing. She uses the demonstration garden and the gardening workshops held at the Food Bank as a way to learn, and she wants to keep that connection going. Volunteering at the GFP has not only taught her a lot, but it's given her a place she enjoys coming to. "It's more than just work. It's pretty to go sit in a yard with plants that bare lush produce," Jackie said.

After getting involved with the Good Food Project and now taking on the Elliot Street Community Garden, Jackie is looking for more. "There are so many vacant lots around the city," Jackie explains. "My vision is to have little community gardens every 5 blocks. Even if it's in someone's backyard, that would be wonderful," Jackie continued. We are extremely fortunate to have someone like her who shares our same vision and is dedicated to helping people throughout the community. Luckily for us, Jackie has found Alexandria to be the friendliest city she has ever been to and has no plans to leave this place she has made her home.