Description
EarthShare Gardens is dedicated to producing organic food to address local issues such as food justice, environmental sustainability, horticultural therapy and education, supporting the local economy, and making fresh, organic produce available to members of the Lafayette community.
Our current projects include:
CSA Garden - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)provides the anchor for EarthShare Gardens, both financially and community-wise. This garden,
located on Holy Rosary Institute property, provides a connection for local community members to their food source in an environmentally and globally safe way. The produce from this garden is sold in shares through subscription at the beginning of the season, then is distributed equally among the shareholders at regular intervals throughout the season. The CSA provides financial stability to our non-profit, so that we may focus on the non-income-generating projects we're developing.
Donation Garden - St. Josephs Donation Garden was created in the Fall of 2006 to provide fresh, organic, and nutritionally sound produce to St. Josephs Diner.
Market Garden - EarthShare is the recipient of a shared $15,000 grant from Southern University's Center for Rural Initiatives, and we are utilizing their funds to kick off our 'market' garden by planting 1/2 acre of vegetables to be sold in EarthShare's neighborhood, providing the residents of that area with fresh, organic produce that may not be found in their grocery stores.
Educational Garden - In partnership with the Volunteers of America, EarthShare Gardens provides support and technical assistance to the Volunteers of America alternative school garden. The students learn backyard vegetable growing techniques, care for their garden weekly and harvest the fruits when ready. They are then free to take home the produce for dinner or preserving.
Horticultural Therapy Garden - New Leaf Garden is operated by a volunteer on location at Acadiana Outreach Center (AOC). The participants learn (or re-learn) backyard vegetable growing techniques and are provided a safe space to heal themselves spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Horticultural Therapy primarliy addresses five aspects of healing: community and cooperation, learning skills, physical exercise and sunshine, and nutrition.
