The Community Resources Connection, Inc. 2022-2023 Community Garden Award has been announced. NOLA Artist Incubator was among six applicants from Louisiana and South Carolina selected as awardees. Cultivating the Community Garden Award aims to assist organizations purchasing garden supplies to increase availability of fresh fruits and vegetables within underserved communities. With shared goals to increase access to local fresh healthy foods and food choices within food insecure communities, we are elated to have been given the opportunity to transform the Galvez Garden and have funding for tools to provide organically grown produce to the St. Roch community.

With these funds we intend to purchase:

One U-shaped bed and worm composter to serve as a demonstration garden; six metal raised garden bed kits and an arched trellis system for growing vegetables; soil for the garden beds; a pallet of garden stones for growing medicinal herbs; a fund to purchase established plants to increase fruit production and jumpstart our efforts. The materials will be arranged intentionally to protect seedlings, save seeds, propagate plants, and provide education on food production, safety, nutrition, and preservation. With the addition of these materials we envision two-thirds of the property being devoted to food production. Finally we will have funds for seeds, starter plants, fertilizer, and edible plants. Additional fruit trees will be planted, as well as compact edibles that thrive in small spaces yet don’t sacrifice taste and yield. We are thrilled for the opportunity and up to the task to help make our community stronger through offering shared resources we grow at Galvez Garden.

This project is made possible with support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) —Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Community Resources Connection (CRC) Inc.