Green Around Acadiana | EarthShare Gardens

In an unassuming area on the outskirts of Lafayette, there's a "secret" garden, one that grows tons of organic produce almost year-round. This space is known as the EarthShare community garden, and it's been growing for more than 10 years - first in a space off Louisiana Avenue, and now off Renaud Road (with I-10 in the background).

EarthShare Gardens is a true community effort. Those interested in reaping the benefits of the garden's produce sign up to become members/shareholders before each season begins, but there's also the opportunity to offset your membership fee with a little sweat equity. EarthShare members can volunteer their time to tend to gardening needs and prepare each week's harvest for pickup.

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master gardener plantfest

This past Saturday, the first Master Gardener PlantFest was held at the Horse Farm in Lafayette.

It was a beautiful afternoon so we hopped on our bikes and rode over to check out the activities. I made sure to bring a reusable water bottle, since it was still a balmy 88 degrees and sunny.

It was wonderful to see such a large crowd of people in attendance, roaming between the vendors, farmers market, presentation tent, plant tents and the food tent.

Next to each trashcan was a clearly marked recycling bin.

All the plants were beautiful, and if I had room to bring more home – or a yard – I would have. There was a plant swap, but you could also simply buy plants. While I was walking around, I began talking to a woman from the LSU AgCenter, and I mentioned how I had limited gardening abilities since I'm confined to potted plants. She ended up giving me a plant someone had given to her, because she didn't have room for it herself. I walked away with a very cute small potted plant.

The Bayou Vermilion District was one of two groups giving away a rain barrel. I've yet to get a phone call, so I assume I didn't win. 

We stopped by the farmers market area, and while there wasn't much produce left by that time, I managed to get a full paper bag of fresh (and HUGE!) okra for one dollar. (Some of the okra went into a grilled salsa I made for the Saints party the next day, and the rest was grilled and went into my belly. Seriously, grilled okra with olive oil and seasoning is my new favorite.)

I also picked up a gorgeous necklace made by a local artist, so for being there for around an hour, I surely did well. Jewelry, okra, a plant and lots of business cards and flyers for different vendors and organizations.

I managed to squeeze the plant into my bike basket, and off we rode back home. 

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lafayette's master gardener plantfest

This coming Saturday, September 15, from 8am to 2pm, the Lafayette Parish Master Gardeners will be holding the first annual PlantFest at the Horse Farm in the middle of Lafayette.

There will be a plant swap, food by Jolie's Bistro, children's activities, a farmer's market, nature-inspired products, representatives from local green organizations (including Bayou Vermilion Preservation, EarthShare Garden and Keep Lafayette Beautiful), speakers and live music.

PlantFest is put on the Lafayette Parish Master Gardeners, LSU AgCenter, Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, Lafayette Consolidated Government and Jolie's Louisiana Bistro.

If you can, be sure to check PlantFest out and see the progress being made on the Horse Farm park! If you want a plant for your home, be sure to bring one with you for the swap. I'll be out there checking everything out and taking notes for a post next week. 

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repurposed

The want: A basil plant for endless supply of basil during the summer.
The need: A planter large enough for a basil plant to grow and not stay the same size.
The second want: An eco-friendly planter.
The problem: Lack of extra finances to buy things like large planters.

The random, ingenius solution: A recycling bin already sitting on my patio not being used in any way.

This was one of the easiest, most creative things I have thought of doing. Not only did it simply cost me $5 for two basil plants and $6 for a bag of potting soil, it took minimal effort. The recycling bin already has holes on the bottom, so it didn't require me to make holes. All I really had to do was clean it out, pour some soil, and add the plants.

This bin is from my parents' house back in the 90s, when recycling used to be separated for city collection. My dad kept the Glass bin for some reason, and I took it when I first moved out, because at the time, you couldn't drop glass off at the recycling drop-off locations, and I would bring the glass to my parents' to put in their bin. The drop-off system has changed since then, and I kept the bin without having a need for it.

So, a summary of how awesome eco-friendly this is: Bin used for recycling as far back as 20 years ago, bin repurposed to have a new life, having basil on hand for dishes eliminates extra spending, packaging and waste, and planter makes a dual eco-friendly statement.

A summary of how awesome, not necessarily eco-friendly, this is: I get the smell of basil any time I want!

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