Sunday, August 29, 2010

A FARM GROWS IN NEW ORLEANS

Just when I think the weight of the ignorance, hate and corruption in this country will finally drag me into the depths of complete despair, a story or exchange will come to my attention and give me a glimmer of hope that all is not lost.
This morning it was the story of a farm rising from the ashes of the post Katrina Ninth Ward. Much of the Ninth Ward, the poorest area of New Orleans, remains scarred and abandoned by folks with too few resources and too little hope.

But take a few people like Brennan Dougherty, Kyle Meador and Donna Cavato, add a few youthful volunteers like Jake Feinman and Alex Epstein and a movement is born. On a recent weekend afternoon, the farm played host to a neighborhood festival. In the past, relief workers and volunteers would have outnumbered residents because so few had returned to the nearby streets. But on this day, dozens of locals attended.

These people have not formed an angry political mob nor are they a bunch of ineffectual “holier than thou” hypocrites. They have instead started a humanitarian effort that even has the drug dealers’ grudging respect. They have taken their trade elsewhere in order to increase the safety of the grown ups and children who operate the farm and the nearby Our School at Blair Grocery.

There is a large compost pile, fed largely by produce waste from a Whole Foods store that is nearly 15 feet tall and is called The Volcano. The farm not only raises organic produce and animals but it is a learning center for the area’s children who are gaining valuable lessons in proper nutrition and self sustenance.

"Growing good food is a lot like building a strong, diverse community," says Dougherty, who frequently conducts composting workshops. "Healthy food starts with rich soil. That's your foundation. Then you build up in layers. A strong community also needs a solid base. It requires diversity of materials, thought and action - the layers. Then you grow from within."

Our School at Blair Grocery: “Students are 15-19 year old African-American youth who have not found success in a traditional educational environment, and who need and deserve an engaging curriculum in a supportive environment. Our curriculum utilizes the best practices in education, offering learner-centered, outcome-based, transformative, place-based and feedback-driven teaching through experiential projects.”
There’s a lot of hope and joy in New Orleans these days.

Follow the link HERE to read the companion story.

Follow the link HERE to read about these innovative NOLA programs.

There are days when I think there is hope for the human race yet. Happy day everyone!

6 comments:

  1. I love this story. Thank you bringing a little ray of hope to your buds.

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  2. Wonderful post, thank you for sharing a story that reminds me that we can be better and that there is hope for us. This is such a great project.

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  3. My goodness... Not all is lost, indeed.

    Great kids.

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  4. If any of you get HBO, If God is Willing and the Creek Don't Rise is very enlightening and a little infuriating.

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  5. Rocky, Earl is coming your way. Head for cover!

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  6. The HBO documentary brings to light the longstanding ingrained policies and behaviors that made NOLA so vulnerable.
    Deep corruption is a way of life in much of LA. Katrina revealed their hidden poor folks delegated to areas out of sight by the levees far from the bright lights of Bourbon St.
    And America, or some of it at least, got a wake up call - all is NOT equal in this land of opportunity. But the school and farm represent the best of the human desire to survive and thrive and American ingenuity.
    I love this quote from Helen Keller: “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”

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