Garden on Marais

Signs of Life

2012-01-26T10:59:00.000-08:00

So, we've been planting plants and scattering seeds!

This is Kayla (me) scattering alfalfa sprout seeds. :)

Here is Amy propagating Salvias.

A Table of Grace

2011-11-30T08:07:00.000-08:00

November twentieth was a joyous day at Garden on Marais. We gathered around the table with our neighbors, church family, and friends to celebrate life, the gift of land and the gift of fellowship.

As the kids were lathering pine cones in peanut butter and bird seed the adults conversed over hot lunch and great music! Thanks to Steam Boat Willie and his crew for creating an atmosphere of dance and second-lining.

As I work at the garden this week the pine cone bird feeders spread throughout are a beautiful reminder of the joy and laughter that filled the garden space. I look forward to many more days of celebration with our neighbors, friends, and family.

Thanks to everyone who made this day a possibility!

Grace and Peace,
Kayla Marie

Hear Ye ,Hear Ye

2011-10-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

The hoop house is complete!! Many thanks to Matt, Mickey, and Ramesh who are members of Family Life Assembly of God in Pittsburgh Kansas. Lead by His Hands 2 Go director, Larry Swift, the team worked efficiently and professionally to put this beauty together! Also a big thanks to Cody Swift and Brother Thomas Emery for lending a helping hand in these efforts.

Photo:NY/Cody Swift

Takin care of Business

2011-10-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

Garden on Marais is in Cahoots with two groups of students from Delgado Community College. Lead by Lesli Fumar the students are putting together a business plan for the garden site. Here are a few photos from their site visit.

[en-thoo-zee-az-uhm]

2011-10-05T08:32:00.000-07:00

This just in, the hoops for the hoop house are in place! Thanks to a team of guys from Family Life Assembly of God,Kansas. They have made five trips to New Orleans starting in the year 2006 to participate in the rebuilding of this beautiful city. Stay tuned for updates on the progression of our hoop house structure.

Raindrops

2011-09-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

Announcing the arrival of our rain water cistern!!! This green monster holds 2,500 gallons of water to be used for the garden site. Thanks to the fellas from Entergy for helping us unload. They just happened to be near our site when the delivery man showed up.

Outreach Tulane

2011-09-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

A crew of Tulane students arrived in a sunny yellow bus this past Saturday morning to help out with some work needing completion on the garden site. They filed off of the bus not quite knowing what to expect, but got to work straightaway. It was exciting to have the property bumbling with folks cleaning up, re-establishing our compost, and preparing fence pieces for further installation.

A great big thanks goes out to all of the students with Outreach Tulane!

Hoop House

2011-08-01T13:12:00.000-07:00

Things are coming along on our garden site! The fence post are installed as well as the foundational poles for the hoop house. A hoop house is just what the name suggests, a series of large hoops in our case made of metal covered with a layer of greenhouse plastic. The plastic will be stretched over the poles to create sheltered space in which to grow baby plants!

Two teams with His Hands 2 Go accomplished quite a bit in the last two weeks. Our thanks go to folks from Georgia and Illinois. Your work is much appreciated!

I saw the sign..

2011-06-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

Today we painted a sign!

take note that the sign says 'coming soon' :)

This is Jessica, she helped paint the sign.

Our last task of the day included dumping lots of nitrogen onto the compost pile. It has been raining so it's breaking down a little better.Coffee grounds courtesy of Pj's coffee at the Saulet!

nom, nom, nom

Cast your vote!

2011-06-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone! :)

Garden on Marais is in the running for a five hundred dollar grant, presented by the Crescent City Farmers Market here in New Orleans.The grant will be awarded to the group with the most votes. You can cast your vote online today by following this link,
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BRZVH5V

Voting will close this Tuesday,tomorrow, June 7th at 8 am.

After online voting ends we can vote in person at the Crescent City Farmers Market.Here is a list of their times and locations.Stop by the market, enjoy fresh produce and vote for us!!

Tuesday 9am-1pm at 200 Broadway

Thursday 3pm-7pm at 3700 Orleans Avenue

Saturday 8am-12noon at 700 Magazine

Grey skies smiling at me,

Kayla Marie

Located Connections

2011-05-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

Some mornings I welcome the sunshine while grinding, brewing and serving coffee at a local cafe.A few months ago,after serving up a hot cup of happiness I found myself in conversation with a pleasant cafe patron. I began talking with her about the Garden, sharing hopes along with plans. Her eyes lit up, "You should contact Ben with the Urban Design Department at UNO. I'm sure he would be interested in helping out!"

We are now working along side Ben and a few of the students in his Urban Design class. This past semester two presentations were given. Valuable information was provided along with encouraging visual models of the garden site itself.

We will continue to work with students in the Urban Design class through the summer.

Many thanks for the connections and the connectors!

Here is a visual from their presentations, courtesy of Kelly Landrieu.

Black and Gold

2011-04-04T13:49:00.000-07:00

I recently attended a vermicompost workshop at HollyGrove Market and Farm led by the lovely Lena Tenenbaum. Vermicompost is simply another form of composting with the inclusion of worms.Lena has a love for worms and shared valuable information. One of the first things she said to the group with a smile on her face, "Worms are amazing, they breathe through their skin. So, it is important that we wet our hands before touching them."

Why is it that keeping a colony of worms on our homestead is a great idea? There are numerous reasons,one of the most beneficial being the waste that they produce after eating your kitchen scraps. Many gardeners refer to it as black gold. I'm not sure if these red wigglers are Saints fans, but they are surely on the defense for your home garden. The waste they produce after noshing on your left-over food material acts as a natural pest deterrent when placed in your garden!

Vermicomposting is also something you can do on a very small scale, which is nice for those of you who live in small spaces.

If you are interested in starting your own worm farm Lena recommended a book entitled, Worms Eat my Garbage, author being Mary Appelhof.

Happy Composting!

Kayla Marie

Garden on Marais Workday

2011-03-03T10:06:00.000-08:00

As I blogged about in my previous post, a few weeks ago we gathered to construct our first of several compost bins. With all the help we had we were able to get it done in no time at all!

We're happy to have a video to show you:

Isn't that great?

Thanks to everyone that came out and provided invaluable help. Our compost bins will produce the soil we need to support a sustainable system. As we're creating this fresh and fertile material we are forming the foundation of a successful Neighborhood Garden.

Kayla Marie

Makin' Dirt

2011-02-14T18:27:00.001-08:00

"They're making more people every day, but they aint makin any more dirt." -Will Rogers

Did you know in about seventy years, if we continue to use the same agricultural processes, all of our top soil resources will be depleted? This. is.not.good. Being a wise steward of what we have been given includes considering generations to come, no?

Last Wednesday a handful of us met at the garden site to construct a compost bin! Why? To make more dirt! With about eight wooden pallets, some nails,screws, and the handi-work of neighbors and friends we were able to build a sound structure in no time.

This day was the highlight of my week. Ron Dufor brought a pot of soup and Sister Betty sang us a few songs. Little Harmony rode around in the wheel barrow and played with the pups while her mama, aunt, and uncle worked diligently to clean up grass clippings, to later be poured into the bin. Trevor came by to catch some of the action on film, which you will be able to view soon. A few neighbors visited and expressed their enthusiasm about Garden on Marais. The 'Elan team was present, problem solving, and working hard. And lastly a lady in red brought her mad shoveling skills and garden experience. For all of you I am thankful. We are once again, one step closer.

With dirt in my fingerprints and a smile upon my lips,

Kayla Marie

A Time to Sing Along

2011-01-26T10:40:00.000-08:00

Today we kick off the Sponsor a Square Foot Campaign! This is an opportunity for folks near and far to get involved. Our goal is to implement Phase One by March 5th, 2011. This includes installing a rain water catchment system and amending the soil. In addition we will debut our first fruits: citrus trees and berry bushes. Total cost of Phase One is $3,000.

Here's how it works. Garden on Marais is a ten thousand square foot piece of land. Each square foot being worth one dollar. One dollar invested has potential to yield six dollars of produce! A worthy investment indeed. The benefits of neighborhood garden are numerous. Some of them being food security, and the creation of a beautiful space for fellowship and celebration.

If you would like to sponsor Garden on Marais you can do so by check, or through PayPal. Donations by check should be addressed to 'Elan Ministries, Inc. with Garden on Marais in the memo line, mail to 2613 N. Miro Street New Orleans, LA 70117. Every donation is greatly appreciated.

Be sure to check back for updates on our Sponsor a Square Foot Campaign!

Grace to you from our Father

Kayla Marie

Hope

2011-01-11T13:53:00.000-08:00

A happy new year wish to you and yours!

There's much in store for Garden on Marais in 2011. In just about a week we're kicking off our Sponsor a Square Foot campaign! Stay tuned for details.

"Hope is for that which is unseen."

Endure

2010-10-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

It is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all.

A crow, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water; but when the crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he found that only very little was left in it, and that he could not reach far enough down to get at it. He tried, and he tried, but at last had to give up in despair. Then a thought came to him, and he took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it in the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. At last, at last, he saw the water mount up near him, and after casting in a few more pebbles he was able to quench his thirst and save his life.

Little by little does the trick.

Aesop's Fable - The Crow and the Pitcher

Oak Leaf Mennonite Farm

2010-08-19T13:11:00.000-07:00

Last week we had the privilege of visiting Oak Leaf Farm in Atlanta. We were greeted with fluttering butterflies and gorgeous zinnias.

Our thanks goes to Geoffrey Grosguth for spending time answering questions and showing us around the farm. Surrounded by flourishing vegetables and productive flowers we chatted about the structure of a farm ministry, crop covers and methods of preparing the land.

We will continue to stay in touch with those at Oak Leaf Farm. They are part of a most important work in their city.

http://oakleafmennonitefarm.wordpress.com/

Grace

2010-08-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

A few months ago six mounds of dirt were piled high on our property. It seems someone thought our land was a suitable dumping ground. These piles became an obstacle for us, but have now been knocked down and cleaned out! It turns out the dirt is free of any toxins and worked well for filling in low spots on our property.

A group of us gathered on the tenth of July to take on the piles of dirt and clean up any debris lying around. Everyone put in their best efforts. The Garden on Marais work day was a success. The land is now free of debris and ready to be tilled and amended.

My gratitude goes to everyone who helped out with this large step towards Garden on Marais taking shape.

Encouraged

2010-07-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out for the survey day!

It seems that quite a few of our neighbors are enthusiastic about Garden on Marais taking root. Many of the people we conversed with expressed that they were looking forward to investing in a neighborhood garden.

This is good news!

Adam

2010-06-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." Genesis 2:15

What do you suppose this means? Does this provide implications for how we should live today?

It seems to me this passage from Genesis provides a glimpse of human harmony with creation, rather than dominance over it. It is important to understand that the Hebrew for the words work and take care of can also be translated into serve and protect. We are created to serve and protect creation. God created us in His image, therefore we are to care for His land as He would.

This concept can be a bit overwhelming considering the destruction of the earth that occurs everyday. Start small, what can you do to promote creation care in your homes and neighborhoods? Here are a few suggestions that don't take a whole lot of effort, but can make a difference.

* Replace 5 regular light bulbs with compact flourescent or LED energy saving bulbs. If every home in America did this, we could save energy equivalent to 21 coal burning power plants!
-creationcareforpastors.com

* Turn off the water when you are not using it. A simple concept we learned in elementary that is easy to forget.
- creationcareforpastors.com

* Begin to grow a few plants in your backyard or on your front porch. The connectedness to land that is created simply from caring for your own food promotes thanksgiving and praise.

* Start a small group to investigate the significance of creation care and environmental stewardship

"The power of God is present at all places, even in the tiniest leaf...God is currently and personally present in the wilderness, in the garden, and in the field." Martin Luther

Restore

2010-05-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

Sow for yourselves righteousness reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your fallow ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes and showers His righteousness on you. - Hosea 10:12 TNIV

If we turn to God, He stands ready to restore us to Himself. The promise of refreshing rain that will end drought and cause growth awaits.

Zoe

2010-05-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

This land is fallow, but amongst this land I see life.

I went over to our Garden on Marais yesterday to collect what I hope to be the last of the dirt we need for testing. Halfway through, Benjamin's and my labors I left him to his pick ax and picked up my camera. I captured a few frames to share with you what I see. The land is filled with weeds and the soil has not been broken since Hurricane Katrina. In the thick of these weeds I came across wild flowers and wild onions! Within this foul land there remains beauty and life!

Joy filled my heart as I shot photos and felt reawakened to the possibilities for our garden. Sure it is only a quarter of an acre, but a quarter of an acre filled with vegetables, fruit, and perhaps a brood of hens! Just imagine a land that provides space for our community to gather around the table to enjoy recently harvested food and fellowship.

I leave you with a quote:

"There is no spot of ground however arid, bare, or ugly that cannot be tamed into such a state as may give an impression of beauty and delight." - Anonymous

Sing Along

2010-05-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

It started with a dream and a yearning for simplicity. A few years ago the Elan Ministries staff gathered around the table as we often do to dream, pray, and fellowship. Inspired by our neighbors and a book we'd been studying together, we began to discuss the possibility of a community center and garden. At the close of our meeting we thanked God for His provision and trusted His spirit for guidance. Two years later, but who's counting, this dream is forming into a reality. The passion for accessible nutrient rich foods, a peace in our community, and the restoration of our land still burns bright.

We hope to honor our Lord with our methods of growing, teaching, harvesting and gleaning.

Stay tuned for additional thoughts on the Biblical support for redemption of land, community, and humankind. And most certainly keep your eyes peeled for updates on the status of Garden on Marais.

Help us to sing along, a new redemption song.