The community will soon see plants in the garden at the Arcadia Community Garden.
Citizens for a Better Arcadia, in conjunction with the LSU AgCenter and Bienville 4-H, gave a seminar at the Bienville Parish Library, where participants actually seeded soil, some of which will be planted in the community garden around mid-April.
Children from Bienville 4-H, Crawford Elementary Gents and the National Honors Society were in attendance as well as other community members.
Megan Martin, Bienville Parish 4-H Chair, said they are excited about starting the community garden and the people it will help.
“We are here to be the resources as far as what needs to be planted when and where, and if it’s not working, we can figure out what to do,” she said, adding that participants would start the seed to get the plants growing.
Kyleigh Bass, Horticulture and Assistant Extension Agent for Bienville and Lincoln parishes, went over the benefits of an early harvest, family fun and growing your own food. She said seed starting could be done in cardboard egg cartons, empty cardboard paper towel holders, cell trays, newspapers, plastic trays and cleaned eggshells.
“Every time I grow my own food, I feel proud – it’s truly the product of your own labor,” she said.
Bass played a key role in assisting participants in planting their seeds while also discussing the benefits of growing fresh produce. She emphasized the importance of providing plants with full sunlight, watering them every other day or when the soil feels dry and placing a tray beneath the cardboard egg cartons to catch excess water, as the material is porous.
Once the seeds planted during the event have grown a bit, participants will contribute a portion of their vegetables to the community garden on First Street.
Seeds included cantaloupe, radishes, squash, zucchini, beets and red onion.
Additionally, two plum trees will be planted in the garden as part of the Town of Arcadia’s cleanup initiative, which aligns with Louisiana’s Love the Boot campaign. This event is scheduled for April 12, from 8am until 12pm.
The community garden was established to provide residents with access to fresh fruits and vegetables while also serving as an educational tool to promote healthier lifestyles. Thanks to the generous land donation from Peggy Wright, the space has been tilled and prepared for planting. Beyond its role in food production, the garden will serve as a welcoming space for community members to connect with nature
and enjoy the outdoors.