Gloria’s Garden – 2017 Grant Update

Gearing up for the 4th of November, due to the donations of BWB, Gloria has already put 80 more plants in the garden. By the time of the festival, she’ll have her collards, cabbage, peppers, peas and many more for sale!

Project Update from Go Fund Me

The first day I met Gloria in her garden she told me that she wanted to design a  space for regular farmers markets in the Treme.  She described rows of field peas that would be woven into lattices overhead, walkways lined with petunias, and hangout spaces for community feedings and music circles. 

Since Hurricane Katrina, the Treme has been without fresh and affordable produce.  The Claiborne Corridor, once known for its bustling markets, community spaces and plant life, was hit hard by crisis and tragedy capitalism.  Though millions of dollars has been raised for the development of the area, little to none of that investment has been seen by local businesses and residents.

So we decided to put on a market that would directly address the needs of local residents, as well as support local businesses that have otherwise been excluded from the growing economy of New Orleans because of gentrification and other exploitative practices.

In preparation for the farmers market and festival, we had 100 or more volunteers from groups like Burners without Borders, Camp Restore, Channel 4 news and more, come by and help plant, paint murals and construct chairs and tables for the garden. 

We will be putting on regular farmers markets over the coming months, and there’s much work to be done and funds to be raised in the process!

Here are a few of the expenses we will have to cover to keep the garden growing and build in the community:

*Gardening tools/Landscaping materials: (organic dirt, mulch, quick dry concrete, wheelbarrows, shovels, seeds, etc)
*Lighting, sound, tech rental for events
*Promotion and brand management
*Insurance and liability
*Kits and tools for students

We are looking forward to our monthly farmers markets and festivals, and to support the community that helped us grow.  We intend to have a festival every first Saturday of the month, involving live entertainment, arts and crafts for children and community sessions and workshops.  The next one will be Saturday, December 2nd.  Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this, and for supporting our budding garden.  You can find out more about our efforts in Louisiana by looking up Louisiana Burners without Borders on facebook.

-Kaya
Volunteer Coordinator, Burners without Borders
Co organizer, Treme Farmers Market and Festival
[email redacted]
Louisiana Burners without Borders