Bossier Parish School for Technology and InnovationBossier Parish School for Technology and Innovation received $2,000 for its “Growing a Difference” project. This project will be centered around Agriscience students in middle and high school enrolled at BPSTIL. Students will learn about horticulture in the classroom, then apply that knowledge in a real-world setting by creating and maintaining hydroponics, aquaponics, wicking containers, greenhouses and raised bed gardening. The Master Gardeners will provide the items needed to aid in the use of the greenhouses, hydroponics systems and wicking systems.
"Teaching gardening to a new generation helps them learn about plants and nature and to hopefully open the door to a future in gardening and horticulture," said Michele Wiener, publicity chair for the Master Gardeners. "Being able to eat something a child planted and grew is eye-opening." |
Cedar Grove SDA ChurchCedar Grove SDA Church received $4,000 for its Community Garden project. The Cedar Grove church is planning a community garden. For more than 30 years, the small church has been committed to the challenges of improving the lives of residents. The church has many outreach programs and wants to expand into installing 20 raised beds that will provide the community with a beautiful green space while producing healthy home-grown food.
"There are many benefits of community gardening," Wiener said. "It can be a great source of exercise. It also promotes better health by exposing new gardeners to eating freshly grown produce. And it can boost not only physical health but mental health as well by bringing a sense of community involvement and belonging." |
The NWLA Master Gardeners launched the grant program in 2010 as a way to give back to the community after all the support given each year for its events -- Le Tour des Jardins, Fall Bulb Sale and Spring Plant Sale. The mission of the Master Gardeners is to educate the public about gardening and engage the community in horticultural pursuits. To date, it has donated more than $160,000 to the gardening community.
BPSTIL
Another productive day for the Ag department! Thanks to the NW Louisiana Master Gardeners grant, our department has been able to install 10 new garden beds, get all the mulch we could possibly need for the beds, continue to update our greenhouses and hydroponic systems and install solar automatic waterers for the gardens and greenhouses.