Tuesday: ARC Community Garden

Our kids discovered today what hard work farming is. We worked at a community garden run by ARC. It was amazing. The site of this farm is as unique in itself the workers. The site was a Catholic Church prior to Katrina. After the storm the place was 18 feet under water. As the waters receded the Catholic diocese decided not to rebuild & reopen as too many people were gone. So they leveled the sanctuary. Now the ARC - a group that works to help & employ adults with special needs - has leased the land & where a church once stood a beautiful organic farm is taking shape. The gentleman in charge of the farm is amazing. He has a degree in Ecology & uses this knowledge to develop this difficult ground. All the employees are special needs & he loves them. They each earn a paycheck for their work. They grow veggies & herbs & flowers & fruit trees. They compost & make their own fish fertilizer. No pesticides no dangerous fertilizers. Amazing. Our group worked side by side with their workers pulling weeds from over grown flower beds & veggie rows. It was so hot & the sun was relentless but those kids never gave up. They did a great job. We even planted ginger before we left. Our backs are tired, our knees are sore but I think God is well pleased.