The Lower Ninth Ward Village is a community-driven, community-led, non-profit organization. This organization was founded in 2007, and has been working as a team since then. Their team consists of volunteers from all around. They are striving to bring community members together and teach them equitable qualities of living and to be self-sufficient. They focus on connecting the elderly and youth with services, and to provide them with care and guidance as a whole team.
The Lower Ninth Ward Village has paired with some students, known as the Magnolia Project, from Berkeley, California, who attend U.C. Berkeley. They will remain here for three weeks and have a ten year commitment with the Lower Ninth Ward. The students and the Lower Ninth Ward have come to Greensburg to perform their first gardening project on land that has been donated to them by Richard Johnson.
The team has planted several different fruits and vegetables, such as speckled butter beans, crowder peas, okra, several different types of squash, several different types of corn, watermelon, etc. After harvesting their crops, the team has intentions of bringing the goods back to New Orleans and opening a produce market for the community to buy, or trade other produce goods from them. In this way, the students are learning to provide for themselves and become self-sufficient.
According to the team they have enjoyed their experience of gardening here and are looking forward to harvest time. While working with their crops, they have also managed to enjoy some extra time for horseback riding on Mr. Johnson's farm. They have enjoyed learning these values of life.
The Lower Ninth Ward Village is hoping to start a group by the name of Village Kids to also teach them values and to help them stay on the right track in life. Any volunteers are welcome to join and for more information on the Lower Ninth Ward Village please feel free to contact at (504) 304-7868.
Photos by Tiffany Stewart
Post a Comment
