THE OUTREACH CENTER SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR GARDEN WORKDAY
LAFAYETTE, La. - The Outreach Center, a local non-profit social services agency, is seeking volunteers to take part in a Garden Workday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 4 at its downtown Lafayette campus.
In addition to the recovery programs, shelters and case management services helping people rebuild their lives, the Outreach Center has recently expanded its New Leaf Garden into a social enterprise and to support the initiative, will be hosting a series of garden workdays scheduled for the first Saturday of each month. Currently the Outreach Center's clients are laying the framework by participating in garden therapy every Tuesday and Thursday, gaining valuable therapeutic benefits while witnessing the growth of something they planted. With the help of resident clients, community volunteers and a horticulturalist, flowers, vegetables, fruits and herbs are grown to be sold to local businesses and for use in meals at the shelters. At the Outreach Center they don't plant a garden to grow plants, they plant a garden to grow people.The organization invites individuals, families and groups to participate in all or part of the October 4 Garden Workday. Some of the gardening activities planned include: weeding and pruning, harvesting produce, laying pinestraw and general garden maintenance. Refreshments and garden tools will be provided, but volunteers should bring their own gloves. In case of rain on October 4, the Garden Workday will be rescheduled for October 11.
The organization invites individuals, families and groups to participate in all or part of the October 4 Garden Workday. Some of the gardening activities planned include: weeding and pruning, harvesting produce, laying pinestraw and general garden maintenance. Refreshments and garden tools will be provided, but volunteers should bring their own gloves. In case of rain on October 4, the Garden Workday will be rescheduled for October 11.The Outreach Center's New Leaf Garden is located at 125 S. Buchanan St. in downtown Lafayette. For directions, more information or to sign up as a Workday volunteer, please contact Rachel Adams, Life Enrichment Coordinator, at (337)237-7618 ext. 221 or email [email protected].
The New Leaf Garden is a place where the community can escape the pressures of their daily lives and experience the 
therapeutic effects of planting, growing and harvesting an organically grown garden.
Working with a certified horticulturist, clients help with garden duties, such as creating raised beds, watering, fertilizing, weeding, composting, planting and harvesting.
The garden is filled with seasonal vegetables and herbs, as well as a few fruit trees. Outreach Center clients reap the bounty of the garden and incorporate the healthful fresh produce into their daily meals.
Currently we have:
- Expanded the garden to include an herb and flower garden
- Established a social enterprise using home-grown herbs and flowers
- Established a business plan to commission clients to grow and deliver products
Ongoing Projects:
- Hosting workdays to build new garden beds
- Selling to local, downtown restaurants & businesses
- Selling herbs and flowers at Hub City Farmer's Market
To get involved, as a volunteer, or to donate garden supplies, please contact Rachel Adams, Life Enrichment Coordinator at (337) 237-7618.
 |  |  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Your Donation will Help Transform Lives
|
|  |
