TARC’s Houma Grown will soon extend its operation to include the Houma Grown Market, a venue developed to give TARC individuals and local farmers the opportunity to sell their produce in the tradition of a farmerís market. The opening of the market will coincide with the Master Gardeners’ Bonne Terre Garden Fair on May 1.
The Houma Grown Market opens a large window of opportunity for TARC’s individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
The Master Gardeners have tilled land and assisted TARC individuals in planting crops in the soil. Together, they grow the vegetables used on the
campus to make products such as salsa and pepper jelly. Raised beds allow those in wheelchairs to participate in gardening as well.
In addition to gardening, the Hen House generates fresh farm eggs daily from over 50 hens donated to the coop. The TARC individuals have a hand in making sure those who appreciate a good omelet enjoy the eggs.
Nothing is wasted on TARC’s campus. In an effort to go green, Houma Grown now has a compost pile to produce fertilizer and to feed their chickens and worms.
Executive director Mary Lynn Bisland hopes the Houma Grown Market will help to provide meaningful jobs for the individuals with disabilities. The market is another retail location where the community can support the individuals, while the individuals provide foods and services the community needs.
The Master Gardeners understand the significance of such a partnership. The association was looking for a new venue to host the Bonne Terre Garden Fair. When they learned that TARC grows a spring garden on grounds large enough to host the fair, the benefits of a partnership seemed obvious.
“I think in helping them by making their garden look the best it can, we can help them grow,” says Cheryl Skinner, president of the La-Terre Master Gardeners.
The fair attracts between 800 and 1,000 gardeners each year and features over 70 master gardeners. The event educates gardeners on the newest developments and allows specialists to discuss horticultural topics. Dan Gill, a horticulturalist with the LSU Agricultural Center, will speak at the fair. There will also be a soil testing station where you can drop off your soil to be analyzed for a small fee.
