A new community garden opened at the Jewel Newman Community Center in Scotlandville, addressing food insecurity in North Baton Rouge.
Metro Councilman Anthony Kenney, who represents District 2, said the Scotlandville Community Garden will allow community members to grow their own vegetables, fruit, and plants.
“Scotlandville, North Baton Rouge, and this corridor has been facing food insecurity for a very long time,” Kenney said.
The garden will be integrated into the center’s summer camp programming as a course for children. Kenney said the project aims to teach residents how to garden at home.
LSU and Southern partnership
LSU and Southern University are partnering on the project. Kenney said the universities reached out to his office to collaborate on battling food insecurity in North Baton Rouge.
“We’re very excited that two of our premier institutions, not just for the community garden, right, our partner in my office in this community center, so how they can support these residents to be healthy, battle food insecurity, right, but also understand, you know, how can they live a better and healthier lifestyle in their households and for their families,” Kenney said.
The universities’ agricultural centers will educate participants about proper gardening timelines.
Garden club and participation
The center will launch the Scotlandville Community Garden Club for residents of all ages. Club members will plant and maintain their own plots, visiting during the week while the center is open.
Kenney said joining the club provides an educational component, though membership is not required to participate.
The center is accepting donations of money and gardening supplies. Kenney said the center is collaborating with local organizations to secure donations.
Long-term plans
Kenney said a long-term goal is to supply fresh produce to incoming grocery stores in the area. The garden would serve as one of multiple sites growing produce for local stores.
The Jewel Newman Community Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information about donations or participation, call 225-775-3595.
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