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- St. Martinville Launches 'Blessing Box' for Free Seed Distribution and Gardening Resources
Writer: Jessica Randazzo, LSU AgCenter, jrandazzo@agcenter.lsu.edu
Saint Martinville, LA – Local St. Martinville Garden Club partnered with the St. Martin Parish Library and LSU AgCenter to create a gardening themed blessings box.
The beautifully crafted box contains seed packets, healthy recipes, growing instructions, egg cartons to start seeds in, seed donation envelopes, and an instruction binder. All seed starting supplies and resources are free to the public.
Monique McBride, chairman of St. Martinville Garden Club, wanted to have something where the community could receive free information and items on gardening when they visited our local library.
“I saw a blessing box for food in a commercial and said, ‘why can’t [the St. Martinville Garden Club] create a box for seeds, garden items and gardening information?’” said McBride. “This is helping our community get involved in their own yards, by beautifying their town with flowers and growing their own vegetables.”
McBride contacted high school carpentry teacher Kyle Poirier to help build the box. The class brought the vision to life by building and painting the box.
St. Martinville Garden Club did not let initial lack of funding slow them down. After getting information from the LSU AgCenter’s Healthy St. Martin Coalition about grant opportunities, the club secured funding for seed packets.
“Although we couldn’t buy the seeds, I sent them some grants opportunities and donation sources and they really ran with it,” said Jessica Randazzo, LSU AgCenter nutrition agent. “After the blessings box was installed, I was able to provide some AgCenter recipes and gardening pamphlets to put in it.”
According to Charlar Brew, Library Director, the Blessing Box is indeed valuable. “As soon as baskets are filled with seeds, within a few days, they are all gone. It has shown to be a blessing for those who need it, and offering for those who donate.” Said Brew. The library is hoping to start seeing seeds donated to replenish supplies.
St. Martinville Garden Club, St. Martin Parish Library and Healthy St. Martin Coalition invite the public to a ribbon cutting for their Blessing Box June 7th at 12:00pm at St. Martinville Branch Library (201 Porter St, St Martinville, LA 70582).
For more information about nutrition education opportunities through the LSU AgCenter, contact Randazzo at jrandazzo@agcenter.lsu.edu.