Earthshare Gardens

08/28/2024

Know anyone who loves to garden and grow food for others? If so, please share! Do you like plants, people, and promoting sustainable agriculture?! If so, please apply! Our google form has all the details and place to upload your resume.
https://forms.gle/8KsNvFVJfEWhvraW8

08/23/2024

Our fall CSA season will be starting next month! We'll have some delicious produce available, including eggplant, okra, Seminole pumpkin, and greens such as kale and chard.

🌱 We're still doing harvest and pick up on Sundays, but we are moving it to the afternoons. We hope you're able to join us! 🌻

https://www.earthsharegardens.org/signup

08/15/2024

Y'all check out this amazing opportunity to become a grower! The folks at Fightingville Fresh will provide guidance, training, and supplies so you can grow fresh food (and a business too!)

07/12/2024

Summer update since we've been MIA on social! It's been hot, y'all. Thank goodness for the rain and for members who are willing to adjust to an earlier schedule to beat the heat. 😊
We're also delighting in seeing the fruits of our labor and the joy it brings!

05/28/2024

Calling all growers and folks who are food-production-adjacent: Louisiana Small-Scale Agriculture Coalition has received funding to host a FREE workshop in the Acadiana/Lafayette area---to be held at Earthshare Gardens. Come learn about organic and sustainable agriculture techniques through hands-on and classroom learning. Registration link is here and in our bio. Please share with anyone who might be interested in a free workshop to increase knowledge and capacity to grow specialty crops using organic practices in south Louisiana. https://cleda.wufoo.com/forms/zpj2dzi19rt7y8/ (https://cleda.wufoo.com/forms/zpj2dzi19rt7y8/)

05/28/2024

We're so grateful for the seedling donations from one of the best nurseries in town
They have been planted, and we can't wait to harvest the peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes. Thank you for thinking of us, Marcus!!

If you want local, sustainably grown plants: Check out the Urban Naturalist, 216 Madison Street, Lafayette, La

05/02/2024

Happy SOLA Giving Day!
All donations to Earthshare Gardens will go towards site improvements needed to host farmer field days and workshops.

Check out our fundraiser page to learn more about what we're working on. https://www.solagivingday.org/organizations/earthshare-gardens

For even more info (including a job opening!), check out the link to our latest newsletter that's posted in the comments.

05/01/2024

We're wrapping up our spring season CSA on Sunday, May 5. We'll take a weekend off then launch the summer CSA on May 19. Interested in joining but not sure if it's right for you? Hopefully this breakdown will help. Reach out if you have questions 🌻

04/29/2024

We hope you'll participate in SOLA Giving Day by donating to help us renovate our community farm pavilion. Our much used gathering space/work space/distribution space needs some organization solutions and freshening up for improved functionality.

In addition to our Farm Incubator Program to support new farmers, starting in June 2024, we will host farmer field days and workshops! Your support makes it all possible.

https://www.solagivingday.org/organizations/earthshare-gardens

04/26/2024

It's going to be a beautiful weekend, y'all! Come visit us Sunday morning to see what's growing in the garden and to get some plants, honey, and more from Wilimena’s Backyard!

Hey there Acadiana,

One question I always get asked during markets is "where is your honey from? Is it really local?" Well, as many of you know, I sell the honey produced at Earthshare Gardens by one of their farm incubators Scott Wilson.

Every last Sunday of the month we have a meetup where one or more participants on the program there offering products and a chance to visit the fields and learn more about their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. So you can see where the honey is produced and the veggies are grown.

This Sunday, April 28th, you can come and join us at the farm from 10:30 to 12:30.

I hope to see you there! 🌻🐝🥒🥕

04/22/2024

Happy 🌎 Earth Day 🌎

We're grateful for the folks who produce with (and promote the use of) sustainable farming practices.
Thank you for protecting the environment and for feeding our communities.

You can support local growers who practice soil and water conservation techniques by shopping at farmer's markets like Fightingville Fresh

03/27/2024

We're hiring: CSA Farm Manager

Our wonderful CSA Manager, Ashley, will be leaving Earthshare to start her own homestead. It's bittersweet, but we're so proud of her accomplishments!

This is a part-time position. The CSA Manager plans, grows, and harvests food with and for CSA members.

Earthshare is a small operation, with one paid employee to manage the CSA program along with the help of volunteers and subscribing members. We generally have three 12-week seasons per year

Anyone interested in applying should email [email protected] to submit a statement of interest and a farming related resume.

03/24/2024

Y'all come check out the garden and shop with Wilimena’s Backyard and L4S Farms
We'll be here until 12:30 PM today (Sunday)

02/17/2024

We still have a few spots left for our Spring CSA (veggie subscription) pick-up beginning Sunday, February 18 or Sunday, February 25.
You can read about it in our latest newsletter! http://eepurl.com/iJ4x7c

02/07/2024

Looking to eat more greens like kale, spinach, and lettuce? Want a source for fresh, locally grown carrots, radish, beets, and turnips?
Sign up for a weekly or bi-weekly veggie subscription!

Our first pick-up is Sunday, February 18
https://www.earthsharegardens.org/signup

02/02/2024

Zero-Waste Chef has the best ideas, and is so right about buying local, from the source.

We'll have beets and lots of other root vegetables available for our spring season subscribers! Our 12-week spring CSA starts February 19, 2024.

Sign-up for your veggie subscription on our website: https://www.earthsharegardens.org/signup

I bought two bunches of large beets at the farmers' market and turned the beets and the greens of one bunch into a vat of borscht. (I use the stems like celery and add the greens to the borscht at the end of cooking.) Oh and with the beet peels and scraps, I started a small batch of beet kvass, a savory fermented drink that I'll put in my next pot of borscht. I still have all these beet greens, stems and beets left over.

All for $6, local and organic too. And $5.40 of that went directly to the farmer. When you buy directly, about 90 cents of every dollar goes to the farmer. At the grocery store, about 15 cents of every food dollar you spend goes to a farmer (14.9 cents actually, according to the USDA).

The vendor asked me if I wanted the tops. (Yes, please!) People often don't want the tops for a couple of reasons:

a) The greens are completely covered in soil.
b) They're not sure what to do with the greens.

Cleaning the greens does take a bit of time but once they're ready, you have the makings of a delicious, nutritious side dish, prepped and ready to go.

Here's how I'm cooking these today: I'll cut a bunch of the red ribs and sauté them with a chopped shallot in olive oil for about five minutes. Next, I'll add garlic slivers and salt, sauté for a minute and then add the greens, which will wilt quickly (a couple of minutes). Before serving, I'll drizzle on a bit of balsamic vinegar. Yum!

If you like beets, here is a borscht recipe: https://zerowastechef.com/2022/03/09/make-borscht-not-war-recipe-and-a-fundraising-update/
And here is a beet pickle recipe: https://zerowastechef.com/2018/07/25/waste-nothing-beet-pickles/

What do you do with beet greens?

12/17/2023

Today's the day to join us for The Farm Table at Earthshare: Gifts & Other Goodies
There will be some really great products available from our wonderful growers!

12/04/2023

Looking for locally grown/made gifts? Want to treat yourself? Definitely come on out to Earthshare Gardens and see what our friends will have at The Farm Table! This event is usually held on the last Sunday of the month, but this is a special holiday edition. There will be jams, jellies, sourdough starters, beeswax candles, aprons, honey, plants, turmeric, veggies, loofahs, spices, and more.

11/18/2023

Have you been out to Earthshare Gardens lately? If not, definitely come check us out! We're giving site tours, and is having another plant sale on Sunday 11/19/23 (10:30-12:30)! On another note: We're also offering half season CSA shares right now (three to six harvest pick-ups instead of the usual six to twelve). Reach out if interested, and we'll get you set up.

11/17/2023

We appreciate the video and story published by The Current
Check it out if you haven't yet!

11/11/2023

More wonderful things happening at Fightingville Fresh!

10/28/2023

10/17/2023

The weekday market is today!

Have you checked out our partners and participants at Fightingville Fresh? If not, you're missing out!

Support local growers and producers by shopping at Fightingville Fresh

Tuesdays 3 PM -- 5 PM
Saturdays 1 PM -- 4 PM

10/12/2023

It's , y'all!

We're grateful for all the folks who invest in sustainable agriculture and grow the local food movement in Acadiana. We especially want to thank our CSA Growers and Incubator Farmers for ensuring that fresh, nutrient dense food is grown for our community!

Check out some recent garden photos and information on our programming!

Our Incubator Farmers:
L4S Farms
Wilimena’s Backyard

Our CSA Growers:
Ashley Deshotel
Jessica Hoyt Menard

10/06/2023

Volunteering with us is a great way to work up an appetite for the gumbo warning this weekend.
You might even get to leave with some scallions for ya pot! 😍😋😆

10/05/2023

Great afternoon activity, and will be even more enjoyable with the upcoming cool front!

10/05/2023

We hate having to post something like this. Glass recycling drop offs when we aren't open is littering! Please just don't.
We have a great system in place to turn your empty bottles into useful & beautiful materials. Stop by during our 2 weekly markets - Saturdays 1-4p & Tuesdays 3-5p.
We would love to see them as sand, glitter, beach glass, and all the amazing things that BackYard Sapphire comes up with.
Our market managers would love to tell you all about it!

10/03/2023

We still have shares available for the fall season FSA! You can begin pickups as early as Sunday, October 8 or you can opt to start Sunday, October 15.

https://www.earthsharegardens.org/signup

Members can expect their first pickup of the season to have noodle beans, collard greens, cucumbers, okra, peppers, and scallions. As the weather continues to cool, our growers will be sowing turnips, radishes, broccoli, kale, snow peas and spinach.

07/27/2023

Check us out at The Farm Table this Sunday! 10:30-12:30

L4S Farms Wilimena’s Backyard Sunshine & Clay Hives

Calling all green thumbs! Join us this Sunday from 10:30-12:30 at Earthshare Gardens for a plant sale extravaganza.

We'll have vegetable and herb starters and bedding plants, as well as local honey - and don't forget to check out L4S Farms delicious ginger and turmeric products. Plus, this all goes down at the farm incubator program location. See you there!

07/22/2023

Fightingville Fresh is the place to be Saturday afternoon, y'all!

This Saturday is the day!!
Our 2nd annual Okra Fest 2023
Come out and help us choose the best okra dish in Acadiana!!

Enjoy the best in local food and products from our vendors, and music by Moose Harris !
Saturday, July 22nd 2-6pm
315 W Simcoe