Our Mural, Close up

Some friends were disappointed they couldn't see the whole mural, so here it goes. Drumroll...............

 Thank you Allen

 and Fresh

 and Twig

 Jeremiah and Nathanael

And here it all is.

Come by and check it out for yourself!

Our Mural at Blair Grocery goes up!

Allen, Lawrence, Dontrell, and Jeremiah are putting up the Mural in the After School garden

...Figuring out the best way to put it all up

And here it goes.... Right up by the street where everyone can see it








Beautiful!

Bus 52 visits

The crew from Bus 52 came by a couple of weeks ago and filmed this short piece on us and the work that we do.  Check it out!

WE LOVE JOHNSONGRASS!

Johnsongrass, the most troublesome weed around the farm, is our newest substrate for growing gourmet Mushrooms.

Once it dries, we'll inoculate it with PoHu mycelium. Oh yeah.

Its good to turn negatives into positives. 

Guest Blog: University of Calgary

Last month I was privilege to be one of 25 students and staff from the University of Calgary, Canada, that spent 2 days working with Our School at Blair Grocery. The trip was organized through the University’s Centre for Community-Engaged Learning and focused on Food Security and Rebuilding Community.

Our School at Blair Grocery was the group’s first and last volunteer stop during the 6 day intensive service week. After months of preparation and many pre-service workshops learning about the complexities of the challenges facing the Lower Ninth Ward community, students were excited to finally see the work being done in the community. Mostly though, excitement came from being able to get our hands dirty! 

Our group spent time composting, and moving compost piles, helping retrieve waste for the compost and preparing soil for planting.

I know I can speak for my fellow students in suggesting working with OSBG was nothing short of inspiring. The opportunity to contribute, even in a small way, to the work that OSBG is doing in the Lower Ninth was well worth every blister and stinky pair of shoes we had at the end of each day.

Our Group was encouraged by the opportunity to work alongside and learn from OSBG staff, meet local children involved in the project, and observe the innovative development approach of OSBG.

   

Several times throughout our trip, including during our time at OSBG, our group was reminded that we cannot “Save New Orleans”. I stepped away from our days with OSBG thinking that perhaps New Orleans doesn’t need saving, whatever that means, but just needs more innovative development like Our School at Blair Grocery.

Thanks OSBG for allowing our group the opportunity to work and learn alongside you!

~Brittany Vine, University of Calgary  

Poet, Musician, Activist Saul Williams visits

Last week Saul Williams was in New Orleans. Between arriving and his soundcheck he stopped by OSBG to see what we do and participate in a workshop on representations of masculinity and what it means to be a man. It was perfect. We're honored to have met him and all y'all should see his show.