The Meg Perry Community Garden and Bioremediation Project
Volunteer | Bioremediation
The eco-systems of the Gulf Coast region were severely disrupted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The communities in the area were left without the resources for sustainable healthy soil, clean water and locally grown produce.
The Meg Perry Community Garden and Bioremediation Project was founded to work with residents in Orleans Parish to address these issues.
Since 2005 Common Ground's Bioremediation volunteers have helped to remediate soil using natural methods, such as removing lead from the soil through the planting of ferns. The Bioremediation team are also growing mushrooms, which will be used to remove petrochemicals from the soil, and will also be used in compost. This compost will bind metals into the soil and improve its quality and productivity.
In addition to this, volunteers are collecting soil samples, which are tested by the LSU Ag Center, so as to determine if the soil contains toxins, and if clean, what plants and produce can be effectively grown.
The Meg Perry Community Garden and Bioremediation Project is in the process of starting the Sprouts Club, working with local children in the Community Gardens. In collaboration with Tulane University, Replant New Orleans and Hands On, Common Ground is setting up an Environmental Science Learning Project, which will work with local high school children to collect soil samples, remediate soil and provide food security in the Mid City neighborhood.
At the Meg Perry Community Garden in Gentilly volunteers are working with local organic farming expert Anne Baker of the New Orleans Food and Farm Network to help plant organic produce for local residents and businesses.
And we have a worm farm! It's much cuter than it sounds...
More information about Meg Perry
For more information about Bioremediation and the Healthy Soil Project, email Zeke