Sheaux Fresh, the view from an 11-year old

Today group C (Heather, Aubrey, Amy, Steve, Matt Mc) and I (Kyle, Dr. Palmer's son who got to tag along on this trip) went into the Algiers section to visit and do a service-learning project with an urban farm run by Thaddeus Prosper. When we showed up things were not as I suspected, first I thought we would be weeding and working with plants but instead we were helping Thaddeus to make a sort of crib (to create a sort of raised area) for the plants out of old pallets.

We all had a job to do, some of us were shoveling dirt and mulch into the created cribs so they were ready for planting, the rest of us were making the cribs themselves. I enjoyed our time there being able to help out Thaddeus to finish the things he needed to grow the new plants. It was a lot of fun with a great dinner afterwards. Then after avoiding traffic we headed back to the gym for some well deserved rest.

I believe that Thadeus's idea for starting his urban farms was noble and helping. He told us that he started his two farms/gardens to help provide fresh food easily for the people in the area around him that do not have any other way to get at these healthy foods. I enjoy Thaddeus as a person because he is very passionate and determined to help everyone around him.

Andreas Hoffman, Green Light New Orleans

Youth Rebuilding New Orleans

Today a group of us were given the chance to work with the Youth Rebuilding New Orleans group and help with some finishing touches on a house for a local teacher and her family.

Tippy Tippens / Matter L3C

New Orleans riverfront at night

Louisiana Seafood Lunch

Traveling to New Orleans

Van Group "C" subsequently named "FIPs" stopped enroute in Cairo, Illinois. Cairo (pronounced CAY-roh) is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. We left in blowing snow and by Cairo it was still in the mid-40s. Traveled as far as Grenada, Mississippi on the first day.

Back to New Orleans!

Fourteen of us start the 17-hour drive to New Orleans this morning. Winds are howling in Kalamazoo and tornadoes have ravaged large swaths of the south so we'll keep our fingers crossed that conditions are better today.

I posted to Facebook yesterday that class is excited about the trip and a number of MGMT 4000 alum from last year wished us well but also said they were jealous. For good reason! We've got nine interviews set up and, in addition, we'll be working on two different service events Tuesday afternoon. We'll also be going back to visit Turner at "Our School at Blair Grocery" in the Lower 9th.

In the meantime, it's time to double check the packing list and hope that everyone shows up at 7:45 for the 8:00 departure!

Laissez les bon temps rouler!