By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Although it is still in its very early stages, a LaPlace church is hoping to bring the community closer with a parish wide vegetable and herb garden.

Parishioners at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church started the garden as a way to utilize an expansive field in the back of the church that is going unused.

“The field has always just sat there vacant,” said parishioner Ruth Montgomery, one of the organizers of the garden. “We came up with the idea kind of as a way to help the community do what they can to save a little bit of money on groceries. We are also trying to involve some of the school kids so that they can get an idea of what it takes to cultivate a garden. I think that they will find it is much more work than they think.”

Montgomery said the church has begun work on the first phase of the garden, which includes 12 box gardens measuring 4 feet by 8 feet. In time, she said the church hopes to expand the garden to 20 boxes with the help of donations and community support.

“We hope to actually start planting seeds in the fall,” Montgomery said. “It is mostly going to be vegetables and flowers, but we have also talked about planting a few trees. The gardens will be open to anyone in the St. John Parish area and gardeners will be free to plant whatever they like so long as it is legal.”

Montgomery said interested participants will be able to lease a box and will be responsible for all the upkeep. She added the church is considering making a “job list” for overall maintenance. Montgomery said the church is looking for donations from local business who can offer up hoses, wood and garden tools, and from restaurants who may be able to provide compost.

For more information contact the church office at 985-652-2121.