Martial F. Billeaud Elementary School is Getting a Garden!

Martial F. Billeaud Elementary School (MBES) is embarking on an exciting hands-on learning experience with its school garden initiative. While administrators and volunteers were busy setting up equipment, students in Ms.Collins’ third grade class tuned in to an informative presentation from the LSU AgCenter 4-H School Garden Initiative Program to learn more about this exciting program.

“The LSU AgCenter’s 4-H Youth Development School Garden Initiative Program teaches young people to be responsible citizens in growing their own produce, harvesting, and eating healthier.  The data shows that if they grow their own vegetables, they will eat them. Our efforts in working with our education partners to combine current curriculum, nutrition education and the garden our students are making life changes in their eating habits to become a healthier society,” states Charles Hebert, LSUAg Center’s parish chairman for 4-H youth development.  

The initiative is spearheaded by the school’s instructional leader Kessler Landry. Landry’s love of gardening at her own home with her children is what inspired her to bring this program to life at MBES. 

“Kids these days think all food comes from the grocery store. It is important for them to experience gardening, to get their hands dirty, and to learn where their food comes from. This initiative will provide students with a general knowledge of the fruits and vegetables they are growing, teach them healthy eating habits, and create a sense of accomplishment by seeing the process from start to finish,” states Landry.

School gardens provide many educational, health, and environmental benefits that extend beyond the classroom. Not only are students afforded the opportunity to apply concepts from science, math, and art into their gardening experiences, they also learn valuable life skills, are connected to nature, and learn sustainability practices that will benefit generations to come. 

MBES joins eight other LPSS schools participating in the garden initiative program. The school is partnering with the Lafayette Parish Master Gardener Association and the LSU Ag Center to bring this project to life. Additional funding for the project was made possible through contributions made to the school during SOLA Giving Day. Plant donations are provided by Wilimena’s Backyard.