Reflections on Our Final Work Day
On our final day, we took a tour of the lower ninth ward and the levies, and then returned to Blair Grocery. The IKAR teens have truly embraced the spirt of this trip, asking lots of questions and working hard. We will post more pictures as soon as the internet starts working a little better.
The Lower Ninth Ward
As we’re finishing our usual cereal breakfasts in 1-D, David Feris walked in to the room. He had us circle up, introduce ourselves to him, and ask one question that we had not been answered thus far over the course of our trip. David intently wrote all of our questions down and remembered each Hannah, Emma, Zoe, Maya and Ruby. The whole tour was very interactive. He not only showed us New Orleans, he told us New Orleans. He explained the Big Easy’s history as we saw monumental places such as: Congo Square (formerly the Red Light District of New Orleans) and the yet to be completed levies in the Lower Ninth Ward. David was a vast fund of knowledge when he showed and told us about the Bayou near MRGO (Mississippi River Gulf Outlet) and how the dumping of debris was destroying the eco-system of the wetlands. Our tour today, with David was more of a history lesson infused with some sightseeing. Most of us didn’t expect that, but I think that most of us absorbed his truly shocking remarkable facts and information about New Orleans. — Z.L.
Our Group at the New Levees
This afternoon after an amazing tour of the soulful and intriguing New Orleans, we went back to Blair Grocery for a sweat filled time. We worked on building hoop house, to hold small plotted plants. It was hard work bending metal and drilling screws into wood, but after it was complete we all felt really proud and accomplished. Some of us learned all about mushrooms, and how they grow and the best living conditions. It was so much fun to see all three of Ryan’s kids and get a chance to play with baby Miles, who is 17 months. Overall OSBG was really rewarding and felt amazing to let loose and get dirty. — E.Wi
The Hoop House We Helped Build
