Gardening parties offer free food samples and healthy cooking tips

If you want to taste locally, grown food and learn about gardening then you should head out to “Reaping the Harvest”.

The Red River Coalition of Community Gardeners is celebrating its fifth year of volunteer contributions to the health and well-being of our regional community.

You can participate in the celebration between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday, June 15 at several gardens throughout Shreveport.

There will be family activities, food sampling, nutrition tips and cooking demonstrations.

The three featured community gardens participating in the event are:

• Northwest Louisiana Interfaith Pharmacy Garden, 909 Olive St., Shreveport. Visitors will sample “Party Soup” made with seasonal vegetables and learn about growing vegetables in containers.  Located between Line and Fairfield.

• Highland Community Garden, 520 Herndon St., Shreveport. “Confetti Salad” will be featured, along with information about using earthworms to make compost for your garden. Located across from Noel Methodist Church at the corner of Herndon and Stephens.

• Valencia Park Community Garden, 1800 Viking Dr., Shreveport. Delicious carrot cake will be shared, along with a garden “treasure hunt”.  1800 Viking Dr. next to Caddo Magnet High School.

For more information, contact the Red River Coalition of Community Gardeners at (318) 278-3081.