THE GREEN PROJECT: a community resource
and recovery center
serving the
Greater New Orleans area This page last updated: 9/27/2000  The Green Project (TGP) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop and sustain community-based solutions to urban environmental problems. Currently, the organization offers recycled paint and building materials at low cost, a free children's art program, and a garden component that includes natural produce, plants, herbs, and compost. TGP is located in the old Gold Seal Dairy (4321 D'Hemecourt at S. Alexander, New Orleans, LA) with gardens on adjacent lots. Paint Exchange: They accept old paint (all latex and usable oil-based), recycle it by color and type, repackage it, and sell it inexpensively. Prices vary from $2.00/gallon for unsorted oil-based paint to $6.00/gallon of custom mixed latex paint, with the average price being $4.00/gallon. NASA WOOD: The Legacy Project, an area company that recycles office paper and other recyclables has been working with NASA to help them broaden the scope of their recycling to include other materials in the industry. The effort is toward helping the environment, reducing waste and ultimately, saving money! One of the materials that had obvious potential for salvage was the packing crate made from plywood and linear lumber. In the past NASA had attempted to develop a market for the assembled crates but was unsuccessful. As a result NASA was forced to dispose them in a landfill at an estimated volume of 5,000 lbs weekly, wasting money and resources. The Legacy Project has worked with officials from NASA for the past six months to create a win-win situation for NASA and the environment. The dream of saving this huge amount of usable material started with an idea hatched by a single person but was immediately embraced by everyone at NASA. The fulfillment of the dream has involved the cooperation of many individuals, and culminates in a weekly delivery of usable lumber. The Green Project is providing a space in which the materials can be sorted, stored and sold. They have gone to great efforts to build a storage unit and clear a space for this ongoing donation. Natural Produce, Plants, Salad Dressing and Compost: Some of you may have seen TGP volunteers at the Crescent City Farmer's Market selling TGP fresh produce. This natural, seasonal produce is also for sale at the TGP site (you can pick it yourself), along with plants, herbs, salad dressing, and compost. The delectable salad dressing is concocted with herbs from our garden. The natural compost is made from horse manure, bagasse (from sugar cane), coffee grounds, crab meal, and yard clippings. Your plants will love it.  School Outreach: TGP has worked with several local public schools in the areas of gardening and art. With grants from the Arts Council of New Orleans, art projects were completed with students at Thurgood Marshall and Dibert. With assistance from the Volunteer and Information Agency and the Community Volunteers Association, gardens were installed with students at Fisk Howards and Crossman. TGP is currently developing a list of projects we can do with schools. It should be available in The Green Project February newsletter.  Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are needed in all areas of the organization. On site volunteers sort paint and building materials, harvest produce, work with the children and assist customers. Off-site volunteer jobs include manning booths at festivals, researching grant possibilities, writing newsletter articles, calling other volunteers, and assisting with office tasks such as maintaining the database. Michelle Gremillion is our Volunteer Coordinator and would be happy to talk to you about volunteering. Hours of Operation: Tuesday through Friday 9:00am - 3:00pm, Saturday 8:00am - 4:00pm. Location: 4321 D'Hemecourt St., New Orleans, LA. Drop-offs - please come to 520 S. Alexander. Closest large intersection is Banks and S. Carrolton. Contact: any staff member, at (504) 488-6853; FAX (504) 488-8408. Email address: greenproject@earthlink.net. Web page: http://home.earthlink.net/~greenproject. TGP is looking for corporate partners in the Greater New Orleans area As with any operation of their type, they generate a small amount of hazardous material and would appreciate assistance in managing this material. |