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Home Grown Local residents believe eating produce from their own gardens is a healthier and cheaper way to eat fresh STORY, PHOTOS BY KAREN WINK AMERICAN PRESS, JULY 4, 2010 VIDEO: PART I & PART 2 After returning home from a tour in Iraq, attorney Erik Fain was grateful to be home and safe in Lake Charles. Three days later Rita hit. Both of these events deeply changed how Fain viewed the safety and security of his family. With that change, he started to reexamine how he looked at the food on his family’s table and the source of that food. The grocery list became much more to him than an item on his family’s budget. “Hurricane Rita really got me thinking how we have lost many of our skills such as how we grow our own food and how to preserve it,” Fain said. With his wife, Leslie, Fain did some research and grew more concerned about the vulnerability of food systems, pesticides, bacterial contamination, and the sustainability of current agricultural practices. Out of this concern, Fain began by growing some vegetables in what used to be a side driveway. Then he decided to purchase a small vacant lot about two miles from his home in Lake Charles to start their garden. The Fains are not alone in their concern over food and food systems. A sunny garden spot sold local artist Candice Alexander on the purchase of a new home with her partner, Amelie Smith. “To start with, everything at the supermarket is overpriced. Then there are tons of pesticides, leafy vegetables being the worst. Now thinking about the oil spill. All our vegetables and foods are shipped in using oil. It’s out of control, and we’ve forgotten how to garden,” Alexander said. For Angela Camel, a mother of four from Ragley, the constant sight of crop dusters flying overhead caused her concern about pesticide residue on storebought fruits and vegetables. She worried how that residue affected their health and their allergies. Camel also cited the costs of fresh produce in supermarkets. “One bell pepper can cost over 75 cents to a dollar in the store. One bell pepper plant can produce a lot of peppers,” Camel said. Nationally, books that question the current methods of food production and consumption such as Micheal Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “In the Defense of Food” have appeared on the New York Times best-seller list. The topic of food production seems to be everywhere in the media. Even one of the American Press Expressions writers recently wrote an article about the documentary “Food Inc.,” which shows how produce and meat are commercially produced in the United States. “We watched ‘Food Inc.,’ and we have been researching the food system in this country. It’s shocking and almost horrifying that most people don’t know where our food comes from,” Smith said. An overwhelming amount of information exists on the topic of food science and commercial agriculture. For those concerned about the food they eat, the dilemma is finding the right solution to fit their personal needs. The answers can be as numerous as the concerns. The solution for these locals was simple. They want to grow as much of their own food as they are able to grow using methods that are free from chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. The Fains’ vacant lot involved a considerable amount of dirty work to prepare the land for gardening. Instead of using traditional row gardening, Fain opted for a system of raised beds. He shamelessly gathered leaves from the side of the road in his neighborhood for use as mulch in his system of compost piles. This compost is used to mix with soil for fertilizer and to provide optimal growing conditions for vegetables without added commercial fertilizer. Sustainable, or ecological, gardening uses the processes of nature for fertilizer, and it can involve other creatures in the process. Earthworms, for example, are signs of healthy, nutrient-rich soil. To aid in his gardening, Fain started a worm farm. Chickens can be beneficial in two ways: They eat insects, and their feces can be used as fertilizer. So, Fain also added chickens to his garden lot. Alexander and Smith have ordered ladybugs from California for their garden. Ladybugs are a longtime favorite of gardeners for controlling aphids and other harmful insects. They are also using companion planting, which pairs certain plants together because the paring protects the plants from pests. With compost-rich soil already in place on the back lot of their new home, Alexander and Smith planted in the traditional rows adorned with trinkets and shells for both looks and protection from birds and other creatures looking for a free meal. Alexander proudly shows off the okra and beans that she started with seeds from her great grandmother’s garden. She started the seeds at her art studio before planting them in her new garden. For Camel and her husband, a deck pusher in the offshore oil industry, their garden is a way to connect to the earth again. Their raisedbed garden is a project for the entire family. She feels it is important to pass down gardening knowledge to their four children. For these locals, gardening and sustainable food production are for the most part new skills they want to develop. Fain describes himself as an amateur. Camel calls on trial and error, along with reading about different methods. Fortunately for the garden newbie, a considerable amount of information is available in books and on the Internet. Additionally, the Louisiana State University Extension Service also has information on both conventional and sustainable gardening. Carl E. Motsenbocker, an LSU professor of horticulture and co-state sustainable agriculture research and education coordinator, gives talks throughout the state to farmers and gardeners on ecological and sustainable agriculture. His organic gardening class at LSU fills up within hours of being listed. “I would say interest has increased along with the interest in local food systems and people growing their own food. I am also seeing more young people getting into farming with the goals of environmental stewardship.” Motsenbocker said. Keith Hawkins, LSU Extension agent for Beauregard Parish, has started an e-mail list of gardeners interested in sustainable gardening. He has seen the list grow in numbers as he passes along information on sustainable gardening. Sustainable gardening does require extra work according to Hawkins. For these locals, the reduced exposure to chemicals and pesticides is worth it. Gardening provides a sense of pride and a connection to their heritage or to the earth. “I’ve heard people say food tastes better from your own garden, and I always thought it was the placebo effect. Now I believe it to be true. Our family will eat vegetables from the garden that we never would touch before,” Fain said.

'Hardest part of their job’ Animal cruelty, disease, euthanasia tough realities for workers committed to protect, serve BY KAREN WINK AMERICAN PRESS, MAY 23, 2010 VIDEO The chase on foot and in vehicles through a north Lake Charles neighborhood has been taxing. Now, the emaciated, limping dog is surrounded by Calcasieu Parish Animal Services officers. CPAS officer and cruelty investigator Nikki McCoy raises her gun, draws a bead, holds her breath and pulls the trigger. The tranquilizer dart finds its target and the dog is immobilized. ‘‘Her struggling days are over,’’ McCoy said as she placed the dog in an Animal Services vehicle. For McCoy and John Sherman, eight-year CPAS officers, and their colleagues, ending animals’ misery is never easy. Yet, they have dedicated themselves to protecting animals and the public. Back at the shelter, the dog is checked for microchip identification, even though she is known to be part of the feral dog packs that move along the river in north Lake Charles. Sherman said most of these feral packs start off as pets that are discarded or lost. Most of these discarded animals are not spayed or neutered, resulting in an everincreasing population. The issue of feral dog packs is similar to that of coyotes, according to CPAS operations manager Jerry Roy. The packs residing in residential areas present a danger to small animals and pets. Adult feral dogs cannot be rehabilitated, and many times the puppies are too sick to survive for adoption. Loose and feral animals are just part of the public safety duties handled by animal control officers. CPAS receives around 200 calls each day. Some calls are for information only; other calls are for complaints. The eight officers are dispatched based on calls that can vary from loose animals to neglect cases. As cruelty investigators, McCoy and Sherman enforce the laws regarding cruelty, neglect, dog fighting and hoarders. Both McCoy and Sherman have served about eight years with CPAS. Those years are filled with stories that could crack the coldest heart. "The first time you see something like that (animal cruelty), you are disgusted. You wonder how can people be so cruel to an animal, and you just want to fix it. That’s why I’m here — I want to fix it,” said Sherman. McCoy flips through saved photos on her computer recalling different cases of cruelty and neglect. Aggravated cruelty cases are less common than severe-neglect cases, but the impact of both is apparent on McCoy’s face. Her eyes fill with tears as she talks about each one. She shows the photo of a dog chained out in yard with no water and no food that was too skinny to bear the weight of the tether. One dog was loose in a yard with hair so matted and clumped that he could not walk, defecate or eat. The clumps hanging are larger than the dog’s legs and too numerous to count. McCoy hoped for the best, but the CPAS veterinarian said the animal is too old and too sick to be saved. ‘‘I hate to see an animal suffer. I know when we have to euthanize an animal that it is done humanely and without pain. I know that I won’t find that dog half-dead and suffering on the side of the road,’’ said McCoy. Neglect of proper care for an animal falls under the cruelty laws in Louisiana. CPAS officers have the right to seize animals in severe cases. These cases can give the officers a reason to hope — if found in time, dogs can be rehabilitated and possibly adopted into good homes. ‘‘Keeping a dog caged up without proper food, proper water and without human companionship in itself is wrong. Dogs need humans. Life at the end of a chain for a dog without that human contact is just horrible,’’ Sherman said. The stress of the job is a strain on McCoy and Sherman. The support they receive from their fellow officers and from the CPAS administration helps them cope. Both agree that euthanasia is the hardest part of their job. ‘‘I try to look at it from the aspect that I did not cause this. I might be the end result, but I am not the irresponsible owner or the abuser,’’ said Sherman. Less-severe neglect cases are typically because of a lack of understanding and knowledge of proper care by owners. In those cases, CPAS officers take a role as educators. Follow-up visits to those homes are made to ensure adequate care. “Before you get a dog, a cat, a pet, know that pets demand care, attention and companionship. That animal comes with a 10- to 15-year commitment. Make sure you are committed to being a responsible pet owner. If you don't know what that is, check with your local animal shelter,” Sherman said. CPAS officers are trained to protect the safety of both animals and the public. ‘‘To protect and serve’’ is a motto that could easily be applied to those who serve as animal control officers. Much more than dog catchers, CPAS officers are certified through the Louisiana Animal Control Association on animal handling, laws regarding animals, animal diseases and basic animal care. Other training and certifications are through the Association of Certified Cruelty Investigators and state and involve training in chemical capture, certified animal euthanasia, FEMA duties, first aid and hazardous materials. As part of their dedication to the profession, McCoy and Sherman have recently completed a week-long large-animal rescue course in Baton Rouge. Continuing education is also required. Both feel extra training makes them more effective in their jobs. John Mays, the current president of National Animal Control Association, said training is critical for an effective staff. Animal control officers have four times the public contact as other law-enforcement officers. CPAS is considered to be a premier department in the state, according to Everett Harris, vice president of LACA and director of the Caddo Parish Animal Control. Harris credits this distinction to the experience of the CPAS staff and the administration's emphasis on training. “In many parishes, officers are just given a pickup truck and no training,” said Roy. Roy credits the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury for recognizing the importance of proper animal control services. “We are more than euthanize here. We educate people in responsible pet ownership. We offer animals for adoption. We protect people and pets,” said Sherman.

Sweet sounds of the holiday season BY KAREN WINK AMERICAN PRESS, DEC. 13, 2010 VIDEO On the sidewalk in front of Southgate Shopping Center, Leroy Williams prepares his stage for his sixth holiday season of performances. After stretching his cheeks and fingers, Williams starts to pipe out a Christmas soundtrack for the shoppers hurrying between stores. Shoppers pass by Williams as he plays a medley of popular Christmas songs on his saxophone. Some just walk by, while others stop to drop money in Williams’' Gratitude Bucket. Williams first started playing on sidewalks as a way to raise tuition for his culinary and dietary education at Sowela Technical and Community College. He continues now during the holiday season mostly because he loves Christmas and loves creating a festive ambiance for passers-by. “It’s the weather. It’s fall time. It’s Christmas. As a kid, everyone hears ‘Santa Claus (is Coming to Town),’ ‘Frosty (the Snowman)’ and ‘Rudolph (the Red-nosed Reindeer).’ It just brings back memories to hear those songs. We need something more in this city. We need more sidewalk musicians,” said Williams. Williams said his love for Christmas comes from his mother. He is sentimental about Christmas music, with “Please Come Home for Christmas” being his favorite holiday tune. “You can’t mess up ‘Silent Night’ and simple Christmas songs. I’m always trying to improve,” said Williams. Quick to smile, Williams often breaks up his performances to talk with shoppers. He recounts several instances of encouraging words that motivate him to keep playing. “Little kind words just make your day,” said Williams. Williams’ personal finances get an assist by his sidewalk concerts. He works as a cook at a casino, but he lost one of his two jobs. Williams says playing his saxophone helps pay the rent and provide money for Christmas presents. “I’m going to continue this because I love being on center stage. I get to talk to lots of people. I’m a talkative person,” he said.

Poetry’s in motion at the Porch BY KAREN WINK AMERICAN PRESS, MARCH 3, 2011 VIDEO The venue is small and intimate but that doesn’t stop more than 100 people from filling a local coffee shop to the brim. After a short introduction, the silent anticipation is broken by the rustle of paper and the long Mississippi drawl of Will Coppage. Coppage lifts his words from his pages not in song or set to music but in voice reading the poetry from his graduate school thesis. Fellow poet and McNeese graduate student J. Bruce Fuller follows Coppage in the second installment of the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana and Porch Coffeehouse and Cafe’s monthly Poetry Night. The uniquely Southern voices of Coppage and Fuller echo our culture and heritage as they have experienced it. Both read more than 15 poems, each giving the community the opportunity to hear some of the writers who develop their craft at McNeese State University’s nationally ranked creative writing program. According to Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque, it is that nurturing aspect of an academic setting that feeds the oldest original form of poetry — reciting the literary form in a civic setting. The community then supports and respects the poet and poetry through participation in readings. It lifts the community and raises its quality of life. Bourque will soon add his voice to the third installment of Poetry Night at 7 p.m. today, March 4, at the Porch. He plans to read from his most recent book of poems, “In Ordinary Light,” a collection of both new work and poems from two of his previously published books. A retired professor from University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Bourque has served as Louisiana Poet Laureate since 2007. “It is encouraging to see a high level of support for poetry in Lake Charles. It’s at a level that you see in larger metro areas like New Orleans and Shreveport,” said Bourque. Starting in January the Arts Council officially partnered with the Porch Coffeehouse to provide an outlet for writers and the community to experience live readings of literature. The first installment hosted members of the Bayou Writers’ Group of Lake Charles. The series is scheduled for the first Friday of every month. According to Erica McCreedy, Special Projects Coordinator for the Arts Council, they plan to also add readings by area fiction writers in the future. “It really benefits the community because we are bringing in something that is not seen every day. We are so known for our Cajun culture, our food, our music but the literary scene can get drowned out sometimes. So, by having many poetry nights and having the MFA program here, it really helps to sustain it,” McCreedy said.