All About the Soil

La Bonne Terre Resources Organic Fertilizer

by Abby Meaux Conques

You may recognize the name Patrick Deshotels since he’s contributed to Louisiana Hemp Magazine, sharing his experience of surviving a first year hemp harvest with everything that the universe and mother nature threw at our state last year. It may have been his first year growing hemp, but his expertise and experience in land management with an emphasis on wildlife management runs as deep as Louisiana bayous.

“I have been managing marsh, bottomland hardwoods, Long Leaf Habitat for game species, endangered species and diversity for over 25 years. I have vast experience and connection to NGO such as Wildlife Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, and Whitetail Deer Association. I also seek funding through NRCS, USFW, LDWF and other government agencies,” Deshotels explained to us in a recent interview.

Now, we’re here to speak about a passion for all things organic and nurturing when it comes to soil. Let us tell you the story behind a unique mix curated by the best in the field, for use as an all-around organic fertilizer, La Bonne Terre Resources. When we say “all-around” we really mean it. It’s a versatile, truly organic fertilizer that can be utilized by the everyday gardener, bonsai enthusiast, hemp grower, plant heads, and more.

Deshotels used his contacts and knack for finding just the right people doing the perfect thing when he was first introduced to this unique fertilizer mix. He had a chance meeting with some individuals in the solar panel industry while he was engaged with some land management clients. At the time, he was put in charge of an organic garden, and the solar panel crew had family which was deep into organic farming and all of the intricacies connected to it.

After reaching out to the organic farming specialists, he sent soil samples to them in hopes that they could help him. Upon receiving the results, he had a full prescription of what the professionals suggested he needed and an organic mix made to fill that prescription. The mix worked beautifully to the delight of Deshotels and to his clients. “They’re really amazing people in the realm of organic materials and the man I worked with was a genius,” he said of his contacts.

“They took my soil samples and prescribed specific minerals for my soil. We were able to provide remarkable results with this fertilizer. I continued to use these products for over 10 years,” Deshotels explained. The family had a passion for creating perfect mixtures. After years of prescribing soil minerals for farms, households, enthusiasts and businesses all over the country, they began to realize patterns of mineral needs in all areas. After carefully combining different formulations, they came up with a blend that was a “one-sizefits-most” kind of mix, where amazing results were being noted in various parts of the country.

“I was always an advocate for this mix and I’d use it for clients all the time. I even tried using other fertilizers and kept going back to the mix because the others just wouldn’t yield the same results,” Deshotels explained. “I can talk fertilizer all day long and was always comfortable standing by this product. You can basically mix it in a bucket of soil, and the soil becomes high octane, that’s how amazing it is.”

Deshotels believed in it and recommended it when anyone had a question about what could help their land thrive. “We’d often work together on projects, trying to solve problems, and spoke often of possible partnerships,” he mentioned.

Last year’s hurricanes and pandemic problems created some lag time in land care. Deshotels reached out to the group in 2021 to get projects rolling again, but received some unfortunate news about his business contacts who became friends. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the group was no longer able to offer their services. A few weeks later, they posed the idea to Deshotels for his take over of the making of the fertilizer. They entrusted him with the recipe if he agreed to keep the integrity of the product. “It was an easy decision for me,” Deshotels said. In the spring of this year, Deshotels labeled the organic fertilizer that continues to be fueled by the passion for helping land and plants to thrive: La Bonne Terre Resources.

When we asked Deshotels if he uses the fertilizer on his hemp crop, he answered with a resounding “of course!” “Last harvest I used it with hemp seeds, but this year I’ll incorporate it in every stage I can so I can research to make a special blend beneficial for hemp farmers in particular. I want to use my knowledge to help other farmers. I anticipate there will eventually be a growth stage fertilizer and a flowering stage fertilizer,” he explained.

Deshotels explained to us that there’s a lot of overlap in his professional life. He exudes enthusiasm when it comes to all things land: land management, expansion, technical advice and service, and now the organic fertilizer created from years of expertise.

PATRICK DESHOTELS LAND MANAGING AND PERFORMING A PRESCRIBED BURN CRITICAL FOR EFFECTIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT

Deshotels believes his zeal for helping land to thrive and helping others goes hand in hand. “I enjoy dealing with landowners...those who have land but don’t know the potential of their land. I can study land and set up stages and teams to manage their land and breathe vitality back into it. I know what it takes on the nurturing side and I have the knowledge of securing the funding and technical advice from government agencies.” Deshotels can be an extremely effective middle man between landowners and the government, knowing many are weary about government hoops, but also knowing that the funding is there to help and how to decipher government lingo for farmers. Having a nourishing, organic fertilizer with a personal connection to it is just another tool in Deshotels’ toolkit to aid land owners.

Personally, we’re rooting hard for his business to grow (see what we did there).

All in all, we’re firm believers in the notion that wonderful products, fueled by passion for the field, is the formula for success.

La Bonne Terre Organic Fertilizer is currently available in their online store at www.bonneterreresources.com, and in store at Chastant Brothers Inc. in Lafayette at 214 E Pinhook Rd. with the anticipation of being in other retail stores soon. In fact, if you’re interested in carrying this product, feel free to contact Deshotels.