Crown Community Garden

"It is the mission and purpose of Crown Community Garden to educate, coordinate, and support New Orleans East residents in the continual improvement of the quality of life of their neighborhoods." We improve from the ground up, literally! Gardening can lead to a healthier, more productive lifestyle. It also promotes a more vibrant community allowing kids to grow to be respectful of and responsible for their community and allows adults to directly take part in improving neighborhoods.

2021 Overview
This last year we have completed several projects that have significantly expanded our vegetable and fruit production capability.
To make the most of the property, we removed four raised beds and replaced them with 1000 sq ft of inground garden rows. We upgraded the garden's irrigation system and installed landscape fabric to help with weed suppression, which maximizes our staff's ability to focus on growing crops and flowers.
Our part-time garden director, paid with Burpee grant funds, maintains a flower garden, from which we sell flowers to businesses to help fund the costs of our mission to give free and low-cost fresh produce to our fellow residents of New Orleans East. To achieve our mission, we distribute food via a farmer's market we started and by inviting neighbors to come into the garden and harvest the food they wish for free.
Specifically, we re-instated the twice monthly Saturday farmer's market that hosts 10-15 vendors, where we have given away 400 free meal kits with our produce and sold seasonal vegetables, vegan food, microgreens, crafted soaps, teas, honey and more . And 14 families have been using the garden to harvest food. Volunteers who help typically take food home with them after a workday. Families are encouraged and trained to learn to harvest their own food so they can make use of the garden as needed.

2022 Goals
This coming year, we plan to further expand our vegetable growing beds and establish a food forest on our back property. We are currently working with Louisiana State University Ag Center to develop the best approach for planting and maintaining the food forest. The work will begin in the fall of 2022 with a ¼ acre plot. Once the plants and trees are established, expansion will continue up to a full acre over the next two years.
Over the next year, the Garden will increase food output to over 5000lbs. Produce will be available to the community at low or no cost. Education to the community will include harvesting practices, recipes and nutritional information, and opportunities to become involved in the work of the garden
Having a sustainable source of food in our community has become an increasingly pressing need. To serve the need, Crown Garden is working to secure funds to increase staff hours and add additional seasonal staff. Once funding is secured, the Garden will convert our part-time Garden director to a full-time director position. Flower sales at markets and florists will support our part-time community coordinator position and part-time farm hand position.

Testimonials

"This was a wonderful blessing during the pandemic - a place to safely get out of the house and find some peace of mind." Erin

"Crown Garden has huge potential for engaging youth and families in a healthy and productive way of life." Pastor Jon