Peace by Piece New Orleans

The Hollygrove Community Gardens, established by the Peace by Piece summer camp, remain a space for local youth and residents to access healthy, organic produce. The Sustainable Communities Project, a collaboration between Peace by Piece New Orleans and the Hollygrove Neighbors Association, Inc., continues its dedication to ensuring food access and security by expanding gardens and adding new installations.

Over the past year, 352 volunteers have helped maintain the gardens. Launched in Fall 2024, the Hollygrove Neighborhood Composting Project has enabled 20 households to recycle over 3,500 pounds of food waste for compost and reduce landfill contributions. Engaging programs such as the Community Kitchen series, Get to Know Your Garden workshops, and Community-Driven Planning have sparked conversations among residents about sustainability and food access. We have expanded to five properties and partnered with local institutions, such as Grow Dat Youth Farm, to distribute over 5,500 pounds of produce, host community food shares for 1,500 residents, and employ 25 young interns. With continued support, Peace by Piece aims to further enhance the impact of the garden programs and advance sustainability in Hollygrove.

Testimonials

"The food giveaway events help us strengthen our sense of community. It's our neighborhood. It's an opportunity to uplift our people by feeding each other physically and communally. These events are an expression of our values like caring for each other and belonging to something bigger than ourselves. Sharing food connects us to each other, the Black growers and farmers and the land that is critical to our survival."--Barbara May, Hollygrove resident

"Hollygrove is a food desert pertaining to healthy food. With the Hollygrove Community Garden, I can pick fresh vegetables (free of charge) straight from the garden to my cooking pot."--Earl Williams, Hollygrove resident.