By Emily Frischhertz, Founder of Garden & Grace Urban Farm & Community Garden
If you've been following along with Garden & Grace, you've probably seen the photos of blueberry beds, pollinator flowers, tomatoes, fruit trees, the pond, and even Honeybun our fertilizer bunny, making her occasional appearance around the farm.
What you may not know is that just a few months ago, much of this existed only as an idea. As I sit here reflecting on everything we've accomplished since January, I'm amazed by how much can happen when you start with a simple dream, a willingness to learn, and the belief that growing food can bring people together.
Every Garden Starts With a Question
Garden & Grace didn't begin with a master plan. It began with hundreds of questions. What can we grow in South Louisiana? Which plants support our native pollinators? How do we build healthy soil? Can a small urban farm help feed our community? What fruit trees thrive here? How do we create a space where people feel welcome to learn, gather, and connect?
Over the past several months, we've researched, experimented, planted, moved plants, replanted them again, and learned from every success and every setback. Some days felt like farming. Other days felt like science experiments. And honestly, that's part of the fun.
Building More Than a Garden
From the beginning, I knew I wanted Garden & Grace to be more than a place where vegetables grow. I wanted it to be a place where community grows too. =That's why our mission became:
We Give | What We Grow
Every harvest has the potential to do more than fill a basket. It can support a neighbor, stock a community fridge, inspire a child, or encourage someone to start their own garden. The vision has always been simple: grow food, share abundance, and create opportunities for people to reconnect with nature and one another. In a world that often feels rushed and disconnected, gardening slows us down. It reminds us that good things take time.
Learning From the Land
One of the greatest lessons these past few months has been learning to work with nature rather than against it.
Take the low, wet rear section of our property. What looked like a small problem area was actually the entire back 15 feet of our lot, stretching nearly 120 feet across the property. After every heavy rain, water would stand there for days, making it difficult to grow much of anything.
Instead of fighting the landscape, we decided to work with it. We began building the area up by adding (we stopped counting) Schmelly's Super Soil, four bales of hay, and all of the soil excavated from both pond projects. We also added a drainage trench planted with peppermint to help absorb excess moisture and improve the area naturally. We added mint and asparagus plants in the trench as they'll thrive in that wet area.
The transformation is still underway, and if our nature-based approach isn't enough, French drains are next on the list. And if those don't work? We may jokingly consider returning some of that water to the neighboring property that was built up nearly two feet higher than ours. 😉
Today, that once-soggy section is becoming one of the most interesting parts of the farm. The pond supports wildlife and aquatic plants, while the surrounding raised ground is creating new opportunities for growing fruit, herbs, pollinator plants, and native species that previously wouldn't have thrived there. Nature has a way of turning challenges into opportunities when we're willing to work with it instead of against it. 🌿💚
Planting for Pollinators
One of the projects closest to my heart has been creating a pollinator-friendly landscape. We've spent countless hours researching Louisiana native plants and learning how to better support butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other beneficial wildlife.
Today, our gardens include native milkweed, maypop vines, salvia, herbs, flowering perennials, and many other plants that provide food and habitat for pollinators throughout the year.
One of the most exciting moments was discovering swallowtail caterpillars on our satsuma tree. Some gardeners might panic. We celebrated. Because every caterpillar represents a future butterfly. Those moments remind us that we're not just growing plants. We're helping create habitat and biodiversity in the middle of the city.
Growing Food for People
Of course, food remains at the center of everything we do.
So far we've planted:
- Blueberries
- Meyer lemons
- Satsumas
- Muscadine grapes
- Columnar apple trees
- Tomatoes
- Peas
- Squash
- Herbs
- Strawberries
- Pineapples
- Moringa
- And many more edible plants
Some crops have exceeded expectations. Others have taught us patience. That's gardening. Every season brings lessons. And every harvest, no matter how small, feels like a victory.
Creating a Place to Learn
One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been welcoming people onto the farm. Our workshops, tours, and community gatherings have allowed us to share what we're learning while creating space for conversation and connection.
We hosted our first Roots & Remedies workshop this spring, gathering around fresh pesto made from basil grown right here on the farm while discussing gardening, pollinators, food forests, and the power of community.
What surprised me most wasn't what people learned from us.It was what we learned from them. Every visitor brings ideas, experiences, and knowledge that enriches the Garden & Grace story.
The Unexpected Joys
Some of the best moments weren't part of any plan. Watching Honeybun explore her space. Seeing children become fascinated by worms and caterpillars. Spotting the first frog in the pond. Finding new blooms where there were none the day before. Meeting neighbors who stopped by simply because they were curious about what was growing. Those are the moments that remind me why this work matters. Gardens create opportunities for wonder. And wonder is something we could all use a little more of.
Looking Ahead
While we've accomplished a great deal since January, it truly feels like we're only getting started.
In the months ahead, we're excited to continue expanding our growing areas, increasing food production, adding more native plants, enhancing wildlife habitat, and offering additional educational programs for adults and children alike.
We're also excited to continue testing and showcasing products we believe in, available through our shop. As gardeners ourselves, we only recommend products we've used and trust in our own growing spaces.
Most importantly, we'll continue building community.
Thank You
To everyone who has followed along, attended a workshop, volunteered, shared a post, visited the farm, purchased from our shop, offered advice, or simply encouraged us along the way, thank you.
You've helped transform an idea into something real. What started as a small dream in January is becoming a place where food, nature, education, and community come together. A place where butterflies find habitat. Where children can learn. Where neighbors can gather. Where fresh food can be shared. A place where grace grows right alongside the garden. And we can't wait to see what blooms next.
Visit Garden & Grace Urban Farm & Community Garden
Community Hours: Monday, Wednesday & Friday | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: 312 W. Robert E. Lee, New Orleans, Louisiana
Follow our journey, shop our favorite garden products, and learn more about upcoming workshops at:
Garden & Grace Urban Farm & Community Garden
We Give | What We Grow 🌱💚