Urban Farm + Community Garden

Rooted in New Orleans. Growing with Grace.

Garden & Grace Urban Farm & Community Garden is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to growing food, growing knowledge, and growing stronger communities throughout New Orleans.

EIN: 42-3500729

Our mission is simple:

We Give What We Grow.

We believe that fresh food, gardening education, and access to green spaces should be available to everyone. Through sustainable urban farming, environmental stewardship, volunteerism, and hands-on learning, we cultivate more than fruits and vegetables—we cultivate connection, opportunity, and hope.

Our Story

Garden & Grace began with a simple belief: gardens have the power to transform lives.

What started as a passion for plants has grown into a nonprofit urban farm and community garden where neighbors, schools, volunteers, and families come together to learn, serve, and grow. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the joy of planting a seed, harvesting fresh food, and connecting with nature.

Our roots are firmly planted in New Orleans, where the climate, culture, and resilience of our community inspire everything we do. Living and gardening in South Louisiana has taught us what thrives here, and we're passionate about sharing that knowledge while creating a healthier, greener future for our city.

Growing Food. Growing Community.

Our urban farm serves as a living classroom and a place of generosity.

The fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers we grow help support local families, community refrigerators, food distribution partners, and neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Every harvest is an opportunity to nourish both people and community.

Beyond growing food, we provide opportunities for people of all ages to reconnect with nature through:

  • School field trips and educational programs
  • Gardening and sustainability workshops
  • Volunteer and community service opportunities
  • Environmental education and pollinator conservation
  • Seasonal events and hands-on learning experiences
  • Community partnerships that strengthen neighborhoods

Whether you're five or ninety-five, there's always something new to learn in the garden.

Gardening for the Gulf Coast

As a New Orleans nonprofit, we understand the unique challenges and rewards of gardening in South Louisiana. Our subtropical climate, long growing season, heavy rains, humidity, and native ecosystems shape everything we plant and teach.

We share practical, region-specific gardening knowledge that helps our community successfully grow vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, native Louisiana plants, pollinator gardens, and more.

By teaching people how to grow their own food and care for the environment, we're planting seeds that will benefit generations to come.

Supporting Our Mission

Garden & Grace is also home to a mission-driven online garden shop that helps sustain our work.

The shop operates as a separate for-profit business, and a portion of every purchase is donated directly to Garden & Grace Urban Farm & Community Garden to support our nonprofit programs and mission.

Every purchase helps us:

  • Grow fresh produce for donation.
  • Expand educational programming.
  • Maintain our gardens, greenhouse, and pollinator habitats.
  • Provide volunteer opportunities and community events.
  • Continue investing in a healthier and more sustainable New Orleans.

When you shop with Garden & Grace, you're helping grow far more than a garden.

Our Promise

Everything we do is guided by one simple philosophy:

We Give What We Grow.

Whether you volunteer, attend a workshop, visit the farm, partner with us, make a donation, or shop in our online store, you become part of a community rooted in kindness, sustainability, and service.

Thank you for believing in our mission and helping us cultivate stronger gardens, stronger neighborhoods, and a greener future for New Orleans.

Together, we're growing food, growing community, and growing with grace.

 

Our Board Members

Meet the dedicated leaders guiding our community garden mission.

Emily Frischhertz

Emily Frischhertz

Board President and Founder
Emily Frischhertz is the Founder, President, Secretary, and Treasurer of Garden & Grace Urban Farm & Community Garden. A serial entrepreneur with a background in marketing, communications, event production, and community engagement, Emily has spent years turning creative ideas into businesses, events, and charitable initiatives that bring people together. Garden & Grace first began as an online garden shop, created as a way for Emily to share the fertilizers, gardening tools, pots, and products she personally loved and used in her own gardens. Her passion for growing soon expanded beyond her own backyard. She began propagating plants from her personal collection and eventually became a Louisiana Licensed Nursery, allowing Garden & Grace to grow from an online shop into a hands-on horticultural venture. That entrepreneurial beginning ultimately grew into something much larger. Emily founded Garden & Grace Urban Farm & Community Garden as a nonprofit dedicated to growing food, sharing knowledge, and creating meaningful connections within the New Orleans community. What started with plants in her own backyard has become a living classroom and gathering place where children, families, volunteers, and neighbors can learn sustainable growing practices, experience the joy of harvesting fresh food, and discover how even a small urban space can make a difference. Emily oversees the organization’s strategic planning, fundraising, marketing, educational programming, volunteer coordination, community partnerships, and daily farm operations. In addition to her work with Garden & Grace, she serves with other charitable organizations and foundations throughout the New Orleans community, bringing her experience in fundraising, communications, event production, and nonprofit service to causes close to home. At heart, Emily is a gardener, entrepreneur, and community builder who believes good ideas are meant to be put into action. Her vision for Garden & Grace is captured in its simple promise: We Give What We Grow. Whether that means fresh food, gardening knowledge, plants, time, or simply a place for people to connect, she believes that what is cultivated at Garden & Grace should ultimately be shared with the community aroun
Marc Frischhertz

Marc Frischhertz

Vice President, Legal Council, Bonsai Specialist
Marc Frischhertz serves as Vice President of Garden & Grace Urban Farm & Community Garden while also serving as the Managing Partner of Frischhertz & Impastato Law Firm in New Orleans. Marc provides invaluable legal guidance and organizational leadership as Garden & Grace continues to grow. His professional expertise helps ensure the organization is built on a strong legal and operational foundation, allowing the nonprofit to focus on its mission with confidence and integrity. Beyond the office, Marc is an accomplished bonsai enthusiast whose patience and appreciation for nature reflect the values of Garden & Grace. Whether assisting with infrastructure projects, maintaining the property, lending a hand wherever needed, or offering thoughtful leadership behind the scenes, his contributions are immeasurable. His unwavering support, leadership, and countless hours of farmhand assistance have played an essential role in making the charitable work of Garden & Grace possible.
Emily Catanzaro

Emily Catanzaro

Director Community Outreach
Emily Catanzaro brings a unique combination of military service, business experience, entrepreneurship, and a lifelong passion for gardening to Garden & Grace. A proud United States Army Veteran, Emily has professional experience in profit management and pricing coordination, bringing valuable skills in organization, analysis, planning, and operational support to the farm. Emily is also the owner of M’ Cat Creations https://www.mcatcreations.com, where her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit come together through her own small business. Emily shares a lifelong love of gardening, growing food, and spending time outdoors. Her practical nature, commitment to service, and dedication to helping others make her an invaluable member of the organization. At Garden & Grace, Emily supports community outreach, works alongside volunteers, and helps create programs that encourage families and individuals to connect with gardening and growing their own food. Her commitment to service continues through her work at the farm, where she helps strengthen community relationships and supports Garden & Grace’s mission to grow food, knowledge, and community.
Susan Cantrelle

Susan Cantrelle

Director of Herbal Education and Plant Uses
Director | Herbal Education & Plant Medicine Susan Cantrelle is a Registered Nurse whose career has been dedicated to improving the health and well-being of others. Throughout her life, she has mentored and guided teenagers in wellness, encouraging healthy habits, confidence, and personal growth through compassionate leadership. Her love of gardening began in childhood under the guidance of her father, Jack, who held a degree in Forestry. His knowledge of trees, plants, and the natural environment inspired Susan's lifelong fascination with herbs, gardening, and the healing power of nature. Susan combines decades of medical knowledge with a deep appreciation for herbal education, nutrition, and holistic wellness. At Garden & Grace, she helps bridge the gap between traditional healthcare and natural living by teaching the many ways gardens can nourish both body and mind. Her warmth, wisdom, and commitment to lifelong learning make her an invaluable resource for volunteers, families, and community members seeking to cultivate healthier lives through nature.
Nick Frischhertz

Nick Frischhertz

Director Social Media Engagment
Nicholas Frischhertz is a senior at Louisiana State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with plans to continue his education abroad while working toward a Ph.D. in Psychology. An LSU Midfield Lacrosse player, Nicholas has always found peace and inspiration outdoors. Whether hiking mountain trails, snorkeling vibrant reefs, exploring new cities, or photographing wildlife and landscapes, he has a deep appreciation for the natural world and the stories it tells. Growing up surrounded by homegrown fruits, vegetables, and fresh meals, Nicholas developed an early appreciation for sustainable living and healthy eating. His passion for photography and digital storytelling allows him to capture the beauty of Garden & Grace while helping share its mission with a broader audience. Through creative media, educational content, and community engagement, Nicholas helps inspire others to reconnect with nature and discover the beauty of growing their own food.