USDA / NRCS Louisiana Announces People’s Garden Dedication in New Orleans

The dedication ceremony will take place at the Sankofa Community Development Garden located at 27 St. Claude Court at North Rampart in the lower ninth ward of New Orleans.

What is a “People’s Garden?”

USDA’s People’s Garden initiative was created to partner with local organizations who work on growing fresh, healthy food that support resilient local food systems. One of the ways a People’s Garden accomplishes this goal is through outreach, education and teaching local community members how to garden using conservation practices. An added benefit of establishing a People’s Garden is the development of habitat for pollinators and wildlife and creating greenspace for the local community. The People’s Garden in New Orleans is one of 17 flagship gardens located in urban communities nationwide

“The USDA/NRCS partnership with Sankofa Community Development is long-standing, we knew that establishing Louisiana’s flagship People’s Garden with them would be ideal,” explained Kacir. “The People’s Garden initiative is all about getting agriculture into urban and even rural communities, teaching them how to garden and all the benefits that come from growing your own food.”

“We are beyond thrilled to be selected as Louisiana’s first People’s Garden by USDA/NRCS,” said Rashida Ferdinand, founder and CEO of Sankofa Community Development Corporation. “The dedication of the Sankofa Community Development Garden supports our organizational goal of creating a local environment that promotes positive health outcomes and builds healthier communities for generations to come.”