On Monday evening, New Orleans Food & Farm Network and Recirculating Farms Coalition hosted a special preview of their plans for the upcoming food and urban farm center Growing Local NOLA in the Central City lot located at 1750 Carondelet. The site will soon serve as the new location for the offices of both organizations. From community growing spaces and outdoor farm to table cooking classes, Growing Local NOLA has a lot in store for New Orleans residents. Continue reading »
In May of 2013, I first met Ica Crawford at the Bayou Boogaloo festival inside the giant Slow Food tent on the banks of Bayou St. John. She was representing Our Garden, a non-profit organization she established. I was excited to discover a new urban agriculture organization. My eyes immediately jumped to the interactive display behind her. Hay, dirt, and seed packets lay on top of the table, surrounded by rocks, brochures, and information about the biological structure of plants. Impressed, I turned to Ica to learn more, “What’s a seed bomb?” Ica explained that a seed bomb contained clay, hay, dirt, and a seed. One simply places a seed bomb on a vacant lot, and with water, the seed will grow and bring life and food to the space. Ica handed me a packet that contained a basil seed and one of the detailed brochures. Continue reading »