On Sept. 1, 2022, Chad Kacir, State Conservationist for the Louisiana Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) dedicated Sankofa Community Garden, located at 27 St. Claude Court at North Rampart in the lower ninth ward, as Louisiana’s first 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 habitats for pollinators and wildlife and creating greenspaces for the local community. Sankofa Community Garden in New Orleans is one of only 17 flagship People’s Gardens located in urban communities nationwide.

Photo credit: Taylor Naquin

Sankofa Community Development Corporation is beyond thrilled to have its garden selected as Louisiana’s first People’s Garden in the state. The dedication of Sankofa’s Community Garden supports Sankofa’s organizational goal of creating a local environment that promotes positive health outcomes and builds healthier communities for generations to come.

Sankofa is sharing its wealth of gardening expertise with community members by engaging in partnerships with faith-based and community organizations to help establish their own gardens. Through these partnerships, Sankofa is working with a network of community gardeners to help build gardens, donate fruit trees and collaborate on gardening techniques.

The partners Sankofa is currently working with include Mount Nebo Bible Baptist Church, Villa St. Maurice, Central Missionary Baptist Church, New Testament Baptist Church, Lower 9 Senior Center and NENA (Lower 9th Ward Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association).

To learn more about Sankofa’s Community Garden and the work Sankofa is doing across the community, visit https://sankofanola.org.

About Sankofa Community Development Corporation: Sankofa CDC is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that was founded in 2008 by Rashida Ferdinand in alliance with community stakeholders in the Lower Ninth Ward following Hurricane Katrina to support health-centered community and economic development in the area. Building healthier communities for more generations to come. 5200 Dauphine Street, New Orleans, LA 70117 (504) 872-9214