In 2024, the USDA Community Garden Seed Package/Sustaining Garden Award, administered through Community Resources Connection (CRC) Inc., significantly advanced the operations and outreach of our community farm. The funding enabled the purchase of essential plants, soil, and garden supplies, which were instrumental in supporting community volunteer days throughout the summer, fall, and winter.

These efforts led to the successful planting of native, heirloom pollinators, vegetables, and fruit crops.

The majority of the funding was specifically used to develop an ADA-accessible section of the farm with waist-high raised beds. This area was utilized to plant native plants and food crops, providing a beautiful and functional space for community engagement. The raised beds facilitated easier access for individuals of all abilities, making it a productive and inclusive area of the farm. This section also became a vibrant pollinator habitat, attracting butterflies and bees, which were identified and studied as part of the farm’s educational programming.

The harvest from the farm, including this ADA-accessible section, provided fresh, nutritious produce to the community, particularly benefiting food desert neighborhoods through our mobile market program, pop-up markets, and community nutrition initiatives conducted in partnership with local organizations.

This funding also enhanced the educational value and aesthetic appeal of the farm, engaging individuals of all ages, attracting local media attention, and fostering community pride. The increased availability of fresh food, made possible by the volunteers’ efforts and the materials funded, has had a lasting impact on the farm’s productivity and reach.

Following this funding, the farm has maintained weekly community volunteer days, expanded community educational opportunities, and launched affordable weekly produce markets on-site. These initiatives continue to thrive, demonstrating the transformative and sustainable impact of CRC’s support.

Shanetta Brown
Shreveport Green Urban Farm Director &
Mobile Markets Community Engagement Coordinator