Our School at Blair Grocery

Location:  New Orleans, LA

Day Job:  We are an independent community school, sustainability education center and urban farm in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans

The Digs:  Community Garden, Containers, Other

Crops:  Basil, Bell Peppers, Blueberries, Bok-choy, Broccoli, Carrots, Chile Peppers, Collards, Figs, Garlic, Grapes, Green beans, Jalepeno Peppers, Kale, Lettuce, Melons, Mint, Mustard Greens, Peas, Rosemary, Spinach, Squash, Strawberries, Sugar Snap Peas, Tomatoes, sprouts and microgreens

Animals:  Bees, Cats, Chickens, Dogs, Ducks, Goats

Why I'm Getting Dirty:  Communities in New Orleans, and particularly the Lower 9th Ward continue to fight an uphill battle to recovery from Hurricane Katrina more than 5 years ago. The fundamental building blocks of community remain elusive. Access to quality education, meaningful employment and even food remain severely limited. Our School at Blair Grocery is creating a resource rich safe space for youth empowerment and sustainable community development. We envision a community where empowered youth engage in reflective practice with others to actualize effective, replicable, environmental justice based local solutions to global challenges. Our students are 15-19 African American young men who have not found success in traditional school environments, yet need and deserve a safe space to learn and grow. Our school is sustained financially by through the growing and selling of produce to top New Orleans restaurants and chefs. For more information, visit our blog at www.ourschoolatblairgrocery.org

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