A Living Classroom in Heart of Metairie
Tucked inside LaSalle Park in Metairie, the LaSalle Park Agrarian Garden is one of MGGNO’s most active and meaningful community outreach projects. The garden sits at 6600 Airline Drive, right alongside the park’s walking path, nature trail, and recreation areas. It was first built in 2011 and later restored in 2022 after storm damage. Today it serves as a welcoming outdoor classroom where visitors of all ages learn about growing food, caring for plants, and supporting a healthy environment.
The garden is a partnership between the LSU AgCenter, the Master Gardeners of Greater New Orleans, and Jefferson Beautification, Inc. It was created to encourage healthy eating and home gardening, and it continues to fulfill that mission every week. School groups, home school families, special-needs programs, garden clubs, and everyday park visitors stop by to explore the beds, ask questions, and pick fresh produce. More than 70 percent of what we harvest is shared with visitors, and everyone is welcome to cut herbs to take home.
The main growing area is about 74 by 31 feet and includes a mix of raised metal beds and in-ground rows. Seasonal vegetables and herbs fill the space year-round. Fall plantings include potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, squash, radishes, shallots, lettuces, English peas, tomatoes, collard greens, beets, and Pak Choy. We also maintain strawberries, bell peppers, eggplants, and a full range of pepper varieties, from mild to extremely hot on the Scoville scale. All together, our annual yield is roughly 500 pounds.
A second garden area, about 45 by 31 feet, is dedicated to pollinators. Four concrete raised beds and four in-ground beds house a colorful mix of native plants, Louisiana Super Plants, and nectar and host plants chosen to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Visitors often linger on the benches to watch the butterflies or simply enjoy the peaceful setting.
The garden is maintained by trained and certified Master Gardeners who volunteer every Wednesday morning and on the first and third Saturdays of the month. Each workday is a chance to tend the beds, talk with visitors, and support hands-on learning. Recent improvements—such as a new two-sided compost bin, drip irrigation system, and a mini library stocked with seeds, soil test kits, and reference materials—have expanded what we can teach on site.
Education is at the heart of this project. In the past year, the garden has welcomed home school groups, special-needs programs, and families attending Earth Day and Master Gardener presentations. About 300 visitors have taken part so far, with more scheduled before year’s end. Students plant seeds, harvest vegetables, learn about composting, and explore topics like pollination, native plants, growing seasons, and the parts of a plant. Younger visitors especially enjoy smelling and touching the herbs and taking home seed packs or small activities to continue learning.
Our home school lessons cover everything from starting seeds and identifying edible plant parts to understanding butterfly life cycles and the role of pollinators. These sessions are simple, hands-on, and fun, giving kids a real connection to where food comes from and how gardens support the wider ecosystem.
Behind the scenes, Master Gardeners meet with LSU AgCenter Horticulture Agent Chris Dunaway twice a year to plan seasonal crops, discuss care and pest management, update signage, schedule outreach programs, and keep the garden running smoothly. The project is funded by the Jefferson Parish Council, Jefferson Parish Parks and Recreation, Jefferson Beautification, Inc., the LSU AgCenter, and MGGNO.
The LaSalle Park Agrarian Garden continues to grow because of strong community support and the dedication of volunteers. Whether you’re a gardener, a parent, a teacher, or simply someone who enjoys spending time outdoors, we invite you to stop by, learn something new, and take home a taste of the garden.
Author:
Debra Firmin, Master Gardener of Greater New Orleans
Editor:
Linda Wegmann, Master Gardener of Greater New Orleans
Photography:
Linda Wegmann
Chris Dunaway
To learn more about LaSalle Park Agarian Garden, click here or email lasallepark@mggno.com.