Producers & Sustainability

SPROUT’s Producers and Sustainability Programming supports Louisiana farmers by connecting them to resources and each other. We also work on state and federal agricultural policy.

Quick Links

 
 

Technical Assistance for Farmers

 

Classes & WOrkshops

SPROUT works with experts in our community to provide educational opportunities for growers at different scales. Our in-person and online offerings range from gardening classes for kids, to urban ecology workshops for families, to a sophisticated series of workshops on soil composition, aquaponics, and livestock for advanced farmers. While some learning opportunities are reserved for our learning cohorts, most are open and free for community members. See our calendar of classes.

Learning Cohorts

In our Learning Cohorts, groups of growers with a shared interest in learning and collaboration participate in a series of classes and gatherings. In our Urban Agriculture Cohort, beginning urban growers work through a curriculum that includes workshops on: irrigation; plant, pest, and weed identification; greenhouse practices; markets; and leases & land. Our Climate-Smart Farmer Cohort includes farmers from Louisiana’s diverse regions to learn and teach about climate and agriculture with the goal of becoming better able to speak on the issue to policymakers and their communities. SPROUT gives priority to historically underserved community members in cohort member selection. Learn about and apply to one of our upcoming cohorts.

Technical assistance office hours

SPROUT staff host office hours to field calls with new farmers in the state, providing in-person and digital support on any needs, and connecting them with someone who can help. We provide technical assistance in market development to new and existing farmers by connecting them with local food businesses. We help with labeling, post-harvest handling procedures, and finding market streams to help them grow sustainably.  Sign up for farmer technical assistance office hours here. 

Cover crop & pollinator demonstrations

In addition to business services, we host demonstrations and pilot projects for sustainable farming practices like using cover crops and pollinator strips. Projects like those help farmers build healthier soil and weed suppression.

Grow louisiana

In partnership with LSU, Acadiana Food Alliance, and the Crescent City Farmers Market, we facilitate Grow LA, a USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. We supplement Grow LA with community classes, office hours, community support, and workshops. 

 

Farmer Cooperative Organizing

Greater New Orleans Growers Alliance  (GNOGA)

SPROUT is a longstanding partner of the Greater New Orleans Grower’s Alliance (GNOGA), a space for new and seasoned farmers to meet, share resources, and collaborate on future endeavors. This network provides the resources to allow people to try their hand at farming and collaborate with others to create a social sphere around the local farming community. You do not need to be a working farmer or horticulture professional to participate in GNOGA, but our goal is to build power for those that are professionalizing urban horticulture. Join the GNOGA listserv here to receive updates about events, meetings, and other community happenings! 

Collaborative Regional Alliance of Farmer Trainings (CRAFT)

For more established farmers, we help facilitate CRAFT, a coalition of farmers who meet to discuss their businesses and share ideas to become more successful, all while building community around local agriculture.

 

Grower Resources

Tool Library & BCS Tractor

Sprout has many tools and equipment that's available for local farmers to use for their agricultural enterprise. Click here to request a loan from our tool library, or contact us for more info.

community cooler

In response to the need for more cold storage, SPROUT maintains a community cooler at Press Street Gardens. Farmers can utilize the community cooler for storage before taking produce to market. Click here to email your inquiry about using the community cooler.

seed library & greenhouse

Do you need access to seedlings and seeds? Learn about these programs on our Community Food page.

Cover Crop Seeds

Click here to request any of the following cover crop seeds for your farm:

  • Dutch Clover

  • Red Clover 

  • Sun hemp

  • Rape seeds

  • Austrian Winter pea 

  • Millet

  • Tillage radish

  • Iron and clay peas 

  • Albert Lea

  • Sorghum Sudan 

  • Buckwheat 

  • Annual Rye

  • Hairy Vetch



 

State & Federal Policy

Louisiana Small-Scale Agriculture Coalition (LSSAC)

LSSAC was borne out of the LFPA program and consists of SPROUT NOLA, Acadiana Food Alliance (AFA), FPAC,, Louisiana Central, Market Umbrella (MU), Big River Economic Agricultural Development Alliance (BREADA), and Shreveport Green. These seven producer-focused food system organizations from around the state have come together as LSSAC to start working towards a just and sustainable statewide food system. This coalition is focused on applying for and administering large-scale programs and funding that often never make their way into Louisiana. Through increased state-wide coordination and increased capacity, LSSAC hopes to bring much needed funding and assistance to support a new food system for Louisiana eaters and growers alike. 

Board Committee Representation 

SPROUT sits on the steering committee of the Food Policy Action Council, or FPAC, which is an advisory committee for the City of New Orleans. FPAC pushes lawmakers for sustainable reform in food and agriculture laws at the local, state, and national levels.

Louisiana’s Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program 

SPROUT is helping to coordinate Louisiana's Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program, which brings nearly 7 million dollars for purchasing food from local growers to be distributed through Louisiana food banks. SPROUT has led the process by bringing together nonprofit partners (through LSSAC) and food banks from throughout the state to collaborate. Together, this collective will ensure that low-income urban and rural residents have access to local food, and that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who work in agriculture get fair prices and wages, have the support and technical assistance they need to grow their capacity sustainably, and are able to pivot to new markets if funding changes.

Federal Policy Advocacy

Sprout’s policy and research team works to bring the voice of Gulf South farmers into the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is the singlest largest piece of federal agricultural legislation and it is passed every 5 years. Our farm bill work is intent on making sure that the Gulf Coast grassroots have a voice in what programs and funding for farming, hunger and nutrition, fisheries, and climate look like for the next 5 years. We are working with in-state and out-of-state partners like FPAC, Gulf South for A Green New Deal, LSSAC, and others to cultivate a strong voice.

 

Producers & Sustainability
Program Impacts

“The SPROUT cover crop program has expanded our use of cover crops and other sustainable farming practices at our farm. Not only has the actual seed been essential to putting fields to rest in between crops, but the insight and knowledge that SPROUT staff has been able to offer to us as we start this journey has been key to the success of our operation.” - Sierra Torres, Cicada Calling Farm