Sharessa Garland
Sharessa Garland moved to New Orleans in 2010 from New York state with over seven years of animal-husbandry and farming experience then worked at Audubon Zoo for five years. As a parent, she quickly identified the need for a place where children in the metropolitan New Orleans area could learn about farming, humane animal husbandry, and where they could meet and interact with farm animals in their own environment. She worked hard to identify a location within Orleans Parish where she could make her vision a reality and where she could share the values that farming can bring forth. With support of members of the community, she was able to purchase the land to create Sugar Roots Farm in October, 2014. With the support of volunteers from the community, Garland cleared the land and built enclosures, shelters, and basic infrastructure. Sugar Roots Farm has since become a destination for many school-aged children to learn about farming and farm-to-table concepts. She obtained a non-profit status for Sugar Roots Farm in January of 2016. She was sought out and has been invited to participate as a presenter at the 2016 Farm To Table Experience in New Orleans.