Memphis Fling- New Hope Urban Farm and Forest

Our Memphis Fling is in the books. I want to share some of the wonderful spots we visited in a few posts. Monday was an extra day. It started with a visit to a school/community garden. My first thought was that we were going to see a few raised beds per grade level in an area adjacent to the school. Boy, was I wrong!! It was a feast for the eyes! I felt like we entered a park or a botanical garden. Pathways are set up to encourage you to explore the garden.

This is an acre lot on a corner across the street from New Hope Academy. This is not billed as a community garden but a school farm. I was lucky to grab an information sheet to learn more about this farm. Walk with me through the farm as I attempt to share how amazing this farm is.

Flowers and groundcovers

 It was started in 2013, working with just a vacant lot, to a lush, vibrant, colorful wonderland. It is not just row crops but herbs, a sensory garden, a carnivorous plant area, a pollinator alley, and a few bee hives. Lots of planning went into setting up the gardens.

Progress photos of building the farm

The mission was to engage the students, working the soil and learning about where much of their food comes from. The goal was to create a place that is inspirational, educational, and awe-inspiring for both the students and the teachers. There are no limits to educational experiences. The teachers' lessons can be incorporated with what is going on in the garden, anything is possible!  One example was the observation and measurements taken from growing cabbage heads.

Row crop rows bordered by flowers

Each grade level plants a different flower or food crop in the spring. I chatted with the principal who had a child in the third grade this past year and he was telling me how this grade level grew cabbages and each child had their own head. The cabbage wasn't quite ready to harvest when school ended, so those who were really invested in their cabbage came back after school to harvest it. According to the information sheet, Pre-K and Senior K grew onions and sunflowers, First grade-okra, Second grade- Luffa Gourds, Third grade- Mega Cabbage (apparently this was part of a nationwide competition), Fourth grade- Cucumbers, and Fifth grade- watermelons. There is also an After School Garden Club that grew peppers, eggplants, zinnias, tomatoes and other annuals. A few crops still in the garden were Kale, which had bolted but nice blooms for the pollinators, Fennel- a wonderful host plant for butterflies, and asparagus which is a perennial.

To participate in the After School Garden Club the 4-6th graders have to apply. This is a more in depth group and they farm multiple seasons. To encourage further interest in the farm there is a Summer Internship for middle- high school students. They are hired to work 10 hours a week to learn some of the behind the scenes work of the farm.

Big Blueberry bushes

Items grown on the farm are used in the kitchen cafeteria, though it is not enough to solely supply the kitchen with produce. In addition to row crops, there are blueberry bushes, fig trees, Asian persimmon trees and lots of herbs. They encouraged us to pick some of the blueberries as they were at peak ripeness. Very tasty!!

Ripe Blueberries

I believe I was told that the bee hives were worked by the Interns, though I didn't write it down, so I could be wrong. There are two active hives where they keep bees and harvest the honey. The honey is sold as a "Pay What You Can'' method as well as extra crops that is shared with the community. 

Along side of the row crops are flowers galore. The desire is to bring pollinators into the garden. In addition to the blooms near the crops, there was also a butterfly way that had all sorts of host plants for all needs of the butterfly- from nectar to food for the larva to a spot to lay its eggs. 

Kale with blooms

Great signage for the Sensory Garden

Herb Spiral

The Sensory Garden had multiple plants to engage the students with scent, touch and sight. The Herb Spiral was built to accommodate dry to moist conditions, depending on where in the spiral the plant is located. We were offered herbs to make our own flavored dips. We were given various herbs and a mortar and pestle to combine with yogurt for our dips. Then we had crackers and veggies to taste our concoctions. This activity was also one they do with the students.

Herb experimentation with yogurt

Long view of the farm

 

I chatted with the horticultural director about the carnivorous garden. There are pitcher plants- Sarracenia alata, Venus flytraps- Dionaea muscipula and Sundew-Drosera sp. They were planted in a dip in the land, lots of sand, soil, peat and an underlayment of heavy duty plastic. The low side of the dip allows the excess water to drain naturally. Kids are always intrigued by carnivorous plants.

So many blooms!

There is a sitting area for a makeshift classroom under some Bald Cypress trees. It started raining a little bit, and we were dry in our classroom of trees. 

Cypress circle classroom

Beyond the farm area, past the bees is a forest area. The invasives were removed and paths created so the students can explore. There really wasn’t enough time to cover the whole garden before we had to leave. Please enjoy the photos of this glorious farm. What an asset to the school, the community, and Memphis.

Bee hives and forest beyond

Labyrinth garden and a photo bomb

The farm has a couple Instagram pages- @Newhopememphis and @the.holistic.mystic 

©Copyright 2025 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet, The Queen of Seaford.

Frosty Herbs

Do you grow herbs?  I know many of you have vegetable gardens, both cool season and warm season veggie crops.  Some of you also grow fruit.  I used to grow cool and warm season vegetables.  I used to  grow fruit.  I used to grow herbs. 

Now I only grow herbs.  I might put some lettuce plants in some containers on the deck in the spring....and might do tomatoes this summer.  For now, I grow herbs.  The yard isn't set up for a vegetable garden.  That is ok, we have the best farmer's markets.  What I really love is having fresh herbs at my backdoor.

I grow most of the usual ones---Mediterranean oregano.  Looking to find some Mexican Oregano-- understand it has a different flavor.  I have a killer recipe for chili that calls for MEXICAN Oregano.  Will keep looking.

Flat leaf parsley-- what a difference from curly parsley, and dried parsley?? Not even worth it.

Salad Burnet, Sanguisorba minor, another evergreen herb.  This herb isn't one I cook with, not in the heat kind of cooking.  I use this cucumber flavored herb in salads and in my homemade Tzatziki, a cucumber yogurt dish.  This herb adds that extra cucumber boost.  Nice addition to anyone's herb garden.

One herb I had to search high and low for was one that was in my German herb mix. Fleisch-und-Gyros Würzer, a mixture of Bohnenkraut, Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, paprika and other herbs and spices.  I could find any and all of the herbs except Bohnenkraut.  For the longest time I couldn't find the translation for it.  Finally I found out it was Winter Savory.  Satureja montana, an evergreen perennial sub-shrub, with cute little white blooms in the late summer. 

 

Here it is all frosty.  I was able to find seeds and grew my own.  One can guess as soon as the seeds sprouted, I found some Winter Savory in one of the garden centers. I now have a few plants and I shared some with my fellow Master Gardener Interns. This herb is so wonderful in savory dishes...figures, right!  Pork dishes, bean dishes, salads, you name it...savory rocks.

One can't have herbs in the garden without Rosemary.  Even if you never cook with it, just to rub your hands across the plant and enjoy the fragrance of its leaves.  Rosemary is a must have.

Thyme is something we all need....both in our food and in our lives.   For now my Thyme is in a small clay pot on the deck.  All my herbs are on the deck in containers.  I have dogs, enough said.   I will find a larger container for some of the herbs in the spring.

I love the Sage with the frost on its leaves.   I use the sage in my stuffing at Thanksgiving and I put it fresh salads.

One herb that doesn't handle the cold weather at all.....Basil.  Sweet Basil is a warm season annual.  I leave my Basil in the herb pot until it is no longer.  The Goldfinches LOVE to eat the seeds of the Basil.  I like being able to have things for the birds to eat.   See how sad these poor little spent blooms look?  

And closer...you can see the leftover bloom. 

Have no fear---I harvested a few seeds to grow some Basil indoors over the winter. 

What herbs do you have to have in your garden?

words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

When You Look Really Closely......

You will know why you don't have any parsley---

The gentle fragrance of the Peony can be enjoyed



You will see the hydrangea become blue



One can hope the birds will leave a few Elderberries for me to enjoy



The Dwarf Iris is starting to bloom as the Amsonia fades



The Red Cordyline that you thought was toast, isn't--



Weigela florida 'French Lace' is putting on a show



The fragrance on the breeze is coming from the evil honeysuckle



You wonder how the little white rose bush can be doing so well with that big hole right next to it.............who lives there???

Jane continues to bloom --she is a trooper.

Japanese Asters, Kalimeris pinnatifida are starting to bloom and will continue until first frost.

Pink Grootendorst Rosa rugosa has the sweetest little blooms

But most importantly, if you sit very still, maybe no one will see you.



words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

What Color is on Your Deck?

As I look out the door to the deck I watch the raindrops on the creek. In between the door and the creek is the deck with those plants that will stay outside all winter (or until they are done producing).

The basil is still growing (and blooming), I will bring it in soon and dry some of the leaves.

In the same pot as the basil is Tri-colored Sage- this will be clipped throughout the winter for culinary delights.














Next to the herb bowl are a couple window boxes with lettuce --The 'Red Sails' is really coming along.

















The Sedum is showing a change of color that matches the clay container it is in..




After I took the containers apart earlier this fall I put the Hedera helix 'Pink-n-Very Curly' in its own container and put it in a bit more sun. What a change! The leaves are really showing some of that pink color.

Still hungry? The cherry tomatoes are still growing and putting forth fruit.

















Last but not least-- a miniature rose.   I used to think I needed to bring this in for the winter, though I don't know why!!  It has lived outside since 2003 and been very happy.