What is Okra Abbey?

Okra Abbey is a community garden, mutual aid hub and "third space" for spiritual recreation and re-creation - a sacred space where we grow food, herbal medicine, relationships and community connections. Okra Abbey supports mutual aid programs, skill-shares, distributions (clothing, food, toiletries, harm reduction supplies), and community events, working to support the spiritual, emotional and material needs of our neighbors in Pigeon Town.  

Okra Abbey is a project of the Presbytery of South Louisiana and was founded as a 10001 New Worshiping Community of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Okra Abbey sits at the intersection of interfaith and secular communities rooted in love and liberation, striving to be welcoming & inclusive of people from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Our Mission

Our Values

Okra Abbey’s mission is to grow beloved community by nourishing & connecting people, plants & the environment to meet our collective material needs, nurture spiritual growth & transform the suffering caused by systemic oppression into compassion & action.

Okra Abbey’s values are rooted in radical love in pursuit of collective liberation and resistance to systemic oppression. As part of our commitment to collective liberation, Okra Abbey is inspired by and aspires to embody and practice…

• Anti-Racist & anti-oppressive practices

• Harm reduction approaches

• Restorative & transformative justice

• Disability justice

• Mutual aid

• Anti-carceral approaches