Growing
BeAutiful Community
in The GARDEN
Brooklyn Heights
Community Garden
cultivates healthy community through growing food, intergenerational learning and creative play.
Honor The LAnd
Nurture People
Inspire Love
Meet Ms. PeArl,
Founder & COMMUNITY HEALER
Nella 'Ms. Pearl' Frierson has always been able to take a little and create plenty. She is the mother of 5 daughters and Granny to 6 beloved grandkids and babies. In 1998, she moved her family from JC Napier Homes to the Scruggs Brooklyn Heights Community to embrace a healthier lifestyle.
Ms. Pearl has held the vision of the garden for over 12 years. After a neighborhood tragedy, she saw deep need in her community: to rediscover the connection between elders and young people; to rebuild and reconstruct self-awareness and self-love; and to remember the importance of playing in the dirt at any age. By hosting shoe sales and fish fries, Ms. Pearl purchased two lots which were empty at the time and began to garden on them. She invited others and over the years, the garden has transformed as much as the people who spent time there.
In addition to her work as farmer, founder, mother, grandmother, and mama, Ms. Pearl is a certified reflexologist, permaculturist, cosmetologist & Montessori educator; a member of the Shackled Feet dance company, an author, a comedian, a poet, and infinitely more. Her mantra is "Start where you are, use what you have, do what you must - just get busy!!!" - and she will always leave the light on for you.
Ms. Pearl is a regular fixture on discussion panels about sustainability & regenerative agriculture. She is a Nashville go-to to discuss local food & community-building, appearing on local news & NPR stations and regularly featured in print publications.
If you are interested in having Ms. Pearl speak to your student group or organization, please reach out to us at office@brooklynheightscommunitygarden.org.
Ms. Pearl at BHCG filming a promotional video with the USDA and Natural Conservation Services. You can follow Ms. Pearl on TikTok @MsPearlsGarden
