While others families are crowding grocery stores and checking sales advertisements to prepare for a Thanksgiving feast, the Galloway family is thankful every day for the feast growing on the grounds of their farm.
Set in an urban neighborhood only a mile south of Interstate 10 in St. Martin, the Galloway Family Farm and Education Center is an example of a growing plan designed for sustainable living.
Tracy Galloway and his wife run the farm and welcome guests of all ages to create meaningful, hands-on farm experiences.
“For me, farming is about much more than producing food,” he said. “It is about cultivating knowledge, preserving our heritage, strengthening families, and planting seeds of opportunity for the next generation.”
Galloway, a third-generation farmer and a U.S. Army veteran, said his farm has a special story to tell. And that story started on the property next door where he and his 16 siblings lived and farmed with his parents. Farming to help feed the family was instilled in him as a young boy, and today, he markets Galloway Farm as a place where more than food is grown.
“Farming is more than a profession for me; it is part of my family’s heritage, identity, and legacy,” Galloway said. “I am a third-generation African-American farmer whose agricultural roots trace back to my grandmother, Emma Lee McDaniel-Galloway, and my father, Calvin C. Galloway Sr. Growing up with that agricultural heritage taught me the importance of land stewardship, hard work, self-sufficiency, and the ability to grow food to nourish our families and communities.”
He said the farm today was inspired by a desire to preserve the family legacy while creating a space where children, families, veterans and individuals from all walks of life could reconnect with nature.
“What began as a commitment to growing healthy, nutritious food evolved into a much larger vision: establishing Galloway Family Farm & Education Center, a veteran-owned, nonprofit educational farm in Ocean Springs, Mississippi,” he said. “I wanted our farm to become more than a place where fruits and vegetables grow. I envisioned an outdoor classroom where guests could develop an appreciation for agriculture.”
And that is just what it did. The farm combines sustainable agriculture, environmental education, nutrition, health and wellness, and hands-on learning experiences for all. Galloway said he is especially passionate about introducing young children to farming because many have never planted a seed, harvested a vegetable, or collected a freshly laid chicken egg.
He said his family legacy and his service to the United States Army equipped him with leadership and community service.
“The military instilled in me discipline, perseverance, adaptability, teamwork, accountability, and the importance of having a clear mission,” Galloway said. “These qualities are essential in agriculture where unpredictable weather, equipment failures, financial challenges, and the demands of daily operations require constant problem-solving.”
Of the many lessons learned while in the military, he said the most valuable was that success requires preparation, strategic planning, and the willingness to adapt when circumstances change.
“As a founding member of the Mississippi Chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition and a selected Farmer Veteran Coalition mentor, I am committed to helping fellow veterans explore agriculture as a viable career, business opportunity, and pathway toward greater self-sufficiency,” Galloway said. “Our farm provides opportunities to learn about sustainable growing practices, farm management, entrepreneurship, and agricultural education.
“In the military, we served our country. Through farming, I believe we can continue that service by feeding, educating, mentoring, and strengthening our communities,” he continued.
The farm sits on approximately 1.2 acres and requires year-round commitment. With more than 150 fruit trees, thousands of vegetable plants and herbs, raised garden beds, greenhouse growing areas, educational spaces, and a flock of approximately 50 chickens and 5 turkeys, farm maintenance can require several hours of hand-on work day with additional time devoted to program development, preparation and community outreach.
“Unlike a traditional residential garden, our property operates as both a working farm and an outdoor educational center,” he said. “Fortunately, I am supported by a dedicated team, family members, and wonderful volunteers who share our passion for agriculture and community service.”
Farming on the Gulf Coast provides both benefits and challenges. The warm climate allows for food growth throughout the year, but the extreme summer heat, heavy rainfall, hurricanes and occasional freezing temperatures definitely create work.
“A farm never really closes,” Galloway said. “Even when visitors are not here, something is growing, something needs attention, and there is always another opportunity to learn.”
Galloway Family Farm features a diverse collection of fruit trees, vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs, flowering plants, and pollinator-friendly vegetation. The variety is intentional as its mission extends beyond food production. Some plants are part of the long-term agricultural landscape offering food production, and others are for demonstration, transplanting, harvesting and preparing meals.
Galloway said herbs introduce visitors to their culinary uses, fragrances, cultural significance, and traditional applications while flowering plants and pollinator-friendly vegetation are used to attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects.
“These plants support biodiversity and provide opportunities to explain the critical relationship between pollinators, healthy ecosystems, and food production,” he said. “Our growing methods emphasize organic and regenerative principles, including composting, mulching, crop rotation, companion planting, soil conservation, and responsible water management.”
Walking through the farm, Galloway will tear off a piece of lettuce for a snack or cut a piece of okra off a green or red stalk and munch away. He said the farm is a living classroom where every tree, vegetable, herb, and flower has a story to tell and a lesson to teach.
The public is invited to visit the farm for a tour and lesson, and also maybe a challenge. The 30-foot rope hanging from a large live oak is his challenge for guests to win a prize. The rope must be climbed in less than 10 seconds and the bell on the branch must be sounded.
“We welcome schools, childcare centers, homeschool groups, families, veterans, community organizations, and other interested visitors to experience Galloway Family Farm & Education Center,” Galloway said. “Our farm visits are designed to be educational, interactive, and enjoyable for participants of different ages and abilities.”
Depending on the season and the group’s interests, visitors may participate in guided farm tours, hands-on gardening demonstrations, seed planting, vegetable harvesting, learning about composting, observing chickens, exploring fruit trees and herbs, and discovering the importance of pollinators.
Specialized educational workshops, agricultural career exploration, Farm-to-Table experiences, and customized programs for schools and community groups are also offered.
Visits are scheduled in advance for proper planning and to provide a safe, organized, and meaningful educational experience.
- Farm: Galloway Family Farm & Education Center
- Address: 13325 Solomon Road, Ocean Springs, MS 39564
- Telephone: (315) 408-2612
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.GwayFamilyFarm.com
Photos are courtesy of The USM Center for STEM Education, and the Galloway Family Farm and Education Center
