Meet the team
Bailey Hutchison
Founder /Operations Director
Bailey Hutchison is a multifaceted horticulturist, herbalist, and artist born in the historic 7th ward of New Orleans, Louisiana. She holds a Bachelor's in Natural Resource and Ecology Management from Louisiana State University with a focus on conservation biology. She continued independent studies supported by One Family Farm in Trinidad and Tobago and has deep roots in the Caribbean islands and the deep south. In Trinidad, she spent the majority of her time in La Lune village studying growing practices and herbal remedies from village leader Noriga Granger, his daughter Giselle Granger, and other respected herbalists and cultivators. She is a third-generation grower and herbalist that specializes in Afro-Indigenous ethnobotany, the study of the traditions and customs concerning plants and their medical, religious, and spiritual uses. She works closely with local and international black and indigenous communities to find creative ways to help regain food sovereignty and normalize the practice of herbalism. As the founder of TruCulture Community Market, she continues to share Black agrarian life skills, traditional chemical-free foods, and the dying art of herbal healing with her community.
James Hutchison
Farm Director
James Hutchison, born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a multifaceted land steward, skilled builder, and devoted community advocate. With deep roots in both finance and team management from his early career, James seamlessly transitioned these competencies into his work as the manager of TruCulture Farm. His leadership spans over 20 years, marked by a unique blend of strategic planning and hands-on expertise that fuels the farm's growth and sustainability.
James's specialties are as varied as they are impactful. He is a master of woodworking, electrical work, and masonry, channeling his practical skills into lifeskill facilitation that empowers others. He has a talent for teaching, guiding community members to develop trade skills that promote self-reliance and economic resilience. His projects are known for their creative flair, each embodying a thoughtful design that showcases his dedication to both functionality and artistry.
Beyond his technical and managerial prowess, James's role in the community extends to that of a mentor and steadfast supporter, affectionately known as “community Baba” or "Papouy." His deep commitment to sustainable agriculture, land stewardship, and community building has earned him immense respect, as he tirelessly champions self-determination and resilience for those around him.
Karen Hutchison
Director of Arts and Culture
Karen Hutchison is a lifelong planter and a keeper of land, lineage, and living memory. Specializing in exotic plant species, she was Bailey’s first teacher, passing down ancestral knowledge of cultivation, care, and the quiet language of growing things. Her hands have always known how to nurture life, whether rooted in soil or rooted in community.
A born culture bearer, Karen began weaving and crocheting at twelve years old. What started as a childhood craft has grown into more than twenty-two years of dedicated textile artistry. Her woven pieces carry the weight of heritage and the softness of home, calling us back to our roots with every thread.
For over forty years, Karen has poured into her community as a coiffure artist. Her salon chair has long served as a sacred space where hair is tended, spirits are restored, and stories are honored. As both stylist and confidant, she has shaped far more than hairstyles. She has shaped lives.
Karen is also a devoted lover of books and education. She believes deeply in the power of learning as liberation. Through her artistry, her plant wisdom, and her unwavering commitment to her community, she continues to cultivate beauty, preserve stories, and weave together the culture that raised her.
