Roots of Renewal: Cicada Calling Farm & Their Seasonal Harvests
By Keenan Goldsmith, General Manager
From the fields of Independence, Louisiana, Cicada Calling Farm brings vibrant, seasonal produce to Dakar NOLA. Their dedication to regenerative agriculture, community, and seed stewardship shapes every dish we serve.
Cultivating Community
At Dakar NOLA, our menu begins long before a dish reaches the table. It starts in the soil, with the care and vision of growers who share our commitment to flavor, sustainability, and community. One of those partners is Cicada Calling Farm, a two-acre vegetable farm run by Louisiana natives Sierra Torres and Becks Hilliard.
Sierra and Becks grew up immersed in the culture and flavors of Louisiana. Sierra, a “bayou girl” raised in New Orleans, combines a culinary arts background with a B.S. in Sustainable Food and Farming. She has managed farms across the world and coordinated community food distribution efforts during COVID-19 to support families unable to access federal aid. Becks, from Baton Rouge, learned the art of Southern cooking alongside their grandmother Mimi, studied Human Geography with a focus on environmental racism, and co-managed a 27-acre organic fruit farm before returning to Louisiana to build a farm that could serve both the land and community.
Photos courtesy of Cicada Calling Farm
Cicada Calling Farm was founded with a mission to grow food in harmony with the Gulf South environment, building soil health, preserving regional seed biodiversity, and cultivating crops adapted to local climate and weather challenges. Each harvest reflects the rhythms of the seasons and the intentional work of Sierra and Becks.
Philosophy and Growing Practices
"Farming in the Gulf South is an act of resistance," says Becks Hilliard of Cicada Calling Farm.
Cicada Calling Farm focuses on regenerative and sustainable practices that prioritize soil health, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. They source much of their seed from Southern cooperative growers such as Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, ensuring the varieties they cultivate are resilient to local pests, diseases, and climate extremes.
The farm avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, instead relying on composting, cover cropping, and careful seasonal planning. Every plant is grown with attention to its environment, ensuring that the produce is not only flavorful, but also nurtures the land that sustains it.
Photos courtesy of Cicada Calling Farm
Equity, Access, and Community Impact
Cicada Calling Farm is committed to building a more resilient, equitable food system in Louisiana. Their initiatives include:
Supporting community access to fresh, local food through markets, CSA programs, and partnerships with mutual aid networks
Preserving and propagating Southern seed varieties to strengthen regional biodiversity
Hosting educational opportunities and workshops that connect children and community members to sustainable farming practices
For Sierra and Becks, the farm is not just a business. It is an intentional investment in the future of Louisiana, its land, its food, and its communities.
Farm Share and Community Engagement
Cicada Calling Farm sells produce primarily to local chefs, home cooks, and community members through CSA subscriptions and farmers markets. Customers delight in the quality, flavor, and freshness of their offerings. Each harvest tells the story of a farm guided by care, creativity, and a commitment to nurturing the land and community.
Our Partnership
Our collaboration with Cicada Calling Farm is a partnership rooted in shared values. Their vibrant vegetables, herbs, and other produce bring brightness, depth, and character to our seasonal tasting menu.
Each ingredient reflects the farm’s philosophy of sustainability, resilience, and respect for the land.
By sourcing directly from Cicada Calling, we are not only supporting a local farm. We are investing in a food system that honors the history, culture, and ecosystems of Louisiana.
Cicada Calling Farm is more than a supplier. They are partners, stewards, and neighbors helping us create a menu that celebrates the flavors and abundance of the Gulf South.
As our seasonal menus evolve, their harvest continues to shape the soul of what we serve.
A Shared Vision
Cicada Calling Farm and Dakar NOLA share a mission to honor the past, nurture the present, and cultivate a future where food connects rather than divides. Every plate that leaves our kitchen carries a trace of their work, a reflection of the care, resilience, and creativity that define the Gulf South.
Together, we are growing more than food. We are growing a movement rooted in renewal, community, and the enduring rhythm of the land.
Learn more about Cicada Calling Farm here.