Tucked away on Airline Drive in north Bossier City, Raccoon Bend Farms is an urban farm where fresh food, wellness, and community come together.

The farm specializes in cultivating 100% organic, chemical-free, and non-GMO heirloom fruits and vegetables. Started by Lee and Alicia DuCote, the owners wanted a community space where visitors can source honest food, learn about holistic health, and experience a peaceful, rural environment right within the city.

“Our farm is filling a void in the marketplace for clean, healthy food that provides life-giving nutrients and vitality,” Alicia said. 

That mission recently expanded into events like the May 23 Wellness Fair, designed to blend wellness, education, and community gathering in one experience. 

“We want events like the Wellness Fair to showcase vendors who offer the same quality products we carry in our farm stand while also supporting local businesses that share our values,” Alicia said.

While dampened by rain and storms, customers still showed up to take farm tours, pick flowers, visit the farm stand, and shop local vendors.

Magnolia Root & Render braved the rainy weather to sell soaps, creams, and other products made from beef tallow. Owner and Crafter Shay Fitzpatrick has been in business for one year and was recently invited to sell her products at the farm. 

“Raccoons are like my favorite animal, so that piqued my interest to come out and I found all these lovely products,” she said. “I really love supporting small businesses, homemade goods, and anything local.”

Fitzpatrick exclaimed that selling at the farm is the best of both worlds because it lets the items sell themselves or she can show up to events and talk with customers. 

“I love Alicia and everything she does here at the farm,” said Fitzpatrick. “It’s amazing to have someone to work with to get my products seen because there aren’t a lot of places where you can set up a table and talk to the people, which is one of my favorite parts about being a small business owner.”

Alicia hopes the Wellness Fair becomes an annual tradition celebrating both health and local entrepreneurship.

“Food connects people across cultures,” she said. “It creates opportunities for people to gather, support one another, and celebrate life together.”

This “seed” of an idea that is literally “bearing fruit” began in 2019 when Lee and Alicia moved back to Louisiana and recognized a growing need for quality market produce grown through organic and regenerative farming practices. 

At the time, both were balancing full-time careers. Lee serves as a director at First Methodist Church in downtown Shreveport, while Alicia is completing her doctorate in exercise science and health promotion. What started as a shared hobby gradually evolved into a full-time passion project.

Today, Raccoon Bend Farms offers a seasonal farm stand featuring fresh heirloom produce, free-range chicken eggs, and locally crafted artisan goods such as sourdough bread, natural soaps, and tallow-based products.

The couple also launched “Meals 2 Geaux,” a preorder meal service featuring dishes made entirely with fresh, locally sourced ingredients from their gardens and partner farms throughout the region.

In addition to events like the Wellness Fair, visitors can interact with the farm through activities such as hand-cutting custom bouquets from the U-Pick flower gardens and outdoor wellness events like Pilates classes.

“It is important to have healthy sustainable options as more people are suffering from increases in allergies, food sensitivities, obesity, and illness. We believe in offering options to allow our customers to become good stewards of their bodies, their communities and the Earth,” said Alicia. 

As a sports nutrition coach and performance enhancement specialist, Alicia has spent much of her career working with athletes as well as clients battling cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. Through that experience, she has seen firsthand how heavily diet impacts long-term health. 

“A large percentage of non-communicable diseases are tied to ultra-processed foods that offer little nutritional value,” she said. “A healthy gut leads to a healthier person overall.”

Operating an organic market garden in northwest Louisiana comes with challenges. Weather, insects, and plant disease constantly test the farm’s resilience. Still, Alicia says seeing customers discover fresh, nutrient-rich food makes the hard work worthwhile.

“Our passion is providing clean, healthy options with integrity and responsibility,” she said. “We want to make a positive difference in the world.”

That philosophy extends to the farm’s regenerative growing practices, which have helped create a self-sustaining ecosystem. Rabbits may nibble on vegetables, but they also attract birds of prey that leave the chickens alone. The flower gardens bring in pollinators that benefit the crops, and the farm’s honey production has quadrupled as a result. 

“We have learned to live in harmony with nature. It is miraculous to see how when man steps out of the way, nature cares for itself,” she said. 

For more information, visit the Raccoon Bend Farms website.