Mary Lou Manor
A private homestead and working farm, cultivating fresh, nourishing produce for the Pacific Northwest
About the Mary Lou Manor
About the Mary Lou Manor
About the Mary Lou Manor
The Mary Lou Manor is a living legacy, named in honor of Mary Louise Johnson — a beloved pillar of the Tacoma, WA community with roots in Shreveport, Louisiana. Here, her spirit of Southern hospitality, care, and connection lives on.
Today, the Mary Lou Manor is lovingly tended by her granddaughter, Padrica — affectionately known as Lulu
The Mary Lou Manor is a living legacy, named in honor of Mary Louise Johnson — a beloved pillar of the Tacoma, WA community with roots in Shreveport, Louisiana. Here, her spirit of Southern hospitality, care, and connection lives on.
Today, the Mary Lou Manor is lovingly tended by her granddaughter, Padrica — affectionately known as Lulu — who carries forward her grandmother’s vision of community, sustainability, and a life well-shared.
Honoring Mary Lou’s legacy, we teach seasonal canning and sustainable living while giving back — donating fresh produce to local food banks and neighbors, and preparing and distributing 400+ nourishing meals since May 2025
Meet Lulu, Your Host
About the Mary Lou Manor
About the Mary Lou Manor
My name is Padrica, affectionately known as Lulu. I am the humble host of The Mary Lou Manor Farm & Homestead, a living tribute to my grandmother, Mary Louise Johnson. She and I share the same middle name, and I carry her spirit forward in everything I do here.
I have been an active farmer for over five years and now bring that experience
My name is Padrica, affectionately known as Lulu. I am the humble host of The Mary Lou Manor Farm & Homestead, a living tribute to my grandmother, Mary Louise Johnson. She and I share the same middle name, and I carry her spirit forward in everything I do here.
I have been an active farmer for over five years and now bring that experience to The Mary Lou Manor Farm & Homestead, established May 2025, cultivating with practices rooted in permaculture and ecological harmony. I use regenerative methods that support soil health, water conservation, and crop diversity.
On the land, more than twenty-five plant and tree species thrive in harmony. Six double-flowering cherry blossoms stand out with their seasonal blooms, joined by an apple tree, peach tree, almond tree, fig tree, and plum tree. Roses, pine trees, hydrangeas, and rhododendrons add color and structure, while flowering jasmine, lavender, clover, and a Japanese maple bring fragrance and charm. Together, they create a landscape that feels alive, abundant, and welcoming. .
Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds bring the farm to life each day, making it a vibrant space to call home.
Our signature offering is our Georgia collards, available year-round, along with other culturally relevant Southern food staples such as okra, cabbage, and green tomatoes.
Our flagship creation, Mary Lou Manor Potlikka, is a one-of-a-kind specialty offering — rich in heritage, flavor, and soul.
This added-value treasure will be available for purchase next spring, bringing a taste of tradition and nourishment from our homestead to your table.
Love Served on a Plate
About the Mary Lou Manor
Love Served on a Plate
What makes this place truly special is the food. The Mary Lou Manor is blossoming into a fully established farm — we’re currently in the process of registering for our farm number and securing a Washington State Cottage Food License.
This is not a restaurant, and we’re not a Bed & Breakfast establishment. Instead, think of the Mary Lou Ma
What makes this place truly special is the food. The Mary Lou Manor is blossoming into a fully established farm — we’re currently in the process of registering for our farm number and securing a Washington State Cottage Food License.
This is not a restaurant, and we’re not a Bed & Breakfast establishment. Instead, think of the Mary Lou Manor as a private homestead where Southern hospitality lives on. Meals are not served in exchange for payment — they are prepared with love and shared as a heartfelt gift, just as my grandmother did for family and friends.
Much of what is served is pulled straight from the soil and brought to the table with care. Farm-to-table meals are curated from recipes passed down in my family — hand-shucked beans, tender Georgia collards, and my grandmother’s signature buttermilk cornbread that melts in your mouth. You may even find an old-fashioned sweet potato pie in the oven or homemade banana bread cooling on the counter.
Mary Lou Manor meals are love served on a plate. Guests are invited to slow down and be present, whether it’s with the gentle whistle of a morning tea kettle or, the soft notes of copper-plated chimes swaying in the wind. At the Mary Lou Manor, peace is found in the smallest of moments — a motto we hold dear.
Connect With Us
CSA Baskets
Calling Local Farmers & Growers
Calling Local Farmers & Growers
At Mary Lou Manor, our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) baskets are built on the principles of community, care, and collaboration. We are seeking partnerships with local farmers and growers who share our values of sustainability and nourishment.
We’re especially interested in fresh produce, seasonal fruits, farm-fresh eggs, local honey, and other wholesome offerings that reflect the abundance of our region. By joining us, you’ll help bring high-quality, locally grown food directly to families while keeping our community connected to the land and those who tend it.
If you’re a farmer, gardener, or producer who would like to see your harvest included in our CSA baskets, we’d love to connect with you. Together, we can celebrate our agricultural heritage, strengthen local food systems, and ensure that our neighbors receive baskets filled with care and nourishment. If you are interested, contact us using the contact form below.
Calling Local Farmers & Growers
Calling Local Farmers & Growers
Calling Local Farmers & Growers
At Mary Lou Manor, our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) baskets are built on the principles of community, care, and collaboration.
We are seeking partnerships with local farmers and growers who share our values of sustainability and nourishment.
We’re especially interested in fresh produce, seasonal fruits, farm-fresh eggs, local honey, and other wholesome offerings that reflect the abundance of our region. By joining us, you’ll help bring high-quality, locally grown food directly to families while keeping our community connected to the land and those who tend it.
If you’re a farmer, gardener, or producer who would like to see your harvest included in our CSA baskets, we’d love to connect with you. Together, we can celebrate our agricultural heritage, strengthen local food systems, and ensure that our neighbors receive baskets filled with care and nourishment. If you are interested, contact us using the contact form below.
Canning Workshops
Calling Local Farmers & Growers
Canning Workshops
At Mary Lou Manor, canning is more than preserving food — it’s preserving tradition. Through our hands-on workshops, we share the timeless art of turning garden harvests into jars of nourishment that last all year long.
Canning connects us to the land, to our ancestors, and to each other. Whether you’re learning the basics or refining your skills, our canning gatherings are a celebration of self-sufficiency, heritage, and the joy of sharing something homemade.
If you are interested, contact us using the contact form below.