Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Gardens topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gahanna nonprofit GRIN asks Parks & Rec for help expanding neighborhood gardens to teach clients to grow food
Summary
Brenda Johnson, executive director of Gahanna Residents in Need (GRIN), asked the Parks & Recreation Board for permission to pursue community garden plots and partner with local organizations to teach GRIN clients how to grow their own food; Parks staff say water access and space are constraints but offered programmatic and seasonal options.
Brenda Johnson, executive director of Gahanna Residents in Need (GRIN), told the Parks & Recreation Board she wants permission to pursue community garden plots, local partnerships and education programs so GRIN clients can learn to grow food for themselves.
"Part of feeding the community, I feel is teaching them how to feed themselves," Johnson said, describing partnerships she is assembling with Franklin Conservatory, Scott's Lawn Service, All Saints Episcopal and local garden clubs.
Johnson told the board GRIN serves "approximately 1,500 a year" and said a prior "sow and grow" event drew about "15 families" who were interested in home gardening. She described missed harvests at community plot sites such as Hannah Park and asked whether Parks staff could help identify underused plots or provide other community land for neighborhood gardens.
Parks staff responded that an initial step is to open communication with current plot holders and neighborhood groups. "Having some communication with the individuals who do secure the plots and explain to them that there is a resource and a need for fresh produce at GRIN" would be useful, a parks staff member said, and added that access to water and access to space "is something that is somewhat challenging." Staff suggested existing summer-camp garden plots or volunteers could donate produce to GRIN when available.
Johnson said GRIN already has local partners doing education and winter hydroponic work — including Gahanna Congregational Church and community garden volunteers — and that she will convene a meeting of interested groups and return with findings if the board is comfortable with her pursuing potential sites and partners.
Board members asked whether plots should be located within residents' neighborhoods to address transportation barriers; Johnson affirmed neighborhood placement was preferred so people could walk to tended plots. Parks staff noted that when plots become available the department sometimes assigns them to summer-camp programming and that produce from those camp plots could be routed to GRIN.
Next step: Johnson asked for permission to continue outreach and to report back; Parks staff agreed to help identify contact points for existing plot holders and explore small-scale programmatic options.
Ending: Johnson said she will organize community partners and return with a proposal; no formal board action was taken during the public-comment presentation.
