Nathan, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, harvests sugar snap peas in one of Franklinton Farms’ 12 neighborhood farm gardens, located in Columbus, Ohio. The VISTA program volunteers at Franklinton Farms focus on enabling food access, increasing garden education, and facilitating funding for all farm operations.
Franklinton Farms consists of 1.5 acres scattered among the 12 farm gardens and 12 high tunnels. Some cover vacant lots, while others cover the space of a backyard.
The high tunnels extend the growing season from early spring to late fall. High tunnels also enable a higher crop yield, increasing access to nutritious foods.
All crops are cleaned and packaged onsite by volunteers. Franklinton Farms offers several methods for buyers to receive their harvest, including online purchases, farmers markets, and their Weekly Harvest Pack (Community Supported Agriculture or CSA), specifically for Franklinton residents.
Franklinton’s “U-pick” Garden is where community members pick their own food items, ranging from herbs to sweet potatoes. Visitors can look through a booklet by the entrance for information on how to harvest their desired crop and prepare it for eating.
Microgreens are vegetable seedlings eaten before they mature. Cultivated and harvested within 7–10 days, microgreens are one of the easiest and quickest ways to a nutrient-packed diet.
The Charles Madison Nabrit Memorial Garden in Columbus, Ohio, was created by Charles’ family one year after his death in 2014 as “free grief therapy.” Situated in an urban food desert, the 3,850 square foot garden grows flowers, herbs, and organic foods for nearby residents.
The Ohio State University College of Engineering provided the FarmBot, a robot designed to simplify raised bed gardening. The robot can plant seeds, water plants, identify and remove weeds, and maximize crop yield. It also serves as an educational tool for the CMN Memorial Garden STEM-to-STEAM: It’s All in the Garden program, a week-long summer day camp for youth.
CMN Memorial Garden utilizes the square foot garden method to increase yield and promote active engagement in gardening with volunteers and community members.
CMN Memorial Garden offers a seasonal, weekly farmers market on-site, where produce from the garden and two other local organic farms sell produce for $1.00 per pound. Garden co-manager, Paula Penn-Nabrit, shows off the garden’s bounty.
At 30 feet by 66 feet, the Highland Youth Garden high tunnel is one of the largest in Columbus, Ohio. Allowing year-round food production, the protected garden generates 3000 pounds of produce each year.
The Highland Youth Garden features hydroponic towers in its high tunnels. Hydroponic towers don’t require as much maintenance as other growing methods, nor are the crops produced as prone to pests.
Ohio State University Extension educators are among those engaging with community youth to foster an inclusive, hands-on learning environment at the garden.
The Ohio State University Mansfield Microfarm, in Mansfield, Ohio, produces fruits and vegetables such as carrots, kale, zucchini, tomatoes, okra, scallions, and more. Once harvested, produce is available for Mansfield residents, increasing accessibility to local, nutritious foods. Photo by Jessica Hudson, The Ohio State University.
The Mansfield Microfarm uses high tunnels to grow produce year-round. Even when snow collects on the roof, the tunnel maintains temperatures in the low 80s. Photo by Jessica Hudson, The Ohio State University.