Around 1988 two groups approached the
Civic Garden Center with interest in building a community garden.
The first group, which was more actively interested in a garden,
were people from a food cooperative. This group, represented by
Oloye Adajamon, had about 15 families that ordered natural foods
through bulk, wholesale sources. They also worked actively with
neighborhood youth… providing mentors, encouraging healthy diets
and teaching about African culture and heritage.
The other group was a Montessori
School located next to the vacant lot that the Coop Group had already
identified. Their interest was in seasonal, outdoor activities for
the children. So, with this backdrop, Ben Long and Gary Goosman
began convening representatives that were willing to pursue testing
for the soil, leasing of the land (owned by the Frisch's Company)
and ultimately the design for the garden.
Over several sessions the
core group worked on a design for the garden. It included a border
perennial bed between the fence and the sidewalk (planted with raspberries,
blackberry lilly, shasta daisies, purple coneflower, stachys and
many other flowering plants). The design also included an indented
sitting area (outside the fence, but in the shade) for neighbors
to enjoy for small gatherings, resting or just visiting. The other
side of the common area included an arbor with grapes to shield
the view of the compost pile and tools.
The garden also incorporated
a small orchard of apple and pear trees along the southern edge
of the garden, adjacent to the only house that borders the garden.
The rest of the garden was to be laid out in 10 feet by 20 feet
gardens that would be divided in half with a path. This created
two beds (4 feet by 20 feet) for use by each family.
The planning occurred during
the winter and after acquiring a lease with Frisch's construction
began in the spring of that year. Additional soil was brought in,
the fence was established around the perimeter and the landscape
areas were planted with donated and purchased plants. In the first
few years there was always some garden space set aside for donations
to local food pantries as well as extra produce for general consumption
by members of the food coop.
One of the most memorable
moments for Walnut Hills Garden was a newspaper article in the Cincinnati
Enquirer. The article was looking at race relations in Cincinnati
and highlighted the friendship between two gardeners from this site.
It detailed the friendship that sprang up from two gardeners (one
African American and the other Caucasian) and talked about the things
these gardeners had learned about each other while spending time
in the community garden. The two gardeners were John Brown of Walnut
Hills and Wayne McConnell of Norwood. John has passed away, but
his wife, Alice still gardens in this community garden.
The Civic Garden Center
recieved a grant in 2005 to construct new raised beds and install
an independent water source for the Walnut Hills Garden.
