Share the Health Educational Garden- Cuyahoga County, Ohio
The STH Garden is a project involving three entities: the village of Gates Mills, the Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County, and Magnolia Clubhouse of Cleveland. Five years ago, two Master Gardeners started to grow vegetables for the needy on land provided by the village. Since that time the garden has grown in area, the amount of food produced, and the number of people involved. Only sustainable gardening practices are used to grow the food.
Master Gardeners in the greenhouse after a bountiful harvest.
The STH garden donates its entire harvest each year to Magnolia Clubhouse. Magnolia Clubhouse is a day program for adults with mental illness. Last year, the STH garden provided over 2000 pounds of fresh vegetables to the Clubhouse. This resulted in savings of $150 per week in Magnolia’s food budget. Clubhouse members discovered they liked some vegetables they had never enjoyed before.
Last year, twenty eight Master Gardeners volunteered at one time or another in the garden, as well as ten community members. Volunteers come to the garden each Monday at 9 am from March to November to do what is needed. The STH garden would not exist without the involvement of those who donate resources, including the Gates Mills Improvement Society, the Ivy Garth Seed Company, community members, and the Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County.
Master Gardeners raise vegetables organically to give to disabled adults
The Master Gardeners work with Magnolia House to determine the best products to grow, based on nutritional value, food preferences and preparation. Each year the Master Gardeners try new vegetables, but staple crops of green beans, tomatoes, beets and potatoes provide consistency. The Garden is grown organically for the most part.
Master Gardeners raise vegetables organically in their community garden.
This garden, with its mission to donate all food grown to needy individuals, is the first of its kind in Cuyahoga County. Education is a key component of this mission. Community members and Master Gardeners have attended sessions on preserving herbs and three-season vegetable gardening. Magnolia Clubhouse members have also visited the garden to learn about the crops grown and garden care.
This year the garden won several different awards for its efforts. The Gates Mills Garden Club was awarded first place in Ohio for the educational exhibit provided by the STH garden. In the Ohio Master Gardener community service contest, the STH garden earned first place!
Whom might I contact for more information about the STH garden?
Gwen Morgan, 440.823.1591, victory7900@yahoo.com
Sharon Klimm, 440.248.8567, sharon.klimm@gmail.com
To learn more about Cuyhoga County Master Gardeners visit their webpage at http://cuyahogamg.org/index.html
Written by Sharon Klimm, Cuyohoga County Ohio Master Gardener
Tags: community gardens, food pantries, international master gardener conference, Ohio, organics, search for excellence, sfeawards-community service projects, sustainable gardening, vegetables
Projects like these make the Master Gardener Program an incredible asset and resource to communities all over the country. Another vegetable garden grown and managed by Master Gardeners in Kalamazoo MI raised and donated over 17,000 lbs of veggies to the Food Bank this year,, last years donation was over 22,000 lbs. Its sad that in spite of the obvious value of this program, budget cuts may compromise the infrastructure necessary to maintain a viable Master Gardener program in some States.