Growing to Green Awards
The Growing to Green Awards honor the dedication and hard work of many central Ohio communities and individuals while furthering Growing to Green’s objective of promoting participation in city beautification and community gardening. Click Here to download an entry form.
The Growing to Green Awards provide an excellent opportunity to have your garden project recognized for its contributions to the Columbus community. Garden Award categories include Community, Educational, Youth, and Neighborhood Beautification.
Another award that identifies the importance of area gardeners is the Community Gardener of the Year Award honoring the exceptional efforts of a gardener for his/her dedication to their gardening projects and as a role model for other Columbus community gardeners. The Community Gardener of the Year Award includes a cash prize of $250 to be applied to the gardener’s community garden. Top entries in the Community Garden and Educational Garden categories are also recognized with a cash prize of $500 each.
Gardeners are encouraged to participate in the Growing to Green Awards by entering an award application. Applicants can nominate themselves or another Columbus group or individual for their gardening efforts. Entries are judged by a panel of professionals and community members selected by Franklin Park Conservatory. Entries for next year will be accepted late summer 2008.
Click Here to download an entry form.
David Glenn
accepts award
from Bill Dawson
2007 Winners
Neighborhood Improvement Project of the Year,
Jack Glenn Community Garden;
Location: 1027 Ellsworth Avenue, Columbus, OH 43206The Jack Glenn Community Garden was started to help beautify the community, as a vehicle for bringing neighbors together, and to encourage local residents to garden and become proficient in producing their own food. This last goal was an especially important one given that according to the Columbus Health Department, people living in the area have a high incidence of diabetes, stroke, hypertension and high cholesterol.
The success of the garden has impacted the entire neighborhood. Landlords are taking pride in their properties by mowing lawns more often and picking up trash. And neighbors police the garden and keep it clean.
Left to right:
Bill Dawson,
Pat Boyd,
Helen Wills, Nicholas Ard,
Joanna Huffer
Education Garden of the Year,
Celebration: East 5th Avenue Community Urban Garden;
Location: 3005 E. 5th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43219
Celebration: The East Fifth Avenue Community Urban Garden is located at Community Housing Network’s residence for women. These apartments provide permanent housing to formerly homeless women through a harm reduction program named Rebuilding Lives. The garden was begun in 2004 to provide food and recreation for residents. Today it has developed into a resource for learning, social interaction and celebration.
As one of the five goals of the garden, education plays an important role. The education program uses a platform based on community development, social justice, scientific inquiry, public health and nutrition.
Left to right:
Bill Dawson,
Jenniel Rhiastry, Marvin Fleming,
Hyla Greisdorn, Womens Board President, Ari Toles, Michael Marshall, Jennifer Clifton, Tifani Kendrick
Paul B. Redman Youth Leadership Award,
Ari Toles of the Miracle–Gro Capital Kids;
Location: Corner of 6th Street and 6th Avenue,
Weinland Park Garden Club, Columbus, OH 43201
During the summer of 2007, the Scotts Miracle-Gro Capital Kids resurrected the overgrown Weinland Park Garden Club in just three 4-hour days. Ari and the other youth in the program cleared garden plots overgrown with weeds and grass, made pathways accessible around the plots, re-stained the garden gazebo and removed overgrowth, tilled new soil, prepped for planting, laid new wood chips down in areas designated for walking, and planted flowers.
Ari is a 9th grade student at the Columbus Alternative High School. He has been a member of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Capital Kids for 4 years and a Scotts Miracle-Gro Capital Scholar for three years. He is a recognized leader of his peers both at school and within the program, displaying great maturity, knowledge and humor.
Bill Dawson and Jonathan Meier
Community Gardener of the Year, Jonathan Meier;
Location: 1101 Bryden Road, Columbus, OH 43205
As one of the core founding volunteers of Four Seasons City Farm, Jonathan Meier has worked tirelessly to help bring sustainable food production to near east side residents.
Jonathan volunteers at least 40 hours per week among the 12 gardens of Four Seasons City Farm. Jonathan and the Four Seasons City Farm gardens have brought fresh food to residents of the near east side, an area that is one of the most food insecure in Columbus.
Left to right:
Chris Schmenk, Jonathan Meier, Laine Mines, Marchae Broomfield, Rico Wright,
Jessica Roach, Jordan Roach,
Bill Dawson,
Trish Dehnbostel
Community Garden of the Year,
Weinland Park Community Garden
Location: 303 E. 6th Ave., Columbus, OH 43201Weinland Park Community Garden, located on the Godman Guild grounds, is a space for community members to grow their own food, a place for teens to be mentored and to work, and a site for community events or neighbors who just want to enjoy the beauty of the gardens. Weinland Park Community Garden has both private plots for neighborhood residents and communal gardens that are maintained by the teen staff. The successful teen program focuses on employment and landscaping skills. Each day teens receive garden assignments, give garden tours, help with administrative work, and visit other community gardens to lend a helping hand. Through the program the teens learn responsibility, collaboration, teamwork, commitment, effective communication and how to be good stewards of the garden and the environment.
