Over the past several years a group of local stakeholders including Franklin Park Conservatory, OSU Extension, the Knowledge Exchange, the City of Columbus, and Franklin County have worked to create a map of the community gardens and urban farms in central Ohio. This will be used to assist new growers find space to grow, build capacity in urban agriculture, and identify spaces where new urban growing space is needed. A huge shout out to the Franklin Park Conservatory’s Growing to Green program for providing continued leadership for this initiative.
CLICK on the MAP below to go to the maps website at Franklin Park Conservatory where you can search for more information about the gardens and farms.
We are still looking to add new community gardens and urban farms. If your space has not been added, CLICK HERE to add your urban agricultural space to the map.
There has been some new guidance from the City of Columbus regarding community gardens:
For community gardens in the City of Columbus that need to dispose of food scraps, yard/garden waste, recyclables, and/or trash, we have a few options (in order of preference):
· Bring the waste home: if volunteers or garden members have the ability to bring their waste home, they can dispose of that in their current refuse container, recycling bin, or yard waste collection.
· Waste and Reuse Convenience Center: There are two centers, one at 2100 Alum Creek Drive and another at 1550 Georgesville Road (opening early October) that are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm. At these sites, trash, garden waste, food scraps, and recyclables can all be accepted. This is a free option with evening and weekend hours. These sites are also staffed by City employees that can help individuals that stop by.
· Collection at gardens: In the event that home trash and coming to one of the Convenience Centers is not an option, gardens can bag their trash and email keepcolumbusbeauitful@columbus.gov or call 614-645-2421 and request a trash pickup. They will need to note where the trash bags were left in the public right of way and how many bags. Refuse staff will attempt a collection within the next 72 hours. This is only for trash and not recycling or yard waste.
As we continue to evaluate what services may be needed, we will work with gardens and community partners to adapt this program to best suit both operational and community needs.