Anisa Ahmad is a Punjab woman from the Indian sub-continent, a new and beginning farmer as well as a small-scale community gardener. Her farming experience dates back to childhood when she helped a neighbor plant bulbs. Anisa currently manages the Franklin Avenue Community Garden in Columbus, Ohio. In 2016, a cure for an ailment, community connectedness, and a desire to rekindle her passion fueled Anisa’s desire to start a community garden. She converted an empty lot near her house into a community garden to provide farming, educational skills, and a sense of community to members.
While benefiting from her previous role as a schoolteacher, young children were the first apprentices in the garden. Anisa observes that children are much closer to nature than adults when allowed in the garden. Some of the regenerative practices used on her farm are cover cropping, mulching, and composting which has improved the soil health and has influenced increasing biodiversity. Anisa feels connected and excited about the impact of the garden on herself and the community. She hopes that more demonstration gardens will be established to influence children and young adults.
