Growing a Sense of Community

Written by Morgan Weemhoff

Monday, 30 July 2012 08:36

Growing a Sense of Community
The Civic Garden Center makes a sense of community blossom with neighborhood garden tours, cooking classes and gardening demonstrations. Learn more about their grass roots efforts.

Okay, busy ladies. It's time to smell the roses... literally.

Every year, the Civic Garden Center hosts a neighborhood garden tour that brings the community closer and reminds us to appreciate the hard work and green thumbs of our fellow Cincinnatians.

This year's Neighborhood Gardens Tour took place July 25, visited three projects revolving around the theme "the diversity of gardens," and marks the 29th year of displaying Cincinnati neighborhood gardening.

According to Peter Huttinger, the community garden’s coordinator, he's recently noticed more interest in gardening. He says that there has been increased interest in schools and playscapes for children especially.

Huttinger explains that a playscape is a place that encourages children to interact with nature by providing an interactive playground where kids can dig, roll logs, swing, slide and partake in other activities that enhance creativity. He says that due to the changes in technology, kids are spending more time than ever inside their homes, so the gardens are a great way to get children outside and in touch with nature.

The gardens displayed in this year's Neighborhood Gardens Tour aren't the types of gardens outside the White House or in front of the homes in the Homerama. Rather, these are the gardens that celebrate the community as a whole and display what a family can do, even on a small budget.

The tour focuses on community development and the unique ways to repurpose items that would have been discarded otherwise. "This is the do-it-yourself culture we love so much," Huttinger explains. "It is not about the formal experience, but rather the grass roots and community."

To get involved in the Civic Garden Center's future events - from cooking classes and canning tutorials to a rose growing session and seed saving demonstration - click here.

Morgan Weemhoff -
	Morgan Weemhoff is a Cincy Chic editorial intern. Send her an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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