Weed ’em & Reap:
Kent’s Community Gardens
Learning to see things from the plant's point of view, while saving a bundle on produce!
Behind the big red barn – Beckwith Orchards
ommunity gardens are small plots of land allocated to groups or individuals by some organization that holds title or lease to the land, sometimes for rent, sometimes simply as agrant of land, for the purpose of cultivating the land for produce.
Community gardens can be as diverse as its gardeners. Some grow only flowers, in other gardens everyone shares the work and harvest, while some have individual plots for personal use—even raised beds for disabled gardeners.
Advocates say locally grown food decreases a community's reliance on fossil fuels for transport of food. Plus, it's a relaxing way to spend a day. Community Gardens give renters, dorm and condo dwellers access to fertile land, while bringing a sense of community to the growers. Some gardens act as outdoor classrooms for children, a place where they can learn hands-on about plants, nutrition, ecology and weather.
Ohio has been a farming state since it was originally settled. The rich soil of Portage County is well known for yielding great produce and the location offers lots of sun and clean water for plants to thrive in. But there are many things you'll want to consider before you ever dig the first hole.
A good source for info is The American Community Gardening Association.
Ready to Dig In? Local Community Gardens:
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Beckwith Orchards website |
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Morningstar Farms website |
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Water Street Church |
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Not sure, but want to learn about gardening Hands-On! |
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Holden Elementary website |
Wall's School |
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KSU Child Development Center |
Kent Cooperative Housing |
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Allerton Apartments website |
Family & Community Services |
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If you’ve become so excited that you’d like to start a new garden |
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Kent State University |
Portage Park District website |
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Kent City Parks & Rec. website |
Lucky Penny Creamery website |
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If you would like to learn more about community gardening in Kent: |
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