This summer has been eventful for the Beekman Corridor Coalition Food Team. We partnered with Cincinnati Health Department to form a food network of the handful of community gardens in the Corridor. We’ve held volunteer workdays to install infrastructure upgrades at three existing community gardens. We started a tool library so that gardeners in the Corridor can access supplies and equipment to grow food more effectively, and facilitated and hosted workshops so that gardeners know how to use the tool library supplies.
The work felt particularly rewarding at the August 8 Beekman Community Market, which WIN started in 2023 and continues to provide coordination support. The community market boasted five local growers, including four gardeners from the Beekman Corridor Garden Network! The market was a load of fun, including an impromptu acoustic guitar performance. Beekman Community Market grew as an organization this month, receiving 501(c)(3) recognition. Working In Neighborhoods will continue to support the budding organization as a member of the Beekman Corridor Coalition.
Healthy soil is a major limitation in how much food residents can grow in our post-industrial neighborhoods. At the food team’s August 17 Soil Mixing Workshop, 20 residents came together to stir up a 9-cubic-yard batch of potting mix. Theresa Thomas of Millvale gave the event an “A+ for community building activity; we sweat and laughed together.”
North Fairmount resident Deanna Franklin said, “I want to do more things like this.” Soil mixing is heavy work, and the turnout for the event highlights the effort that residents are willing to put forth to build the neighborhood with fresh, healthy foods. WIN’s work bringing together neighbors who care about making change makes that a possibility.