In February 2009 the Enright Ridge Urban Ecovillage in collaboration with Imago and the Huber Foundation decided to buy the former Heavenly Havens florist greenhouse in the 800 block of Enright Avenue and start an Urban Farm growing vegetables for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).
A small forest of Ailanthus (Tree of Heaven) grew through holes in the greenhouse roof where the September ‘08 wind storm had removed many plastic panels depositing them in the back yard and street. The plant benches were rotting; raccoons lived above the dropped ceiling in the store front. Storage spaces were crammed with leftover florist items.
Assisted by service volunteers from high schools, universities and Price Hill families, Ecovillage members pulled on their work gloves and boots to start the rehab while snow was still on the ground.
Saturday morning work days continued through the spring as garden beds were prepared in neighbors backyards under the tutelage of Charles Griffin, an experienced grower who lives in the Ecovillage.
Neighbors, and foodies from nearby areas responded to the call for members and the season opened the first week in June. One gem of a resource the greenhouse contains is a walk in cooler to hold the produce for the weekly pick up.
Members make a commitment to work alongside apprentice gardeners, Heather Sayre and David Hill the equivalent of two hours per week. Bringing in the harvest is a favorite activity.
On Saturday mornings, members assist in preparing the produce for pick up. The atmosphere in the store front, now bereft of raccoons, is like an old fashioned general store. People filling their bags, sharing cooking tips or recipes, sipping coffee or sampling a dish prepared by a member.
One day Denise Driehaus, the state rep for our district visited.
At season’s end the work will go on. A geothermal heat system is planned to allow cold season crops to be grown almost year round.
