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).

The first successful CSA gardening season closed at the end of October 2009, but the work went forward on the greenhouse renovation.

By March, the large greenhouse was covered and the small greenhouse completely enclosed and stocked with newly built tables to start the bedding plants for the season.

New and returning CSA workshare members attended training to get acquainted with the various tasks they would carry out throughout the season.

Meanwhile AmeriCorps workers and experienced gardeners prepared garden beds in the established gardens and broke ground at three new garden sites. Garden space doubled in the second season, and share memberships started at 40, double the number at the beginning of the project.

May 15 saw the first harvest and distribution for the season. Improvements to the physical plant continued throughout the season as we made the place our own.

CSA members and AmeriCorps staff participated in social, community outreach and fund raising activities. These included a benefit concert by Magnolia Mountain and friends, and a display at Price Hill Heritage Festival as well as regular CSA pot lucks.

Though there were some crop losses due to pests, drout and the sheer persistence of weeds, satisfactory harvests continued culminating the week of the traditional harvest feast, Thanksgiving.

At season’s end, the Farm Project was gratified to receive the Keep Cincinnati Beatutiful award for best community beautification project.