“Two westside rec centers closed; founder Peggy Murphy and friends decided a garden would be a good summer project for youth. “We started with a dollar and a prayer,” — Peggy.
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“One lot is secured from the Columbus City Land Bank, and two lots are leased from Oakley Full Gospel Baptist Church with the help of its “Posse” trio of female church leaders. Dan Downing of Friends of the Hilltop completed excavation work. Peggy, Sue Simon, Beth Humphrey and other volunteers began planting crops and working with Highland Elementary School, Hilltop Prime Time, and the J. Ashburn, Jr. Youth Center to plan positive activities for the youth. From there, the idea of a teaching garden emerged.
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“Volunteers built the first high tunnel (12’ x 16’) and learning center. Erik Mars joined the team and brought his irrigation expertise. Finally, water for the garden!

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“Bill Kline (left) joined the team and led the garden planning for several years. Brian Ezzell (right) also stepped in to advise on building projects. Both are pictured here with Wilma Roberts, aka “Grandma,” who is a Hilltop neighbor and longtime garden champion. In 2012, volunteers built this covered bridge as a “time machine” to take kids back to Ohio’s indigenous plants grown in a newly installed native plant garden. Nationwide Children’s Hospital donated an entry arch and tower from its site as it took on an expansion project. The garden was named a “Hub Garden” by Franklin Park Conservatory and its Growing To Green Community Gardening Program led by Bill Dawson who was a valuable advisor and advocate for the garden. Hub gardens serve as training centers and mentors for new start-up gardens.
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“Beth Urban brought her leadership skills to the garden and added some organizational structure with its first garden committee. This year, another phase of irrigation was installed by Darian Sorenson as an Eagle Scout project. Other 2013 projects included the parking lot, grape arbor and berry mound built atop salvaged bricks.
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“Mary Duchi joined the team to help with grant writing and securing Gladden House as the garden’s fiscal agent for several years. Long-time educator Lisa Hobson joined the garden and worked to develop the garden curriculum and education programs. A cargo container was first rented then purchased to serve as a tool shed. Other projects included the addition of vertical gardens with trellises and impressive planter boxes at the end of six raised beds. Josh Mars took on the vertical gardens as his Eagle Scout project.
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“Ryan Conklin joined the garden and shared his legal skills to incorporate the garden, write its bylaws and organize the first membership meeting. Also, the message board was installed this year.
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“The first full-time employee, Jazmyn Benjamin, joined the team. She taught classes with students from Highland Elementary School, ran summer camps and started a market stand at Westgate Market working with garden teens. Sally Francis joined the team bringing her finance skills and serving as the garden’s first treasurer. Wash stations and shade clothes were added this year.
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“This year, the garden took on its most ambitious project to date — the building of a 30’ x 66’ high tunnel and installation of a 1,700-gallon underground cistern to collect rainwater from the high tunnel. Volunteers also expanded the native plant garden and herb garden.
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“Lead educator Katie Carey and lead gardener Charlie Richardson joined the team. They introduced two new projects — the Green Teens program and after-school garden club. Other 2019 milestones include the addition of the pollinator garden, automation of the high tunnel, and filing to become a 501c3.
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“Shelly Casto joined the garden as executive director. During this pandemic year, the garden launched a free Garden Market, planted the first backyard family gardens, purchased the lot from City Land Bank, began construction of the education center and added educational signs.
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