Sustainability
Ways of living more sustainably can take many forms — from green building and agriculture to renewable energy and lifestyle adjustments aimed at conserving natural resources. Residents, leaders and Slavic Village employers are committed to doing our part to live and work more sustainably.
Community Gardens
Groups of Slavic Village residents have embraced community gardens as a way to beautify neighborhoods while producing nutritious food. Community gardens help improve the quality of life for our neighbors, provides a catalyst for neighborhood and community development, and stimulates social interaction among residents. Feel free to check out our current crop of community gardens listed below. If you are interested in starting a community garden in your Slavic Village neighborhood, contact Joel Solow at (216) 429-1182, ext. 116 or at joels@slavicvillage.org.
Many of our neighborhood gardens receive support from the Ohio State University Extension’s Summer Sprout program, which means that garden members have access to OSU’s agricultural expertise, and receive free seeds and plants at the beginning of the growing season.
Click here to see a map of all community gardens in Slavic Village.
Willow Community Garden
Willow Community and K-8 Garden is a new garden that was funded by a citywide vacant land reuse project, Reimagining a More Sustainable Cleveland. Willow sits across the street from Willow K-8 school, at the corner of Nursery and Glazier. Students energetically grow vegetable starts in their classrooms to be planted in their wooden raised beds out in the garden. Classes can be seen digging in the dirt, planting flowers and wrangling worms during science classes.
Community members can obtain a plot for a bargain of $10 per season! As a new project, Willow Community Garden eagerly welcomes new members and ideas. Gardeners of all experience are invited to join in this neighborhood garden. For information and membership, contact Joel Solow at SVD (216) 429-1182 ext. 116 or at joels@slavicvillage.org.
Hyacinth Community Garden
With funds awarded by Neighborhood Connections, the Hyacinth Community Coalition and Elizabeth Baptist congregation created a garden across the street from Elizabeth Baptist Church’s new home at the old St. Hyacinth Catholic Church, on Francis Ave and E. 61st. This area has transformed from an empty lot to a place for Hyacinth neighborhood residents to grow food and flowers! To get involved, contact Rubye Jones at rubye1944@att.net.
Green Corps Learning Farm
Green Corps is a work-study program of Cleveland Botanical Garden designed to employ and train high school students. Green Corps operates six urban farms in Cleveland; the Slavic Village Learning Farm, at Fleet Avenue and E. 54th, was established in 2008 on vacant, blighted property. This farm is not open for community members to garden in, but any resident can visit during open hours to purchase produce or take a wonderful student-led tour. During summer, the farm is open every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Green Corps also sells produce (and its famous “Ripe from Downtown” salsa!) at the Broadway Farmers’ Market on Mondays.
High school students from the neighborhood can apply to work at the Green Corps garden HERE. For more information contact Jill Collins, the Slavic Village Site Coordinator at hcollins12@jcu.edu or (216) 645-7818.
Morganic Garden
A Summer Sprout garden (one of the city’s first, in fact), Morganic Garden is one of the oldest in Cleveland. Founded by neighborhood legend Dan Kane, Morganic is nestled behind a chain-link fence at the corner of E. 65th and Kenyon Ave, a block south of Broadway. Gardeners share a shed full of tools, a few workshops hosted on site, and popular summertime cookouts!
Members contribute $15 for their garden plot. Interested? Contact Jerry Bieda at (216) 429-0691 or at jbentpriz@yahoo.com.
Union Community Garden
Union Community Garden (UCG) is an urban garden located at the corner of E. 74th Street and Union Avenue. UCG was established in 2008 through a partnership between Slavic Village Development, OSU Extension, Neighborhood Progress, Inc., and neighborhood residents. Due to the efforts of its very engaged membership, UCG has become a model for urban gardening as community-builder.
If you are interested in growing your own healthy food, UCG will supply free plants and seeds, plus free instruction and training for interested gardeners. The garden has a special Children’s Planting Area, so kids can learn the joys of gardening and eating healthy food. In fact, all members of the community are encouraged to participate, young and old!
New and seasoned gardeners are urged to contact UCG to secure plots for the upcoming growing season. UCG features individual plots, and plans are in the works to erect a greenhouse for year-round growing.
A limited number of plots are available, so sign up now! Contact Joyce Hairston at ucg@att.net.
UCG holds meetings for all gardeners and anyone interested in gardening the third Thursday of each month through the summer at the Fleet Branch Library.
Regent Garden
Regent is another of our community’s Summer Sprout gardens. Located at E. 70th and Temple, this garden has been around for many years and boasts strong community involvement. Regent members pay an annual fee of $20 to cover operational costs, and get the chance to grow at this friendly place. Contact Avon Standard at (216) 321-7561.
Broadway United Methodist (Enhancement Ministries) Community Garden
This is a very small Summer Sprout garden on Broadway United Methodist’s campus, located at 5246 Broadway Avenue. Gardeners do not have individual plots, but share in the labor and produce for the whole garden. Contact Truman Vintson at patriciavintson@peoplepc.com.
Broadway Farmers’ Market
Previously known as the Warszawa Farmers’ Market, the Broadway Farmers’ Market now sits at a new location on Broadway and Baxter Avenues, across from Third Federal Savings. The market opens its 2012 season on June 25; come back every Monday through October for great food and company. Best of all, our vendors grow produce locally in Northeast Ohio, whether in rural Medina county or right here in a Slavic Village urban farm!
Recycling
Saving Energy
Sustainable Travel
Cleveland Carbon Fund
The Cleveland Carbon Fund is the first community-based, open-access carbon reduction fund in the United States. The Fund, developed by motivated leaders from reputable Cleveland companies and organizations who believe in making a positive impact, globally and locally, originated to help combat the harmful impact of carbon emissions in the Cleveland region and on the environment worldwide. Donations to the Fund support local community projects in Cleveland that foster positive economic, social and environmental development. For more information on the Cleveland Carbon Fund or to calculate your carbon footprint, click here.