Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in the United States, with 77% of all American families getting their hands dirty digging the soil, according to the National Gardening Survey.
Gardeners in the United States spent $47.8 billion on gardening supplies in 2021, spending an average of $503 per person.
In recognition of the environmental, health, nutritional and community benefits of gardening, June 5-11 has been designated National Garden Week, with special activities and programs planned across the United States as well as Greater Columbus.
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardensGreater Columbus Growing Coalition and Ohio State University Extension have partnered to plan Seven Days of Gardens, Growing, and Goodies for families in Greater Columbus.
Free day at Franklin Park Conservatory
National Garden Week events in Columbus will officially kick off with a free Community Day at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with free admission for Franklin County residents. All conservatory exhibits will be open to guests and tours will take place at the Community Garden Campus.
The Conservatory’s Kindergarten will offer free activities for young people, including a seed-making and seed-removal activity. Master Gardener volunteers from OSU Extension will be on hand to provide free gardening resources and answer questions at their Ask a Master Gardener booth.
The Greater Columbus Growing Coalition will be giving away free seeds and plants during the event.
Garden visit week
Gardeners will have the opportunity to learn about different gardening practices and techniques during a series of community garden tours scheduled during National Garden Week. All visits are free, open to the public and do not require prior registration.
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Throughout the week, gardeners can visit gardens as diverse as a permaculture food forest in Linden, the award-winning Highland Youth Garden on the Hilltop, a market garden in Berwick that produces food for hundreds of families and Franklin County’s International Harvest Garden in southwest Columbus, where immigrant communities around the world grow foods native to their homelands.
A full schedule of the 12 community garden tours with GPS addresses is available at go.osu.edu/nationalgardenweek2022.
Garden Party at OSU
National Garden Week activities will conclude with a Garden Party at Waterman Farm located on the Ohio State University campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 11. The Garden Party will include tours of the Master Gardener volunteer gardens located on the farm, including a butterfly garden, hummingbird garden, pollinator research plots, large rain garden, community vegetable garden, the garden of the Ross Heart Hospital and a large home vegetable trial garden.
Wagon tours of the 261-acre farm and research center will take Garden Party-goers to see the farm’s herd of Jersey cows, apple and papaya orchards, apiary, crop research fields and turf research plots. Free activities for young people will include a farm scavenger hunt and a seed planting activity.
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The Garden Party will feature educational programs and exhibits on gardening topics such as container gardening, beekeeping, composting, pollinator gardens and an insect zoo.
Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand to help visitors solve their toughest gardening challenges and food trucks will be available for hungry guests. The Greater Columbus Growing Coalition will distribute free seeds, plants and other gardening resources at the Garden Party. All Garden Party activities are free, including parking.
Whether you’re an experienced gardener with a green thumb or a beginner gardener, you’ll find helpful resources and fun family gardening activities at National Garden Week events and activities.
