Saturday charrette to design for OTR urban farms

Nearly a year after launching, the Cincinnati chapter of Architecture for Humanity is finally ready to begin design work on two urban garden projects in Over-the-Rhine.

From 9 A.M. to noon at the Niehoff Urban Design Studio, 2728 Vine Street, members and volunteers will conduct a charrette to design a mobile retail, informational and storage structure for the Permaganic Eco-Garden and a composting/processing shed with vertical gardening element for the Findlay Market urban farm at Liberty and Elm streets.

All are invited, and coffee and donuts will be provided.

The Permaganic Eco-Garden, located at 1718 Main Street, serves as an organic agriculture teaching tool for neighborhood youth and a source of horticultural therapy for adults with disabilities.

The Findlay Market urban farm, one of several in the market's Cultivating Healthy Environments for Farmers project, helps provide agricultural training, business experience, and healthy food options to the area's low-income residents.

The local chapter of Architecture for Humanity formed in February 2010 and is a working partnership between local architecture and design professionals and the University of Cincinnati Community Design Center.

There are 67 active chapters operating worldwide.

Information: afh.cincinnati@gmail.com. Photo courtesy of Permaganic Eco-Garden.

Previous reading on BC:
Civic Garden Center to lease 18 parcels from City (7/6/10)
Motion supports making urban gardening program permanent (11/18/09)
Notwithstanding ordinances push community gardens forward (4/28/09)
Cincinnati Farm program could be in place by spring (1/12/09)
Crowley: Make vacant City parcels available for farms, gardens (10/30/08)