Sixteen-year-old Serenity Edwards wants kids to know that getting muddy is not a bad thing. Throughout the summer, she served as a camp counselor at Sunbury Urban Farm, teaching 8-12 year old campers to get their hands dirty, the best way to forage for berries, and how to prepare tasty lunches harvested straight from the garden. The Conservatory was proud to recognize Serenity as the winner of the Paul B. Redman Youth Leadership Award at our Growing to Green Harvest Awards ceremony on September 7, 2022, awarding her a trophy and $250 to further her education. Read on to learn more about Serenity and meet some of the award-winning gardens and gardeners who help Columbus thrive!
Guests enjoyed dinner, socializing and music from Urban Strings Youth Orchestra during the awards ceremony
“The Harvest Award Ceremony is your moment to shine,” said Conservatory horticulturist and Growing to Green Coordinator Sean McKay to a room of hard-working community gardeners gathered for the September 7 ceremony in the Wells Barn. McKay, himself a former Harvest Award winner for his work with the Garden District prior to joining the Conservatory team, shared that the ceremony felt like a “full circle moment” for him. “With all of my heart, I thank you for being here and doing all the wonderful duties everyone in this room do that mostly go unseen,” he said.
With help from President and CEO Bruce Harkey, OSU Extension Educator Mike Hogan, Conservatory Community Outreach and Education Director Jenny Pope, Women’s Board President Patty Tumen, and others, the Conservatory presented eight awards totaling $3,500 to leaders working hard at the intersection of food and community throughout central Ohio. Highlights from the evening’s honorees included: