I wanted to highlight some of the Field to Table activities at at the Franklin Park Conservatory Community Garden Campus. I visited the garden campus on November 4 when the warm weather was blissfully extending the gardening season. Even into December temperatures continued to moderate then suddenly, things changed, temps dropped and high winds whipped us into Winter. Tonight it is supposed to get to 12 degrees. We were probably due. This Community Garden is located on the southeastern edge of Franklin Park in Columbus, Ohio. It likely was a concept long in planning as many pieces came together for an exciting garden display venue. The major funder for the project was Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, based in nearby Marysville. But there were many benefactors indicated all over the garden noted in engraved stones and plaques.

Entrance

This screened enclosure was the Berry House and Yard. Of course all these gardens are very young and it may be hard to see the potential here, but the exposure and protected berry plants was well considered. Some seating provides an ambient meeting space day or night.

The gardens had many parts emphasizing themes of various cultures, eras and specialties. There was an indoor kitchen theater for demonstrations and several prep areas.

The menu demonstration focused on root veggies: ginger carrot soup, beet relish, parsnip cake and root veggie chips. Yum.



There was a delightful outdoor kitchen where I met Jim Boudros who was dutifully checking the place out as he prepared for his event there the next day. I've met Jim over the years and heard him on the radio with restaurant reviews and talk food. Yum. I served on the North Market Development Authority in its infancy when the Market was limping along in the quoinset hut. He came to the board after my tenure. He discussed some of the logistics of preparing a lamb roast in the fireplace. I said it looks like a Rumford fireplace. He replied, it is! Do you know the Rumford? Yes, we have one in our house that our former neighbor, Jim Buckley, installed years ago. Then I noted the credit plate where the Buckley name was noted. Jim's business, the Buckley Rumford Company is located in Port Townsend, Washington. http://www.rumford.com/ The two Jims knew each other and kept in touch even though Buckley moved to the far corner of the US.

Other features in the outdoor kitchen was a fire pit and a pizza oven with a green roof!

The pizza oven sports a live green roof of sedum.

Two pans of chickens were being roasted in the oven.

Back to the lamb cooking logistics which is called a string roasting method. A string would be hung at the top of the chimney and drape down over the front near the fire. The roast hung on the string and the heat from the flame would slowly turn the lamb, cooking the exposed sides of the roast - a kind of vertical rotisserie or a gyro cooker. Slices of the cooked lamb would be shaved off, served on a piece of sourdough bread that was brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with kosher salt. Wow! It was delicious!
String roasted recipe from the book, The Magic of Fire - Hearth Cooking by William Rubel.


Right to left: Nancy Duncan Porter, Jim Boudros and his grandson. Jim has an incredible megawatt smile. Jim is a principal of Budros, Ruhlin & Roe, financial planners. Nancy was the Executive Director for the North Market Development Authority in the period when Jim and I served. She is currently working in the Office of Development at Kenyon College. She came to Kenyon from the Columbus Museum of Art where she oversaw development, marketing, visitor services, and volunteers.

Here's one of the prep areas at the opposite end of the fireplace set up. And the back of the prep area was wood storage, I think.

Their wood stack and a photo of stacked wood posted for inspiration.


There were several raised planting beds to accommodate handicap needs - one where a wheelchair could get in close.
There was an area designated "Plant a row for the Hungry" with name tags of the planter. I know the rational for this demonstration is worthy, but I don't think this display has enough impact here. It's more symbolic than anything.

The above planting is by Alan McKnight, Director of the City of Columbus Parks and Recreation.The cabbage was planted by Frances Strickland, the Governor's wife.

The house in the center back was formerly a resident caretaker's house. It has now become, I believe, the new office of the American Community Garden Association. http://www.communitygarden.org/

This lovely rose was either in the cutting garden or fragrance garden.