Lakewood Earth and Food (LEAF) is a volunteer organization that serves the Lakewood community through the management of community gardens and Thursday Farmers Markets. Today, LEAF is gearing up to begin their 20th season, but this impactful Lakewood organization may be in danger without more volunteers.
In previous years, LEAF has held an heirloom plant sale in mid-May, but this year there wasn’t enough energy within the organization to get it moving.
Sharon Hogan has been volunteering with LEAF for over 15 years and joined the board about 10 years ago. Hogan became board president during the COVID-19 pandemic, when volunteer resources were scarce. She says she has been looking for help getting this season going.
“We lost some important board members and volunteers, and need to rebuild some of the activities that have fallen away,” Hogan wrote in an email to volunteers dated May 22. “We need some more volunteer involvement, board members and technical help. We need to support each other and keep some excellent programs running. […] We need to have more support with marketing and communication as well as building up a volunteer base to prevent burn-out and secure the future of these valuable community assets.”
Started by a Lakewood family, the Stahlhebers, in 2006, LEAF’s mission is “dedicated to the development of a more sustainable, healthful and economically viable community through environmentally responsible actions producing broad access to fresh, local foods, knowledge, and culture.”
LEAF manages community gardens at four different locations throughout Lakewood – Webb Park, Kauffman Park, Cove Park, and a lot on Bonnieview. Each park offers 10 by 10 garden plots that residents can rent for $25 for the season.
Hogan says that the majority of gardeners renting the LEAF plots are residents with shady yards, fighting deer or other pests, or those in apartments. The most commonly grown plants are vegetables – in particular tomatoes, peppers, greens, as well as complementary plants like marigolds.
Each year, returning gardeners are allowed an opportunity to renew their lease before the plots are offered to the public. All plots are reserved for the 2025 season, and LEAF maintains a waiting list.
LEAF also manages the LEAF Community Market, a weekly farmers market held on Thursdays from June through the end of October in front of the Lakewood Public Library main branch on Detroit Avenue. The farmers market runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and offers locally-produced goods like fresh foods, crafts and artwork while also acting as a pick-up site for local CSA City Fresh.
The LEAF Community Market serves low-income residents through its participation in Ohio’s Produce Perks program, which allows customers to double every dollar spent when shopping with a SNAP/EBT Ohio Direction Card. Customers trade their EBT dollars for chips that are worth twice as much at certain Ohio farmers and retailers.
“The program pays people to eat well and supports local agriculture – it’s a win-win,” says Hogan.
Volunteers and new board members are needed to breathe new life into LEAF for 2025 and keep it running in the future. Vendor applications are also being accepted for the LEAF Community Market 2025 season, as spots are not yet half filled. To find out more about volunteering or vending with LEAF, go to their website or email leafcommunity@gmail.com.
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