Harvesting the South 80

By Suzy Weinland

Mariemont is very fortunate to have its own community gardens, just below the pool in what is known as the “South 80.” Residents have been harvesting their crops over the past month and preparing their gardens for winter. We thought we’d share information about the gardens and photos of South 80 Committee members helping to make this special area possible for Mariemont and nearby residents. (Photos taken by Steve Spooner.)

Longtime resident Steve Spooner heads up the South 80 Committee and is in charge of allocating the garden plots to families and individuals. According to Spooner, there are 214 garden plots measuring 25 ft. by 25 ft. Seven of those are split into two half plots, for a total of 221 plots. There are 166 gardeners on the roster, with several long-time gardeners having more than one plot.

Gardeners pay $30 for a plot for the year. If they have more than one plot, any additional plots are $20. The gardeners are responsible for their own fencing and preparing the soil. Spooner shared, “Prior to COVID, we always had un-allocated plots. Since COVID, we have cut an additional 64 new plots and we already have a waiting list of 14 hopeful gardeners for next year.”

A wide variety of produce is grown throughout the gardens, including but not limited to: tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins, corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, beets, radishes, garlic, onions, melons, watermelons, flowers, peas, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, and peaches. Next year, the Committee intends to plow the eastern field again for a community pumpkin patch.

“We are very fortunate that Mark Glassmeyer, who is also on the South 80 Committee, offers a couple of times a year to till gardens using his tractor. Mark also helps bush hog the trails and grass fields,” said

Spooner. “Another of our gardeners is John Swisher, who often brings his commercial grade lawn equipment and mows the grass growing in the rows between plots, which is a very big job.”

Andy Seeger is on the Committee and takes on the responsibility of maintaining the trails throughout the South 80. John Fakes heads up maintenance (mostly keeping the hand pump well up and running). Jon Morgan oversees communications, rules, and signage at the South 80. And Matt Graham helps the Committee across the board.

“We try to get things done without burdening the Village as much as possible,” added Spooner. “We primarily rely on volunteers when something needs attention. However, when we do need help (such as any safety concerns), John Scherpenberg and the Village Service Department are helpful and attentive to our requests.”

Thank you to all who help take care of this community gem! For more information on the South 80 gardens, contact Steve Spooner at me@mariemontstuff.com or 513-792-8006.