- Celebrate Sustainable Delaware Ohio’s accomplishments as it celebrates 15 years!
- Explore Berlin Farm Family Garden, Sackett Farm Flowers, Scioto Gardens, and Seminary Hill Farm on the 2025 Sustainable Trail in Delaware County, Ohio.
- Learn about regenerative farming, pollinator pathways, native plants, and community gardens.
- Celebrate sustainability and hope for the future through local agriculture and ecology.
Simply Living’s Salute to Sustainable Delaware Ohio
On Saturday, August 16, 2025, Simply Living hosted a special tour as a Salute to Sustainable Delaware Ohio, celebrating the organization’s 15th anniversary. Founded in 2010, Sustainable Delaware Ohio is a grassroots community group that’s part of a broader network aimed at fostering local resilience, sustainability, and collective action. Sustainable Delaware Ohio initiatives include a diverse set of partnerships, including Stratford Ecological Center, Ohio Wesleyan University, North Central Ohio Pollinator Pathway, and others. As one of the fastest growing counties in Ohio, Sustainable Delaware Ohio advocates for responsible use of land in Delaware County, as well as the establishment of a land trust. Sustainable Delaware Ohio also partners with Ohio Wesleyan University to collect items for upcycling at the OWU Upcycling Center.
This event highlighted four Delaware County organizations along the 2025 Sustainable Trail, showcasing how local farms, gardens, and nurseries are working together to restore and regenerate the land.
Berlin Farm Family Garden: A New Model for Community Growing
Our first stop was Berlin Farm Family Garden, part of a new M/I Homes development designed with nature in mind. Now in its first season, the family gardens already have a waiting list of eager participants.
Key Highlights:
- Family garden design is a collaboration between Susan Weber (pictured) of Integrity Sustainable Planning and Design, Joel West (pictured), Land Manager of M/I Homes, and Justin Meranda and Brian Thornton of Blendon Gardens .
- Gardens and families are supported by Katie Carey (pictured) of Columbus Foodscapes, who teaches and guides residents in growing and enjoying their edible gardens.
- As the community grows, the family gardens can eventually serve 525 Berlin Farm households.
- Bi-weekly community work days and events are planned for families to learn or enrich gardening skills.
- You can find diverse, culturally significant foods like eggplant, okra, cilantro, peppers, tomatoes, and lentils. Residents Deepthi and Kiran (pictured) are growing food for household meals. They use rich soil blends enhanced with worm castings instead of fertilizers.
Beyond the family gardens, Berlin Farm offers its residents amenities such as three playgrounds, stocked pond with fishing dock, open air pavilion with community swimming pool, over 2 miles of asphalt multiuse paths, pollinator gardens, a market space, future dog park and more! The site may also incorporate a hub for beekeeping, to provide additional support to the ecosystem.
Homes are still available! Here is a little more about the community: Berlin Farm features single family homes from M/I’s Smart Essentials Collection and Signature Collection. Each of these floorplans boasts a striking exterior and an open-concept design. Families can choose from 2-story, multi-level, and ranch layouts with exterior options such as craftsman, farmhouse, and traditional architectural styles. These homes range from 1,440 to over 3,700 square feet with 3 to 6 bedrooms. Learn more at Berlin Farm by M/I Homes
Follow the community market garden updates at Berlin Farm Family Garden on Facebook.
Sackett Farm Flowers: From Homestead to Regenerative Flower Farm
Another stop was Sackett Farm Flowers, an 1839 homestead owned by Maribeth Amrhein Eiken (pictured below) and stewarded by her daughter, Amy Eiken (also pictured below) – both descendants of the Sackett family.
In the early 1960’s, Maribeth’s mother, Mary Sackett Amrhein (pictured above), bought out her siblings to own the family farm. She and her husband spent the summers in Ohio and the winters at their cozy Michigan home in the woods. It was Mary’s great grandfather who signed the deed for Sackett Farm in 1839.
Maribeth’s daughter, Amy Eiken, is a former educator who spent years working the farm with her grandmother, (Mary Sackett Amrhein), while attending Ohio Wesleyan University. Those years brought her full circle back to her passion for regenerative farming, and she still relies on her skills as an educator to provide meaningful and educational events to visitors. Once a traditional corn and soybean farm, Amy has transitioned it into a regenerative flower farm offering U-pick events and gatherings. Amy tells us, “It’s privilege for me to steward the flower farm as a member of the 6th generation in the family line.”
A Guest Favorite at Sackett Farm: Wisdom Way is more than a path—it’s an experience. Guests are invited to slow down, take a pause, and enjoy a serene, honeysuckle-lined walk under twinkling lights. The trail leads to a magnificent Hackberry tree, standing tall for over a century. At its roots, you’ll find a peaceful seat where you can sit, reflect, and feel the wisdom of nature surrounding you.
Sackett Farm also includes a 10-acre conservation area of native pollinators (Conservation Reserve Program) in year 4 of a 10 year contract which lies around the perimeter of the property just inside the tree line. The farm consists of 65 acres total.
Learn more at Sackett Farm Flowers on Facebook.
Sackett Farm also collaborates North Central Ohio Pollinator Pathways to support native planting projects—with 32 projects either completed or underway since mid-2024. We had a great opportunity to chat with Anna Pellegrine (pictured) about this group’s efforts to connect others at a regional and national scale.
Visit North Central Ohio Pollinator Pathway to learn more and get involved.
Scioto Gardens: Native Plants for Ohio Landscapes
Next, the group visited Scioto Gardens, a well-known native plant nursery co-owned by Christine Dilley, Mark Dilley, Amy Dutt, Denise Gualtiere, Penny McDowell, and Annette Wright. Originally founded in 1999 by Mike and Linda Johnson, Scioto Gardens now produces over 30,000 native plants annually and features rain gardens and retail for plants, supplies, books, and gift items.
Sustainable Practices:
- Native plants are kept outdoors year-round for natural acclimation.
- Proprietary soil blends are enriched with mycorrhizal fungi and corn gluten for healthier growth. Plant potting techniques ensure healthier root growth.
- Nursery organized by wetland indicator status using USDA PLANTS Database.
- Amy Dutt, a co-owner who led the tour for Scioto Gardens emphasizes that “Fall is the best planting season for natives. It really is better for the plants.” Here are some reasons why:
- The soil is still warm from summer, which encourages strong root growth before winter dormancy.
- Cooler air temperatures reduce heat stress, while autumn rains provide steady moisture for new plantings.
- Many garden pests and weeds slow down in fall, giving your plants a healthier start.
- Plants established in fall wake up stronger and grow faster when spring arrives.
- Woody plants and perennials thrive when planted in fall, since energy goes into roots instead of leaves or flowers.
Explore more at Scioto Gardens.
Seminary Hill Farm at MTSO: Growing Food and Justice
The tour concluded at Seminary Hill Farm, located on the campus of Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO). Founded in 2013, this 10-acre farm grows food for CSA shares, the Dunn Dining Hall, and local nonprofits serving food-insecure families. We met with Laura Ann Bergman (pictured), to learn about all the efforts to serve the community.
Highlights:
- Includes woodland, riparian, wetland, and prairie restoration areas.
- Hosts a children’s garden with ADA-accessible beds and play areas, including a fort!
- Provides fresh produce like Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, squash, lettuce, and beets to local food pantries and nonprofits.
- Offers volunteer opportunities and paid internships with housing, meals, and CSA shares included.
- Features five public walking trails and regular stewardship projects.
Learn more at Seminary Hill Farm.
Why the Sustainable Trail Matters
The Simply Living Sustainable Trail is more than a series of tours—it’s a living example of how Central Ohio communities are building resilience, restoring ecosystems, and strengthening community connections through land stewardship and clean energy. There are plenty of examples right here in our region of positive local efforts being made to solve bigger problems, and we at Simply Living strive to bring opportunities for connection and education to our communities in ways that are fun and inspiring.
By visiting and supporting these local sites doing great work, you’re helping to grow a future that is healthier, more equitable, and sustainable. Please consider making a donation, joining us as a member (our members have voting rights), or volunteering to keep these valuable programs running.
Looking for inspiring stories of local changemakers, upcoming events, recipes, practical tips, informative articles, community voices, and ways to get connected? Stay informed by subscribing to Simply Living’s Weekly Community News.
