Carla Foster on Cultivating Connection Through Community Gardens

Community Spotlight: Carla Foster on Cultivating Connection Through Community Gardens

At Grow With Us, we love shining a light on everyday leaders who make our neighborhoods better, and Carla Foster is such a person.

For five dedicated years, Carla served as Roselawn’s Community Garden Manager in addition to her other leadership roles, overseeing the work with heart, vision, and determination. Her leadership brought people together, turning the garden into a hub of connection, growth, and learning.

This year, Carla’s tireless efforts were recognized in a big way:

• 🌟 She was named Community Catalyst of the Year by Invest in Neighborhoods, honoring her commitment to grassroots change and uplifting her community.

• 🌎 She also received an Environmental Volunteer Award during Cincinnati’s Earth Day Celebration, celebrating her environmental stewardship and advocacy for green spaces in Roselawn.

Although Carla has stepped down as Garden Manager, she stays engaged in other leadership positions. Her influence continues to expand, much like the seeds she once planted; her legacy continues to nourish and motivate the community.

Planting Seeds of Purpose

Part of being a catalyst for change is helping others grow (no pun intended!). When I reached out to Carla Foster to share her community garden experience, she graciously agreed, just as she’s always been generous with her time, wisdom, and encouragement.

Carla didn’t begin as a seasoned garden manager. She had no formal training—just a passion for community, a willingness to learn, and a background in engineering that became more useful than expected.

“You learn as you grow,” she says. “And that’s part of the beauty.”

What started as a small neighborhood initiative eventually blossomed into a 26-bed community garden in Roselawn. Of course, growing that many beds came with challenges, from limited infrastructure to the ongoing need for resources and support. But Carla's natural gift for connecting people and building partnerships made all the difference.

Thanks to organizations such as Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, Civic Garden Center, Cincinnati Bell, St. Joseph’s Home, and the City of Cincinnati, the garden was sustained through volunteer efforts, donations, and training opportunities. Carla even secured an Urban Agriculture Grant from the City to help move the work forward.

One of her most impressive contributions? Designing and building galvanized funnels atop rain barrels to create a simple, sustainable water system—an innovative solution in a garden with no trees, shade, or plumbing.

The Challenges Are Real

Gardening, especially community gardening, has its hurdles. One of the most significant obstacles Carla faced was that the garden sat on land not owned by the community council. This created legal gray areas and made it difficult to host events or establish long-term programs. Liability questions loomed over every decision.

Maintaining the space was another uphill battle. With 26 beds to care for and not nearly enough hands, it was challenging to keep the garden looking and functioning at its best. The lack of shade discouraged summer volunteers, and one year, rabbits wiped out the garden overnight.

But still, Carla persisted.

Growth Beyond the Garden Beds

Despite the setbacks, the garden thrived in many ways. It provided fresh produce to residents and local seniors. Surplus crops were donated to La Soupe, an organization known for turning food waste into nourishment for those in need.

For Carla, the value of a community garden goes far beyond tomatoes and zucchini. It’s about innovation, education, and self-sufficiency. “There’s opportunity for commerce if you can produce enough,” she explains. “And even if you don’t know where to start, you can still make a meaningful impact.”

What Carla Wants You to Know

Now tending to her home garden, Carla has mastered the art of growing on a budget and minimizing waste. Her hands-on experience has taught her lessons no book could capture—lessons she’s eager to pass on.

Over the years, she’s built meaningful connections in the community, collaborated with like-minded partners and fellow growers, and become a source of knowledge, encouragement, and inspiration to others. The wisdom and skills she developed while managing the Roselawn garden continue to impact other areas of her life, proving that gardening isn’t just about plants, it’s about people and purpose.

“I just wish more people would take an interest in gardening,” she says.

“It teaches you what it takes to get food to the table. Knowing how to grow your food is a valuable skill and an asset in today’s world.”

🌿 Takeaway Tips from Carla Foster

• Start where you are, with what you have. You don’t need perfection to begin—just a little space and a willing spirit.

• Know the rules. Understand any legal or zoning issues related to the space where you plan to garden.

• Plan for comfort. Shade, seating, and accessibility matter—gardening should be a joy, not a chore.

• Get creative with solutions. Rain barrels, upcycled materials, and a little engineering can go a long way.

• No experience? No problem. You’ll learn as you grow—Carla certainly did!

• Grow more than food. Gardens have the power to nourish bodies and build community.

Carla’s journey reminds us that community gardens are more than just green spaces—they’re hubs of hope, creativity, and transformation. Whether you’re just starting or looking for new ways to connect, let Carla’s story be your reminder:

🌱 You don’t have to know it all to grow something beautiful.

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