From the NACD 2020 Annual Meeting. Learn about Cuyahoga SWCD's programs and practices that work to protect and restore healthy soil and water resources.

1. Growing Green
Cuyahoga Soiland Water Conservation District
Janine Rybka, Director

2. To implement programs and practices that
protect and restore healthy soil and water resources
www.cuyahogaswcd.org

3. April 2010
September 2008

4. Urban Agriculture

5. Cleveland History
 By 1920, due in large part to the city's
economic prosperity, Cleveland became
the nation's fifth largest city - Population
796,841
 By 1950, Cleveland’s population peaked
at 914,808, was now the 7th U.S, largest
city
 By 1970 Cleveland was #10 at 750,903
and less dense than in 1920
 In 1990, Cuyahoga is the most urbanized
county in Ohio
 Cleveland’s Population in 2013- 390,113

6. Potential Agricultural Lands
 The Land Use
Working Group
identified
approximately 1,724
acres of vacant lands
that have “prime” soil
types for agriculture.
(silty & sandy loams)

8. 2016
 Local Work Group
We need a blueprint
NACD grant
Part-time Horticulture Specialist

9. 2017
Blueprinttourbanagriculture.com
Landowner assistance
Connecting to urban ag community
OSU Extension Advisory
Committee
Cover Crop demo
Tours – featuring urban ag sites
Workshops

10. 2018
 Maintain the position
 Conservation boot camp
 Connect to OIAI resources
 Assist with landowner assistance
 Landscape vacant lot, trees, pollinators
 Work with school children
 Tree stewards, Tree Commission
Academy
 RCPP

11. 2019
 Sustain the position
 Assistance to MS4 communities,
inspections, site visits
 Landowner Assistance
 Vacant lots
 Tree planting and monitoring-Farm Bureau
 Soil Health-OIAI; Soil Test kits
 Navigating NRCS system

13. Status of Urban Ag
 Funding source dried up—new priorities
 OSU Extension – Market Gardeners
 High Tunnel Program
 Local Wok Group
 Rust Belt Riders, Historic Markets

14. Healthy Soils

16. Improving Soil
1. Cover the soil. Prevent erosion.
2. Break up compaction.
3. Increase organic matter.
4. Winter kill for mulch.
5. Legumes fix nitrogen.

18. Soil Health

19. Cuyahoga Healthy
Urban Tree Canopy
 Tree canopy in Cleveland is below 19%
 Cuyahoga County tree canopy averages
35%

20. • $5M
• Planning
and
Planting
• SWCD
Monitors

23. Native Urban Tree Starters

24. Great School Project!

25. Floating Wetlands

26. NEXT STEPS
 Vacant lots
 Soils
 Trees (NUTS)
 Pollinators
 Master Rain Gardeners
 New funding sources
 NACD Urban Ag Grant #2

27. Establishing Perennial Food
Systems
 NACD Grant
 Lakewood-Orchard School Site
 Most population dense in Ohio
 Tree City
 Planting an orchard
 East Cleveland Agroforestry
 Coit Road Market. 80 years old.
 Poorest city in Ohio
 Food desert

28. Cuyahoga SWCD Staff

29. Thank You!