A Day at Camp Washington Perennial Farm

On April 7, 2026, the Green Umbrella team had a working day with the Common Orchard Project at Camp Washington Perennial Farm. We transplanted budding plants into larger pots where they’ll grow a bit larger before being added in between fruit trees at orchards around the region. We also watered potted trees and shrubs before holding our regular all-staff meeting. It was a lovely day in the sunshine.

Sound heavenly? You can get your hands dirty too at our regular volunteer days at the farm every third Saturday of the month from 9:00 am-12:00 pm. No prior experience is needed and everyone is welcome.

You can also organize a corporate volunteer day for your organization for giving back to the community and team-building activities. Contact Chris at chris@greenumbrella.org to organize your event.

A Farm? A Farm!

Camp Washington Perennial Farm (formerly Camp Washington Urban Farm) is a 2-acre site in the heart of Camp Washington, tucked in the southwest corner of the Monmouth overpass and 75 South Highway. Common Orchard Project took over management of the site in 2020, which now serves as Common Orchard’s central hub. 

This site is perhaps an unexpected place to build a farming community. It’s quite literally in the shadow of highways. There aren’t lush fields around it. The nearest neighbors are a correctional facility and old warehouses. But looking for huge amounts of empty space is unrealistic. We need more food access where there are lots of people – aka urban areas. A healthier way is possible even for the most concrete-laden areas, and Camp Washington Urban Farm is proof of that. 

The farm is where the Common Orchard Project stores the saplings that will be installed in community orchards around the region. It has a hoop house, a fruit tree and perennial plant nursery, chickens and their coop, and a composting program. Speaking of compost – we’re really excited about the new compost program.

Compost for the Commons

Camp Washington Perennial Farm is the demonstration site of a growing composting program that rescues food waste from landfill to cultivate rich compost for local growers. Through Hamilton County’s on-farm composting partnership, this demonstration site tests multiple methodologies for aerating piles, monitoring temperature and moisture, and accelerating the breakdown process to produce higher-quality compost in less time. When fully operational, the upgraded system will have the capacity to process up to nearly one million pounds of food scraps per year. 

More Information & Resources

• Common Orchard Project website
• Monthly Volunteer Days
• Buy Compost for the Commons
• Queen City Commons – Common Orchard Project composting partner
• History of the Camp Washington Perennial Farm