Cassi Runs WC’s Community Gardens and Has Big Plans for the Future
Cassi Dehart has finished her first semester and is well into the summer semester as a student in the Master of Organizational Leadership Program at Wilmington College Cincinnati.
When asked what her goals were for enrolling in the MOL program, Cassi said, “I want to make the world a better place through empowering others to grow their own food and provide for their families, eradicating food security issues, and increasing their self-confidence. Teaching others how to grow their own food and eat healthily, is beautiful.”
Cassi earned her undergraduate degree in Agronomy with a minor in Sustainability and made it her mission to learn the ins and outs of regenerative gardening. Regenerative gardeners rely on nature’s wisdom to grow vegetables with no pesticides, weedkillers, or synthetic fertilizers. Heirloom seeds produce plants whose seeds can be dried and used the following year for planting the same vegetables again.
When Cassi got wind of the fact Wilmington College was going to close their community gardens, formerly known as Grow Food Grow Hope, she presented herself as a solution. Chip Murdock, VP for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Civic Engagement, told Cassi that the Garden Gods sent her to the rescue. For almost five years Cassi has been working with student volunteers to run the Community Gardens located on the east side of campus. She currently oversees 34 beds that are loaned to students, faculty, community members, and 4-H programs. Cassi also has a few “teaching beds” where she educates others on growing a variety of edible foods. She is committed to ZERO WASTE and donates or shares the food with others as it is ready to be eaten. Visit the Community Gardens on Facebook.
She has perennial beds where plants grow back year after year. She educates others on the value of using mulch for weed conservation and to keep the soil moist and earthworms active, which is key to good growing good soil. Did you know that asparagus plants can produce over a pound per week per plant when in season and that comfrey is a natural fertilizer that can help save on the production of animals and the use of water?
Cassi is passionate about the Community Gardens at Wilmington College because she wants to make a difference for food security and having an avenue to teach people how to grow their own food, is essential. She received a grant to purchase vertical growing frames that add additional square feet of land for growing vegetables. The Wilmington College gardens became an official “Victory Garden” site for growing food for communities in need during the pandemic. Cassi even launched a “seed initiative” project with the public library where free seeds could be distributed to patrons.
Cassi volunteers with Sugartree Ministries. Her interest in Sugartree Ministries began when her nine-year-old daughter was sad to see people searching for clothes in a dumpster. Since Cassi has a heart for others in need, she and her daughter approached Sugartree Ministries to see if they had any interest in supporting a clothing ministry. She and her daughter organized the clothing Sugartree already had, made the clothes available to those in need, and began collecting donations. It seemed the more they gave away the more donations they received in return. As people visited to select clothing items, they also learned about the helpful resources available in the community. Cassi said, “The entire project has been incredibly rewarding.”
Cassi will be using Sugartree Ministries as her Immersive Learning organization for the MOL. As a food security advocate, Cassi has a vision for creating an educational urban community garden in front of the Sugartree Ministries building. Her vision includes a permaculture setting where fruit trees and herbs can grow and fall, offering more and more food year after year. Opting for heirloom plants that offer regenerative seeds from the plants they produce can help ensure true food security.
PlantPure Pods, based on the Plant Pure nation documentary, is reflective of her commitment to being a food security advocate. She has started and facilitates a small local group of individuals who meet monthly to discuss plant-based eating. Her small group is called Cultivating Wellness. Her “eat more veggies” evenings address the needs of those in attendance, frequently focusing on growing your own health topics such as, discussing the best plants to grow, how to grow them, and how to serve them. Participants share recipes, learn about nutritional value, and bring veggies to share. Join her Cultivating Wellness Group on Facebook!
In addition to overseeing the Community Gardens at the college, she serves on the Student Leader Executive Board, through The Center for Service and Civic engagement where she organizes student involvement with events that make a difference in the community, on and off-campus.
Cassi says, “The Master of Organizational Leadership program has helped me realize how the connections between my personality, strengths, values, and passion combine to help me realize my leadership potential. It has given me a better understanding of leading people and organizing initiatives in the areas where I serve. I am confident this degree will broaden my career opportunities in the future.”
Cassi plans to spend many years working on what she loves to do…helping others along their journey of ensuring dependency on themselves for food security.
Be sure to check out Cassi’s edible landscaping design in front of the Peace Resource Center (PRC) as it will be featured for the Westheimer Peace event this fall.
Grow Health Permaculture is Cassi’s new business venture where she provides foodscaping services to her clients, combining landscaping design with edible vegetation. To learn more contact her at Growhealth7@gmail.com
Wilmington College Cincinnati’s Master of Organizational Leadership is a great way to enhance your career and step into leadership roles in your chosen field. The online learning platform offers flexibility in combination with a high-quality education. Request information or apply today!
When asked what her goals were for enrolling in the MOL program, Cassi said, “I want to make the world a better place through empowering others to grow their own food and provide for their families, eradicating food security issues, and increasing their self-confidence. Teaching others how to grow their own food and eat healthily, is beautiful.”
Cassi earned her undergraduate degree in Agronomy with a minor in Sustainability and made it her mission to learn the ins and outs of regenerative gardening. Regenerative gardeners rely on nature’s wisdom to grow vegetables with no pesticides, weedkillers, or synthetic fertilizers. Heirloom seeds produce plants whose seeds can be dried and used the following year for planting the same vegetables again.
When Cassi got wind of the fact Wilmington College was going to close their community gardens, formerly known as Grow Food Grow Hope, she presented herself as a solution. Chip Murdock, VP for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Civic Engagement, told Cassi that the Garden Gods sent her to the rescue. For almost five years Cassi has been working with student volunteers to run the Community Gardens located on the east side of campus. She currently oversees 34 beds that are loaned to students, faculty, community members, and 4-H programs. Cassi also has a few “teaching beds” where she educates others on growing a variety of edible foods. She is committed to ZERO WASTE and donates or shares the food with others as it is ready to be eaten. Visit the Community Gardens on Facebook.
She has perennial beds where plants grow back year after year. She educates others on the value of using mulch for weed conservation and to keep the soil moist and earthworms active, which is key to good growing good soil. Did you know that asparagus plants can produce over a pound per week per plant when in season and that comfrey is a natural fertilizer that can help save on the production of animals and the use of water?
Cassi is passionate about the Community Gardens at Wilmington College because she wants to make a difference for food security and having an avenue to teach people how to grow their own food, is essential. She received a grant to purchase vertical growing frames that add additional square feet of land for growing vegetables. The Wilmington College gardens became an official “Victory Garden” site for growing food for communities in need during the pandemic. Cassi even launched a “seed initiative” project with the public library where free seeds could be distributed to patrons.
Cassi volunteers with Sugartree Ministries. Her interest in Sugartree Ministries began when her nine-year-old daughter was sad to see people searching for clothes in a dumpster. Since Cassi has a heart for others in need, she and her daughter approached Sugartree Ministries to see if they had any interest in supporting a clothing ministry. She and her daughter organized the clothing Sugartree already had, made the clothes available to those in need, and began collecting donations. It seemed the more they gave away the more donations they received in return. As people visited to select clothing items, they also learned about the helpful resources available in the community. Cassi said, “The entire project has been incredibly rewarding.”
Cassi will be using Sugartree Ministries as her Immersive Learning organization for the MOL. As a food security advocate, Cassi has a vision for creating an educational urban community garden in front of the Sugartree Ministries building. Her vision includes a permaculture setting where fruit trees and herbs can grow and fall, offering more and more food year after year. Opting for heirloom plants that offer regenerative seeds from the plants they produce can help ensure true food security.
PlantPure Pods, based on the Plant Pure nation documentary, is reflective of her commitment to being a food security advocate. She has started and facilitates a small local group of individuals who meet monthly to discuss plant-based eating. Her small group is called Cultivating Wellness. Her “eat more veggies” evenings address the needs of those in attendance, frequently focusing on growing your own health topics such as, discussing the best plants to grow, how to grow them, and how to serve them. Participants share recipes, learn about nutritional value, and bring veggies to share. Join her Cultivating Wellness Group on Facebook!
In addition to overseeing the Community Gardens at the college, she serves on the Student Leader Executive Board, through The Center for Service and Civic engagement where she organizes student involvement with events that make a difference in the community, on and off-campus.
Cassi says, “The Master of Organizational Leadership program has helped me realize how the connections between my personality, strengths, values, and passion combine to help me realize my leadership potential. It has given me a better understanding of leading people and organizing initiatives in the areas where I serve. I am confident this degree will broaden my career opportunities in the future.”
Cassi plans to spend many years working on what she loves to do…helping others along their journey of ensuring dependency on themselves for food security.
Be sure to check out Cassi’s edible landscaping design in front of the Peace Resource Center (PRC) as it will be featured for the Westheimer Peace event this fall.
Grow Health Permaculture is Cassi’s new business venture where she provides foodscaping services to her clients, combining landscaping design with edible vegetation. To learn more contact her at Growhealth7@gmail.com
Wilmington College Cincinnati’s Master of Organizational Leadership is a great way to enhance your career and step into leadership roles in your chosen field. The online learning platform offers flexibility in combination with a high-quality education. Request information or apply today!