Much like the seeds that are sown on its grounds, Greenacres Foundation took root in the heart of Indian Hill, a legacy of longtime residents Louis and Louise Nippert that continues to grow. Under the Foundation’s care, more than 1,200 acres of woodlands and farmlands—including 600 in Indian Hill—are preserved for education, research and conservation.
Greenacres Foundation Executive Director Meredith Leslie embraces the challenge of the Nipperts’ charge to preserve the sprawling property and use it as a learning hub. Their vision and mission shape the continuing work of the Foundation that was started in 1988.
“In the 1940s, the Nipperts were city people,” Leslie explains. “He was an attorney, and she was a professional musician. Mr. Nippert had always wanted to be a veterinarian, so they moved his law practice out to Indian Hill and started a farm.”
The farm expanded as they purchased adjacent land, accumulating to the acreage that now makes up Greenacres Foundation. Leslie has a personal connection to the property. She has walked and worked the land since she was a child, observing and encouraging the growth of all living things on it.
“My grandparents were very good friends of Mr. and Mrs. Nippert. My dad started working here on the farm when he was 11 years old, doing just about every farm job. They were like a third set of grandparents to me my whole life,” she shares. “My dad, Carter Randolph, ran the Foundation from 1988 until now. I came on board in 2022.”
A visit to Greenacres allows a glimpse of the natural state of southwestern Ohio before much of it was developed into suburbia. The rolling hills, winding creeks and forests have greeted generations of Cincinnati families. Greenacres Foundation is lush with growth. Gardens and animals thrive on the grounds: vegetables, fruits, flowers, cattle, sheep, hogs, chickens and turkeys.
Thirty thousand school children visit each year for environment, agriculture and arts field trips. Exploring with Grace, after-school and weekend programming, is geared toward youth from under-resourced communities. Three additional campuses in Lewis Township, Ohio, Oldenburg, Indiana and Miami Township—Clermont County, offer opportunities for learning beyond the Village. The Foundation calendar is filled with summer camps, day camps, equestrian programs and other activities for all ages to enjoy the beauty of Greenacres.
“Education is the core to what we do and all the other functions here support that,” Leslie says.
“We want our students to know—I’m going to steal a quote from Chief Seattle—'We do not inherit the earth from our grandparents, we borrow it from our grandchildren,’” she says. “We like to add ‘and we will pay back the loan with interest.’”
The Foundation sets a benchmark for education that is unparalleled in its field. Young aspiring farmers compete to be selected for the Garden and Livestock Apprentice Programs, two-year programs that encourage experimentation and success. In Greenacres’ greenhouses and pastures, agriculture students and farmers of all ages explore the latest developments in regenerative agriculture and navigate replacing traditional farming with methods that support healthy ecosystems.
“The first year the apprentices work side-by-side with our full-time staff learning all about farming,” Leslie explains. “On their second year, they're each given a one-acre plot and they have to plan it themselves all the way from planting to harvesting.”
As a part of the apprentice programs, they prepare trainees for success with supportive classes covering topics like budgeting and marketing and branding.
“We do a lot of workshops and conferences to support farmers across the country,” says Leslie. “We teach them regenerative systems, how they can remove fertilizers and additives from their processes and move more toward soil health.”
Greenacres Foundation also offers creative arts education, encouraging the next generation to have an appreciation for the classical arts. From art shows to ballet performances, the Greenacres Arts Center is a venue for a variety of creative arts programs.
“Mrs. Nippert was a professionally trained opera singer,” Leslie explains. “She was such a big advocate for the arts across Cincinnati. We would love to help students uncover their passion for the arts in her honor.”
Students are blooming alongside the plants at Greenacres, a gift from the Nipperts that keeps on giving.
“The vision and mission the Nipperts left with us was really powerful, but I don't think that they had any idea how powerful,” Leslie reflects. “I feel they would be so honored with how far we've come and all the things that we've done and how we've been able to impact the community with their gift.”
For more information about Greenacres Foundation, find a calendar of upcoming events and opportunities to visit the farm online.
Greenacres Foundation, 8255 Spooky Hollow Road, Cincinnati
513.891.4227 | Green-acres.org
“Education is the core to what we do and all the other functions here support that.” - Meredith Leslie, Executive Director