About us
Seneca County Common Ground
Our Mission
Our mission is centered around supporting and improving the local food ecosystem.
We strive to support local growers and producers as well as local organizations and community members through education, events, resources and connection through food.
Created in 2019, Seneca County Common Ground is a nonprofit organization created to support local food & agriculture and promote access to and knowledge of fresh foods for Seneca County residents.
Seneca County Common Ground Board
- Aaron Gerlach, President
- Pressley Buurma, Vice-President
- Luke Bolte, Treasurer
- Steven Simpkins, Secretary
- Rob Malone (Owner, Turntable)
- Hannah Bumb (FELC)
- Dale Depew (Seneca News Daily)
- Kristy Buskirk (Owner, Clay Hill Organic Farm)
- Bill Fuller (Marketing Professor, Tiffin University)
- Valerie Zeno (Principal, New Riegel Schools)
- Emily Riehle, Executive Director
Tiffin Community Kitchen
The Tiffin Community Kitchen (TCK) is a teaching kitchen that provides educational opportunities to the people of Tiffin & Seneca County.
As part of Seneca County Common Ground, TCK fits perfectly within several of the goals of our Comprehensive Plan for community development. The economic and quality of life benefits will be exponential.
Past Culinary Programming
- Basic Cooking series
- 6-week course to teach the basics of cooking.
- Cooking Matters
- Hosted by our partners at the OSU Extension office, the program was tailored to the needs of the audience and encouraged them to invest in their personal overall well-being, as well as that of their family, neighborhood and community.
- Living Healthy with Diabetes
- Hosted by our partner Mercy Health, this class is geared to educate people with diabetes on healthy eating options.
Tiffin-Seneca Farmers Market
The mission of the Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market is to promote the exchange of fresh, quality, local food and agricultural products between the agricultural producers of Seneca County and its residents and visitors for the purpose of supporting local growers, providing a quality product to consumers, and supporting sustainable agriculture. All of this is possible thanks to our generous sponsor, Sutton Bank.
Tiffin Community Gardens
Tiffin Community Gardens will be another opportunity to teach, share, and support our community. In 2025, gardens were located at The Frost Deli and near the playground at Hedges Boyer Park.
