Capitalizing on Gahanna’s status as the herb capital of Ohio, the Building Industry Association’s 2008 Parade of Homes will offer “An Herbal Experience,” June 14-29. Gahanna’s Manor Homes’ development, a 40.42-acre subdivision at Clark State and Reynoldsburg-New Albany roads that features 60 single-family homes valued at an average of $500,000, will be the site of the 2008 Parade of Homes. Experts from the Ohio Herb Education Center (OHEC), managed by Gahanna’s Department of Parks & Recreation, are assisting the parade with herb gardens and programming. Each of the seven parade homes will feature an herb garden and herbs will be integrated into the landscape design in common areas.

A tent pavilion will be centrally located at the parade with daily herbal demonstrations and hands-on activities. Seven presenters will participate including OHEC and local merchants who have incorporated herbs into their products.

Local chefs will present cooking demonstrations in select parade kitchens using herbs to enhance culinary creations. The Parade of Homes preview party June 13 will feature herbs in a variety of dishes.

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TREES! One of the great things about this year’s Parade site is the amount of nature. These trees are huge – and the entire neighborhood is surrounded by them. Just to the left of the house shown (M/I Home’s, by the way), there’s a path that winds through the woods and will provide access to Hannah Farms, which the City of Gahanna is in the process of giving a major overhaul.

And speaking of big… to the casual eye, it’s not very noticeable, but the walls of the OS Homes home really are thicker. This, of course, is due to the extra-efficient, environmentally-friendly insulation that will ultimately keep heating and cooling bills down (and less carbon in the air – yeah!) Mmmmmmmm, cozy.