What was once known as THE Plant Sale is now…GrowFest! It’s no longer just a sale—it's a full-out festival.

• We’ll still have favorites like the Green Flea, the bake sale, kids’ activities, volunteer opportunities and plenty of plants. (Think herbs, new veggie starts alongside old favorites, native ephemerals and shade plants and pollinator-friendly native pollinator plants—the kinds of plants you hear us talk about in our classes and year-round programming.)

• We’re integrating popular elements from the Fall Native Plant Festival, like food trucks, free educational sessions, live music and a place to leave your plants while you hang out on our beautiful spring-clad grounds.

• We’re even adding a few new things, like bagged compost and a smoothie bike.

• And we’re bringing back the fun vibe everyone misses from the old TPS to throw one big party!

In reimagining what our spring event can be, we believe we’re getting back to our Plant Sale roots to once again embody the original spirit of the event as well as our mission: a way to build community around gardening, education and environmental stewardship. Join us on Saturday, May 4 from 9am to 3pm!

Open your eyes to the fascinating world of plants in ways you never considered as you dive deep into botanical topics and scientific exploration—during your lunch hour! This free virtual lunch and learn series uncovers the science behind plant form and function while highlighting significant local efforts to advance and conserve our botanical heritage.

This session is Part 1 of Plant Ecology: a subdiscipline of ecology that studies the distribution and abundance of plants, the effects of environmental factors upon the abundance of plants, and the interactions among plants and between plants and other organisms. To attend, all you have to do is join the Google Meet by 12pm on May 3.

To see the full schedule, meet the instructor, access the Botany Bistro archive and sign up for reminder emails, click on Learn More below.

Presenter: Mary Dudley, CGC Ecology Education Manager
Cost: Free!

Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. Learners of all levels are welcome to join in and further their knowledge of plants.

Learn about the wide world of herbs! Gardening with herbs is a satisfying way to freshen up your favorite recipes, cultivate natural medicines and foster ecologically sound gardening methods. Many herbs grow well in our Ohio gardens and will come back year after year.

This class will cover the basics of growing and using herbs for tea, culinary creations, medicinal salves, and natural cleaning products. We will taste some common herbs and discuss recipes to try at home.

Families and children 8 and up are welcome to join this class and learn about the wide world of herbs!

Presenter: Mary Dudley, CGC Ecology Education Manager
Cost: $15 / $10 for active volunteers

This class is sold out, but you can join the waitlist!

What better way to spend Arbor Day than at a birthday party for a tree?

The Lea’s Oak that graces the corner of our brick patio is possibly the CGC’s best kept secret. You won’t find it listed in most plant guides, and it's not for sale at any nursery. It was found many years ago by Cornelius J. Hauck and transplanted onto the grounds of Sooty Acres (now Hauck Botanic Gardens). This tree is a true Cincinnati native that has witnessed our community grow and change.

This year, our Lea’s Oak turns 75 (that’s young in oak years), and we’re throwing a party to celebrate! At this social-hour-plus-lecture, you'll learn the secrets of this unique species that has charmed and fascinated horticulturalists since the 1700s and help us honor Hauck’s legacy. We'll have snacks, special beverages and (of course) cake!

In lieu of gifts, please consider making a donation in honor of the Lea's Oak. We'll use it to continue to be good stewards to the land in our care.

Cost: Free (but space is limited!)

Join Pete Richman, co-owner of Rich Life Farm & Fungi, as he demonstrates low-tech methods for adding mushrooms into your vegetable or ornamental garden. This class will teach you how to incorporate several species of fungi into your landscape.

Cost: $20

Presenter: Rich Life Farm & Fungi is a self-taught family-owned farm passionately cultivating gourmet mushrooms year round using organic practices in the greater Cincinnati area. Since 2020 Rich Life Farm has been consistently producing high quality mushrooms for local restaurants, specialty grocery stores and direct to consumer at Farmers markets.

This event is sold out, but you can join the waitlist!

Okra: the most underrated, underutilized & misunderstood garden plant?

Also known as lady fingers, okra is either loved or hated. The origin of okra is still up for debate, but it's long overdue for some much-deserved praise!

From seed to stem, this beginner-friendly class will explore how to grow okra and surprising ways to process it. We'll cover the vast varietal diversity, ways to bring this beloved crop to the forefront in your garden, and other practical uses besides cooking.

Instructor: Kymisha Montgomery, CGC Urban Agriculture Coordinator
Cost: $10 / $5 for active CGC volunteers

This class is sold out. To hear about future classes, please sign up for our waitlist.

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With the passage of Issue 2 this past November, home gardeners can now try their hand at growing Cannabis sativa. Since this crop can require a significant investment on the part of the grower, it's important to learn best practices before starting out.

This course will cover the botany of Cannabis sativa, the process of how to successfully grow it either indoors or outside and some tips from our expert instructors. You'll walk away with a list of supplies and an understanding of next steps to take should you choose to embark on a new adventure and grow Cannabis sativa at home.

Please note:

• Some of the legalities of growing this crop have not been finalized and it is the responsibility of each participant to research and follow all regulations according to the law.

• The Civic Garden Center and its staff does not provide any legal advice, and all inquiries will be directed to local and state legislatures.

• Participants in this class must be at least 21 years old.

Instructors: Mary Dudley and Stephanie Fransen
Cost: $15 / $10 for active CGC volunteers

Open your eyes to the fascinating world of plants in ways you never considered as you dive deep into botanical topics and scientific exploration—during your lunch hour! This free virtual lunch and learn series uncovers the science behind plant form and function while highlighting significant local efforts to advance and conserve our botanical heritage.

This session is Part 2 of Plant Biotechnology: the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. To attend, all you have to do is join the Google Meet by 12pm on April 19.

To see the full schedule, meet the instructor, access the Botany Bistro archive and sign up for reminder emails, click on Learn More below.

Presenter: Mary Dudley, CGC Ecology Education Manager
Cost: Free!

​How do we figure out if a plant will become invasive? At one point, Amur honeysuckle was not commonly found in Southwest Ohio. Now, it has overrun nearly every habitat in our region. What species could be next?

Join Cincinnati Parks Conservation Technician Drew Goebel to learn which non-native plants are currently escaping into natural areas and what you can do to help.

COST: $15 / free for active CGC volunteers and Parks Conservation Stewards

Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. Learners of all levels are welcome to join in and further their knowledge of plants.

Rooted in form and function, edible native plants provide nutrition and substance in the garden landscape to both humans and local wildlife.

This basic overview class will start by introducing specific plants. Then we'll head outside for a walk around the Civic Garden Center to see some natives in the landscape (weather permitting). Our goal is that you leave inspired to learn more about the beauty of native plants and how to incorporate them into your own yard.

Presenter: Mary Dudley, CGC Ecology Education Manager
Cost: $10 / $5 for active CGC volunteers

This class is sold out, but you can join the waitlist!

Learn the basics of why and how to embrace native plants in our local landscape! Through this basic overview class, you'll discover the simplicity of local plants and thriving, sustainable habitats. We'll focus on healthy ecosystems and highlight some of our favorite native plants.

We'll start by introducing some specific plants, then head outside for a walk around the Civic Garden Center to see some natives in the landscape. Our goal is that you'll leave inspired to learn more about the beauty of native plants and how to incorporate them into your own yard.

Presenter: Mary Dudley, CGC Ecology Education Manager
Cost: $10 / $5 for active CGC volunteers

This class is sold out, but you can join the waitlist!

Open your eyes to the fascinating world of plants in ways you never considered as you dive deep into botanical topics and scientific exploration—during your lunch hour! This free virtual lunch and learn series uncovers the science behind plant form and function while highlighting significant local efforts to advance and conserve our botanical heritage.

This session is Part 1 of Plant Biotechnology: the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. To attend, all you have to do is join the Google Meet by 12pm on April 5.

To see the full schedule, meet the instructor, access the Botany Bistro archive and sign up for reminder emails, click on Learn More below.

Presenter: Mary Dudley, CGC Ecology Education Manager
Cost: Free!

Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. Learners of all levels are welcome to join in and further their knowledge of plants.

This class is sold out. To hear about future classes, please sign up for our waitlist.

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With the passage of Issue 2 this past November, home gardeners can now try their hand at growing Cannabis sativa. Since this crop can require a significant investment on the part of the grower, it's important to learn best practices before starting out.

This course will cover the botany of Cannabis sativa, the process of how to successfully grow it either indoors or outside and some tips from our expert instructors. You'll walk away with a list of supplies and an understanding of next steps to take should you choose to embark on a new adventure and grow Cannabis sativa at home.

Please note:

• Some of the legalities of growing this crop have not been finalized and it is the responsibility of each participant to research and follow all regulations according to the law.

• The Civic Garden Center and its staff does not provide any legal advice, and all inquiries will be directed to local and state legislatures.

• Participants in this class must be at least 21 years old.

Instructors: Mary Dudley and Stephanie Fransen
Cost: $15 / $10 for active CGC volunteers

The unpredictable weather patterns in our region can make gardening very challenging, especially in regards to inconsistent rainfall. Recent garden seasons have been plagued by drought followed by downpour. Knowing how to capture and store rainwater gives gardeners vital access to a resource necessary for thriving plants. It also enables us to slow the flow of stormwater from the impervious surfaces in our neighborhoods into our municipal stormwater management system, thus reducing the amount of untreated sewage that overflows into our natural waterways.

This workshop will cover the basics of rainwater harvesting and management. You'll learn how to capture and store rainwater for future use and the basics of building a rain garden. Weather permitting, we'll walk around Green Learning Station and discuss the CGC's rainwater collection systems.

Instructor: Mary Dudley, CGC Ecology Education Manager
Cost: $15 / $10 for active CGC volunteers

This event is sold out, but you can join the waitlist!

Open your eyes to the fascinating world of plants in ways you never considered as you dive deep into botanical topics and scientific exploration—during your lunch hour! This free virtual lunch and learn series uncovers the science behind plant form and function while highlighting significant local efforts to advance and conserve our botanical heritage.

This session is Part 2 of Agronomy: the science and technology of producing and using plants by agriculture for food, fuel, fiber, chemicals, recreation or land conservation. To attend, all you have to do is join the Google Meet by 12pm on March 22.

To see the full schedule, meet the instructor, access the Botany Bistro archive and sign up for reminder emails, click on Learn More below.

Presenter: Mary Dudley, CGC Ecology Education Manager
Cost: Free!

Spring ephemerals are some of our most unique and beautiful native flowers, but because they’re often small and last for just a few weeks in the early spring, they’re easy to overlook. This class will explore our most common spring ephemeral species. You’ll learn about their seed dispersal mechanisms, the important ecological niche they occupy and where the best spots are to see these amazing flowers in the Cincinnati region.

We’ll start indoors with a lecture, then head outside for a walk around the Civic Garden Center to see some natives in the landscape (weather permitting). Our goal is that you leave inspired to learn more about the beauty of native plants and how to incorporate them into your own yard.

Presenter: Sam Settlemyre, CGC Conservation Program Manager
Cost: $10 / $5 for active CGC volunteers

This class is sold out, but you can join the waitlist!

Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. Learners of all levels are welcome to join in and further their knowledge of plants.

Does the idea of having a hyper-local source of fresh eggs year round sound appealing? Is shifting away from relying on grocery stores or diversifying your food sources a priority for you? Then join us for this lecture-based, beginner-friendly class on keeping your own personal flock of backyard chickens!

In the class, we'll cover the basics for keeping small flocks of laying hens. You'll benefit from the instructors' personal, experience-based knowledge about designing and building coops, maintaining healthy hens, and handling the challenges of urban chicken-keeping. And you'll walk away feeling empowered with accurate information on chicken care and strategies for troubleshooting challenges.

This workshop is geared toward beginners who want to keep laying hens for egg production; those with experience are welcome to share their success stories. Children 8 and up are welcome to attend with their guardians.

COST: $15 / $10 for active CGC volunteers

PRESENTERS:

• Mary Dudley: CGC Ecology Education Manager

• Stephen Kroeger: Stephen has kept chickens for years

• Cara Hague: Cara lives in East Walnut Hills with her family and five chickens. They have been keeping chickens since 2011 and with their neighbors also have pet bunnies and goats. While no longer a horticulturist by profession, Cara is an avid gardener, tree planter and environmentalist.

You’ve heard that you should compost…now it’s time to learn how!

Composting is a simple task that each of us can complete responsibly as we strive to reduce the negative effects of environmental degradation and soil loss. Just as essential to our lives as recycling and waste removal, composting has the potential to build healthy soils and reduce landfill area. Whether you're eager to green your lifestyle or increase soil health, there are several options for small-scale composting that can be done at home, in an apartment or in the garden.

This beginner-friendly workshop will cover the basics of outdoor composting, vermicompost and bokashi. Participants will also learn what a healthy compost pile requires to be productive and ways to troubleshoot common issues. Weather permitting, we will walk around the CGC's compost area and discuss the pros and cons of several types of compost systems.

Instructor: Mary Dudley, CGC Ecology Education Manager
Cost: $15 / $5 for active CGC volunteers

This class is sold out, but you can join the waitlist!

This class is sold out. See our other classes & events here!

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Ever wanted to grow your own mushrooms? Join Pete and Emalee Richman of Rich Life Farm & Fungi as they teach the basics of controlled environment mushroom cultivation. Using readily available products, you'll learn the step-by-step process to growing your own gourmet mushrooms. You'll leave with a mushroom grow kit that you'll create during the workshop.

COST: $25

PRESENTERS: Rich Life Farm & Fungi is a self-taught family-owned farm passionately cultivating gourmet mushrooms year round using organic practices in the greater Cincinnati area. Since 2020 Rich Life Farm has been consistently producing high quality mushrooms for local restaurants, specialty grocery stores and direct to consumer at Farmers markets.

Open your eyes to the fascinating world of plants in ways you never considered as you dive deep into botanical topics and scientific exploration—during your lunch hour! This free virtual lunch and learn series uncovers the science behind plant form and function while highlighting significant local efforts to advance and conserve our botanical heritage.

This session is Part 1 of Agronomy: the science and technology of producing and using plants by agriculture for food, fuel, fiber, chemicals, recreation or land conservation. To attend, all you have to do is join the Google Meet by 12pm on March 8.

To see the full schedule, meet the instructor, access the Botany Bistro archive and sign up for reminder emails, click on Learn More below.

Presenter: Mary Dudley, CGC Ecology Education Manager
Cost: Free!

Are you ready to take your vegetable gardening to the next level while contributing to our local food system and helping to support yourself and your family? By the end of our free, six-part Market Garden Training (MGT) program, you’ll be able to take business principles and apply them in a small-scale, for-profit agriculture setting to do just that. MGT is also excellent preparation for further training courses.

MGT runs for six Thursday evenings in March and April (3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/4 and 4/11). Topics covered include business development, branding, marketing, pricing, legal considerations and finding opportunities. See the 2024 syllabus here.

Questions? Contact Kymisha Montgomery: kmontgomery@civicgardencenter.org or (513) 221-0981.

This class is full. See our calendar for other upcoming events!

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The easiest way to have a great vegetable garden is to become a dirt farmer. It all starts with the soil! This class will teach you about basic soil chemistry, structure and strategies. Grow your soil and it will grow your plants. Gardeners of all skill levels are welcome.

Instructor: Karolyn Schalk (OSU Extension Office)
Cost: $15 / free for active CGC volunteers

This class is also part of our Community Garden Development Training (CGDT) series. If you’re already registered for the series, you don’t need to register here. If you aren’t interested in the series, you can still take this class as a one-off!

Questions? Contact Kymisha Montgomery: kmontgomery@civicgardencenter.org

Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. Learners of all levels are welcome to join in and further their knowledge of plants.

Lesser celandine, English ivy, and winter creeper are some of the most frustrating invasive plants to remove from a property. Creeping along the ground, they grow amongst other plants and take years to eradicate. In this class, we will talk about strategies for homeowners to get rid of these evil plants. We'll cover a range of removal practices for invasive groundcovers and what it takes to manage infestations over time.

This class is intended for an individual with intermediate or expert knowledge. If you have been battling invasive groundcovers for years to no avail, this class is for you! If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to ssettlemyre@civicgardencenter.org.

Instructor: Kevin Ptacek, Project Manager at Davey Resource Group
Cost: $15 / $5 for active CGC volunteers

This class is sold out, but you can join the waitlist!

Open your eyes to the fascinating world of plants in ways you never considered as you dive deep into botanical topics and scientific exploration—during your lunch hour! This free virtual lunch and learn series uncovers the science behind plant form and function while highlighting significant local efforts to advance and conserve our botanical heritage.

This session is Part 2 of Ethnobotany: the study of a region's plants and their practical uses through the traditional knowledge of a local culture and people. To attend, all you have to do is join the Google Meet by 12pm on February 23.

To see the full schedule, meet the instructor, access the Botany Bistro archive and sign up for reminder emails, click on Learn More below.

Presenter: Mary Dudley, CGC Ecology Education Manager
Cost: Free!

Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. Learners of all levels are welcome to join in and further their knowledge of plants.