CGC Updates: Spring 2026

Every spring as we come out of winter, it seems like there’s even more going on at the CGC than ever—and this year is no exception! Here’s what we’ve been up to.

ReRooted Plant Propagation

Our ReRooted native plant propagation program is up and running for 2026! Our amazing volunteers have planted almost 10,000 seeds. These newly sprouted baby plants will spend their summer growing in our hoop house and be available for sale at the Fall Native Plant Festival on Saturday, September 12.

Greenspace Guardians

The current cohort of 16 Greenspace Guardians has been dedicated to their classroom and field study sessions, with just two remaining for the season before they embark on their capstone projects before graduation in November. This incredible group of individuals is exceeding expectations as they build meaningful relationships and relevant knowledge in the field of restoration conservation. A huge shout-out to our 2026 partners: University of Cincinnati, Active Outdoors, Mill Creek Alliance, Cincinnati Parks, Cardinal Land Conservancy, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, and Imago Earth Center.

Amazing Interns

April showers weren’t just in the skies—they were in our eyes, too, as we waved farewell to our outstanding college interns, who are off on their next set of adventures. Katie is studying for the MCAT and Sam is gearing up for summer travels. We’re so grateful for all the time and care they put into helping with many aspects of CGC programming including compost sorting, youth education, urban agriculture, and plant propagation. Keep crushing it out there! The world is better because you’re in it.

The Hauck Concert Series

It’s hard to believe, but we’re already halfway through our inaugural 2026 Hauck Concert Series! We began with a solo percussion concert by CCM graduate Jacob Ottmer, Percussive by Nature, early in the year, then presented the sold-out world premieres of 7 Last Words for the Earth by Canadian composer Andrew Staniland and Lost in Space by Cincinnati’s own Mary Kroner just before Earth Day. It has been so much fun putting these concerts together and sharing them with our community, and we’re already looking forward to the next two!

Membership

Our membership program is quickly turning into another way to deepen the connections within our community—which is one of the main reasons we created it! Members have gathered together for Herb Circle and Native Plant Support Group meetings, where we’ve shared relaxed discussions, advice, and commiseration; harvested witch hazel to make cleansers and toners; and spent time getting to know one another.

CGDT Graduates

Over 12 weeks from January to April, our 2026 CGDT (Civic Gardener Development Training) participants learned some of the important parts on how to manage or coordinate an agricultural space in an urban community—things like securing funding, the importance of civic engagement, planning the space, orchard basics, seed starting, and garden construction. This year's graduating class included 36 individuals who formed community within their cohort and are ready to establish themselves as knowledgeable participants in Cincinnati’s urban agricultural scene.

Market Garden Build-Out

This month, we began the build-out our new market garden site, which was also the location of our CGDT practicum. We started by tilling the space and building two bioreactors in collaboration with Turner Farm and the Adventure Crew. Having on-site compost production that will allow us to continue to add organic material to a once-vacant lot with soil deficiencies. With a total of nine raised beds and nine 65-foot in-ground rows, this site will ultimately be used by 13 participants in our Market Garden Training, facilitated by Central State University, to take what they learn from the classroom directly to the garden. 

Queen City Food Quest

We visited four schools in the second half of the school year to take fourth grade students on the Queen City Food Quest. Students continue to enjoy learning about our local food community and making their own pizzas with local ingredients. We are excited to visit many of these school next year with new fourth grade classes.

Volunteer Workdays

CGC volunteers have had an adventurous spring in Hauck Botanic Garden, from building a "dead-hedge" fence with fallen branches and logs to laying the hammer (or, in our case, the handsaw) to invasive species. We've also hosted 10 workdays in community gardens across the city, laying the groundwork for a fruitful growing season. And our biggest volunteer lift of the year is just around the corner: our GrowFest plant sale!

A.H. Johnson Garden Dedication

This past Saturday, we had the honor of celebrating A.H. Johnson, a long-time garden coordinator of the MLK Community Garden, for her more than two decades of dedication and work in the Avondale community. She has nurtured not only the soil, but also the spirit of the community. To honor all her work cultivating better health, better community, and a better tomorrow, we transitioned the garden to the A.H. Johnson Community Garden.

GrowFest Classes

This year, we tried something new: expanding our spring plant sale into a series of 12 classes PLUS the sale. It’s been a great way to get the momentum going and the motivation flowing, and we’ve seen so many new and familiar faces as our Greater Cincinnati community prepares for the growing season. Keep those class notes close and let’s keep growing together!

New Trees in Our Lobby

In the first few months of the year, we were gifted not one, but two beautiful Norfolk Pines—one from White Oak Gardens and the other from Tucker and Michael Coombe. White Oak kindly helped with transport, and now these two trees stand together in our lobby, serving as a lovely reminder of the kindness that surrounds us. Stop by and visit them to enjoy the welcoming space they’ve helped create—maybe at our GrowFest plant sale this Saturday (May 2), 9am-3pm!

Looking Ahead

GrowFest Plant Sale!

If you’re reading this the day we published it (Wednesday, April 29), we’re just three days away from our annual GrowFest plant sale! We’ve expanded Trees and Shrubs into its very own booth, added more pollinator-friendly perennials, sourced some of the rare spring ephemerals native plant lovers have been asking for along with later-blooming woodland species, and stocking an amazing selection of herbs and vegetables (including dozens of CGC-grown heirloom crops from around the world). See you Saturday, May 2, from 9am to 3pm…come early for the best selection!

Summer Camps

In just a few weeks, we’ll welcome our first group of campers for our new Summer Sprouts Summer Camp! We’re looking forward to caring for our gardens, cooking, exploring the grounds, and playing games together all week long. Later in the summer, our second group of campers will get to experience our gardens in their late-summer bounty.

Summer camp isn’t just for kids, though! Our new Horticulture Summer Camp runs through June and July and offers a comprehensive crash course in the fundamentals of horticulture, while connecting “campers” to nature and to each other.

Coffee in the Garden

We’re thrilled to host a brand-new CGC experience: Coffee in the Garden! Spend a beautiful spring morning surrounded by blooms, community, and the rich aromas of expertly crafted coffee. Four of Cincinnati’s finest roasters—Deeper Roots Coffee, La Terza Artisan Coffee Roasterie, Mom 'n 'Em Coffee & Wine, and Proud Hound Coffee—will each showcase tastings from a distinct coffee-growing region of the world. Tickets also include an exclusive limited-edition reusable mug, curated coffee tastings, a delicious baked good from Deeper Roots, guided tours, and more.

More Member Events

As we continue to develop our new membership program, we’re excited to refine existing offerings (like our Native Plant Support Group and Herb Circle), shape new events (like our upcoming Game Night), and share surprises along the way (first up: a Fresh Flower CSA)!

New Pollinator Garden Partnerships

What started as a one-off collaboration has evolved into a powerful way to spread native plants across Cincinnati while deepening our relationships with partner organizations! We’re supporting three new gardens this May through our Pollinator Garden Partnerships: one at the Mt. Airy Community Garden, another at Cincinnati Urban Promise in Westwood, and a third in partnership with Cincinnati Public Schools and Duke Energy at the Spencer Center and Riverview East Academy. Each of these plantings will use CGC-grown native plants (thanks, ReRooted volunteers!) and provide year-round beauty and wildlife habitat.

New Interns

Even as we wave goodbye to a few of our interns, we’re welcoming new ones on board. Jonathan, our newest intern here at the CGC, started just in time to kick off the buildout of our market garden space, described above. His journey into sustainable horticulture and agriculture started as a kid picking blackberries in his grandma’s yard and led him the CGC’s annual GrowFest plant sale last year. Soon, Sipriana will be joining us as well to help maintain our garden here on the CGC grounds and our market garden space as well as providing her expertise in garden installation and educating our Backyard Gardeners participants with their gardens. 

Lil’ Sprouts on the Go

We're thrilled to be bringing our Lil’ Sprouts to Go series back to MadTree Parks & Rec for 2026! From May through September, join us on the second Thursday of each month at 10am. (And of course, you can always join us at 10am on the second and fourth Mondays of the month for Lil' Sprouts here at the CGC.)

New Native Plant Resources

We’re always looking for new ways to support gardeners on their native plant journey, whether that’s through in-person classes or online resources. That’s why we’re creating fifteen CGC recommended plant lists to help you put the right plant in the right place in your garden. We’ll let you know when they’re ready for you! Hauck Botanic Garden gets some love this spring too—with new themed gardens that will inspire gardeners to find native plant solutions for a variety of landscape situations.