Upcoming Events
You’ll find a listing of all our current classes and events below. (Prefer a calendar view? Here you go.) If something catches your eye, click on it for more information and to register. We also include a run-down of upcoming events in The Civic Gardener each month, which is a great way to stay in the loop!
CGC Compost Tour
Did you know that the CGC is host to seven different types of composting systems? Take a walk with us to learn about the different methods of composting we have and how you can incorporate composting into your life! You’ll see Earth Cubes, vermicompost, bokashi, Johnson-Su bioreactors, a three-bin system, a tumbler and a top-loading composter.
COST: Free!
FestEVE!
Miss the old Preview Party? Want to shop GrowFest but can't come on Saturday? Just love any excuse to hang out with plant people? Join us for the first-ever FestEVE! You'll get to shop the GrowFest plant inventory early while you enjoy a spring evening in the garden. Admission includes one drink, and food will be available for purchase from local vendors.
COST: $20
GrowFest 2025
Join us for a day of celebrating all things urban agriculture and gardening! We’ve expanded our plant selection, and the day will include free educational sessions, the Green Flea, the bake sale, live music, food trucks, a beer garden, kids’ activities, volunteer opportunities and more.
Pollinator Waystations: Container Gardening for Nature
If you don't have a lot of outdoor space, can you still support our local ecosystem? Yes, you absolutely can! In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn about and assemble your own pollinator-friendly planter to take home.
INSTRUCTOR: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist)
COST: $50
Kimchi Workshop
Learn to make your own Kimchi from Kimchi master Keys Kim! During this hands-on workshop, you'll watch a demonstration of the initial Kimchi preparation, then season and package some to take home. You'll leave with the knowledge to make your own Kimchi.
INSTRUCTOR: Keys Kim
COST: $35
Propagation Workday
Help us pot up native seedlings as part of our ReRooted plant propagation program!
Walnut Woods Workday
Join us as we work to restore Walnut Woods, a 10-acre forest located in Evanston. This workday will focus on maintaining the newly planted prairie habitat.
Lil' Sprouts
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 for children ages 3 to 8 and their caregivers offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. We hold Lil' Sprouts on the second and fourth Monday of each month.
COST: Free!
Botany Bistro To-Go: Liliaceae Family
There’s always a table reserved for you at the Botany Bistro! Here you can munch on bite-sized botany as you savor the science of plants. In 2025, Season 2 of this free, virtual botanical banquet focuses on 24 different plant families, exploring their unique characteristics and ways they have adapted through time. This session is all about the Liliaceae family.
COST: Free!
Green Learning Station Tour
Have you checked out our Green Learning Station recently? We have rooftop gardens, a compost demonstration area, rainwater catchment systems and an indoor green wall, just to name a few of our current projects! Join us for an informative, informal tour and have your sustainability questions answered by Mary Dudley, our Director of Education.
COST: Free!
Hauck Arboretum Tour
The Hauck Arboretum may just be Cincinnati’s best kept botanical secret! A stroll along the pathways of this historic public garden reveals new surprises on each visit. Join CGC Horticulturist Julie for an informal walk around Hauck Botanic Garden and discover the history of the park and the plants growing within it.
COST: Free!
Propagation Workday
Help us pot up native seedlings as part of our ReRooted plant propagation program!
Cannabis Cloning, Trimming & Training
Managing your homegrown Cannabis during the vegetative growing stage comes with lots of opportunities to trim and train, resulting in cuttings that can be used to grow new plants. In this lecture-based class, you'll learn how to correctly prune your Cannabis plants, use the cut material to grow clones and train your Cannabis plant to grow to its full potential.
INSTRUCTORS: Stephanie Fransen (CGC Administrative & Facilities Manager) & Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)
COST: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers
Propagation Workday
Help us pot up native seedlings as part of our ReRooted plant propagation program!
Closed for Memorial Day
Except for Lil’ Sprouts from 9-10:3am, the CGC is closed in observance of Memorial Day. We’ll see you on Tuesday!
Lil' Sprouts
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 for children ages 3 to 8 and their caregivers offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. We hold Lil' Sprouts on the second and fourth Monday of each month.
COST: Free!
Botany Bistro To-Go: Lamiaceae Family
There’s always a table reserved for you at the Botany Bistro! Here you can munch on bite-sized botany as you savor the science of plants. In 2025, Season 2 of this free, virtual botanical banquet focuses on 24 different plant families, exploring their unique characteristics and ways they have adapted through time. This session is all about the Liliaceae family.
COST: Free!
Propagation Workday
Help us pot up native seedlings as part of our ReRooted plant propagation program!
Micro Prairie Install
We’ll be clearing out weeds and planting dozens of grasses and wildflowers to create a new native plant garden along Reading Road.
Summer Sprouts at the CGC Starts
Join us at the Civic Garden Center this summer for a weekly morning of fun! During this 8-session program designed for children ages 7-11 and their caregivers, we will spend our time together doing all of our favorite activities: gardening, cooking, exploring, crafting and playing games.
COST: $100 per child/caregiver pair.
CGC Compost Tour
Did you know that the CGC is host to seven different types of composting systems? Take a walk with us to learn about the different methods of composting we have and how you can incorporate composting into your life! You’ll see Earth Cubes, vermicompost, bokashi, Johnson-Su bioreactors, a three-bin system, a tumbler and a top-loading composter.
COST: Free!
Lil' Sprouts
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 for children ages 3 to 8 and their caregivers offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. We hold Lil' Sprouts on the second and fourth Monday of each month.
COST: Free!
Botany Bistro To-Go: Fagaceae Family
There’s always a table reserved for you at the Botany Bistro! Here you can munch on bite-sized botany as you savor the science of plants. In 2025, Season 2 of this free, virtual botanical banquet focuses on 24 different plant families, exploring their unique characteristics and ways they have adapted through time. This session is all about the Fagaceae family.
COST: Free!
Closed for Juneteenth
The CGC is closed in observance of Juneteenth. We’ll see you on Friday!
HUB Garden Class: Pest ID & Management
Join us in the Concord Community Garden to learn proven strategies for safeguarding your garden without the use of harmful chemicals. Explore natural methods, beneficial insects and other approaches to effectively protect your plants from pests and disease while promoting a sustainable and environmentally friendly garden ecosystem.
COST: FREE with code HUB2025!
Lil' Sprouts
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 for children ages 3 to 8 and their caregivers offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. We hold Lil' Sprouts on the second and fourth Monday of each month.
COST: Free!
Botany Bistro To-Go: Juglandaceae Family
There’s always a table reserved for you at the Botany Bistro! Here you can munch on bite-sized botany as you savor the science of plants. In 2025, Season 2 of this free, virtual botanical banquet focuses on 24 different plant families, exploring their unique characteristics and ways they have adapted through time. This session is all about the Fagaceae family.
COST: Free!
HUB Garden Class: Container Gardening
Growing vegetables in containers is an easy way to have fresh vegetables all through the summer! If you only have a small space to work with such as a patio, balcony, alleyway, sidewalk or even a rooftop, you can still grow a bountiful garden by choosing the right variety of vegetable plants. In this class at the Carthage Community Garden, we'll cover which types of containers work best for vegetables, sun requirements (that impact what vegetables you can grow), growing media, watering, the best vegetables to grow in containers, the benefits of mulch and fertilization.
COST: FREE with code HUB2025!
HUB Garden Class: Soil & Compost
Are you tired of doing everything right for your crops but they still don’t seem happy? Then it’s time to dig deeper into the most important factor contributing to plant health: soil! Through this class, you’ll come to appreciate this most fundamental natural resource and gain the skills to improve and conserve the soils of your own garden. We will cover common problems with growing food in urban sites, such as soil quality and nutrition deficiencies, and demonstrate sustainable practices to overcome these challenges, proving that agriculture can happen anywhere.
COST: FREE with code HUB2025!
Closed for the Fourth of July
The CGC is closed in observance of the Fourth of July. We’ll see you next week!
HUB Garden Class: Garden to Plate
Join CGC Urban Agriculture Coordinator Kymisha Montgomery for a garden-to-plate event in the Loveland Community Garden! We will harvest from the garden and discuss different vegetables and herbs, including their health benefits. A cooking demonstration will be provided.
COST: FREE with code HUB2025!
HUB Garden Class: Food Preservation
In this class, you'll learn how to can your harvest using the water bath and pressure canning methods. It's a great opportunity for beginners to explore the techniques and equipment needed for safe home canning. You'll be guided through the entire food preservation process, including the scientific reasoning behind today's recommended methods. We'll also debunk food preservation myths and unsafe practices.
COST: FREE with code HUB2025!
HUB Garden Class: An Herbalist’s Garden
Join local herbalist Meghan Henshaw in the Melrose Medicinal Garden in Walnut Hills as she explains how to identify over 20 different types of perennial medicinal plants that flourish in urban gardens. She will discuss the diverse therapeutic actions of plants such as hibiscus, holy basil, lavender and passionflower as attendees experience the plants in a thriving community greenspace. Herbal iced tea provided during class.
COST: FREE with code HUB2025!
Closed for Labor Day
The CGC is closed in observance of Labor Day. We’ll see you next week!
Closed for Thanksgiving
The CGC is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. We’ll see you next week!
Closed
The CGC is closed in preparation for GrowFest on Saturday, May 3. There will be no Lil’ Sprouts. Instead, please join us for GrowFest, which will include plants, educational sessions, food and fun for the whole family!
Grow Your Own Strawberries
Join Nadia Ruffin, MS, for a hands-on class where you’ll learn everything you need to know about growing your own delicious strawberries! Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this workshop will guide you through the entire process—from selecting the best strawberry varieties to planting, caring for your plants and harvesting sweet, juicy berries.
INSTRUCTOR: Nadia Ruffin, MS
COST: $20
Spring Grove Village Community Garden Workday
We’ll be clearing space for professional tree trimmers, weeding and spreading compost.
Walnut Woods Workday
Join us as we work to restore Walnut Woods, a 10-acre forest located in Evanston. This workday will focus on pulling garlic mustard!
Mt. Airy Commons Community Garden Workday
We’ll be planting, weeding and mulching garden paths.
CANCELED - Arbor Day Party: A Celebration of Trees
The very first Arbor Day was celebrated way back in 1872. This year, we’re celebrating Arbor Day with dedications to our favorite trees in the garden. Join us outside for drinks, snacks and a brief tour to visit some of our most popular trees. Guests are invited to share short readings on trees they love or write their own tree-inspired poetry in the moment.
COST: Free!
Goat Yoga
Come de-stress, laugh, smile, and enjoy the pure silliness and fun of Goat Yoga! In this gentle, beginner-friendly session, you'll learn the basics of stress reduction through yogic breathing and postures while small baby or Nigerian Dwarf goats run about, climb on you, snuggle and bring laughter spontaneously in the moment as only goats can do. Ages 10+
INSTRUCTOR: Farmer Rob (Good Green Earth Farm)
COST: $25
Botany Bistro To-Go: Magnoliaceae Family
There’s always a table reserved for you at the Botany Bistro! Here you can munch on bite-sized botany as you savor the science of plants. In 2025, Season 2 of this free, virtual botanical banquet focuses on 24 different plant families, exploring their unique characteristics and ways they have adapted through time. This session is all about the Magnoliaceae family.
COST: Free!
Homegrown Cannabis
Home gardeners can now try their hand at growing Cannabis sp. This crop can require a significant investment on the part of the grower, so it's important to learn best practices before starting out. This course will cover the botany of Cannabis sp. and the process of how to successfully grow it.
INSTRUCTORS: Stephanie Fransen (CGC Administrative & Facilities Manager) & Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)
COST: $20 / $10 for active CGC volunteers
Basic Ginger & Turmeric Growing
Alongside the carrots, kale or beloved tomato varieties that you're used too, why not try something new—like ginger or turmeric? In this class, you'll learn the basics of the current practices in planting and growing these rhizomes for personal use both in containers and in the ground.
INSTRUCTOR: Kymisha Montgomery (CGC Urban Agriculture Coordinator)
COST: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers
Hauck Arboretum Tour
The Hauck Arboretum may just be Cincinnati’s best kept botanical secret! A stroll along the pathways of this historic public garden reveals new surprises on each visit. Join CGC Horticulturist Julie for an informal walk around Hauck Botanic Garden and discover the history of the park and the plants growing within it.
COST: Free!
Green Learning Station Tour
Have you checked out our Green Learning Station recently? We have rooftop gardens, a compost demonstration area, rainwater catchment systems and an indoor green wall, just to name a few of our current projects! Join us for an informative, informal tour and have your sustainability questions answered by Mary Dudley, our Director of Education.
COST: Free!
The Practice of Forest Bathing
Forest Bathing is a mindful practice of bathing in the forest atmosphere for health and happiness. This beginner-friendly experience will cover a brief history of forest bathing, guided sensory invitations practiced in silence and optional sharing before closing with tea and cookies from foraged foods.
INSTRUCTOR: Ellen Foley
COST: $20
Essential Garden Herbs
Gardening with herbs lets you to freshen up your favorite recipes, cultivate natural medicines and foster ecologically sound gardening methods. This class will cover the basics of growing and using herbs for tea, cooking, medicine and cleaning. We'll taste common herbs and discuss recipes to try at home.
INSTRUCTOR: Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)
COST: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers
Native Plants for Shade
Finding native plants for the shady parts of your garden can be such a struggle. Traditional shade gardens tend to rely on exotic—and even invasive—species, and native shade plants are still so hard to find. This class will explore native plants that have evolved to thrive in shady conditions.
INSTRUCTOR: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist)
COST: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers
Lil' Sprouts
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 for children ages 3 to 8 and their caregivers offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. We hold Lil' Sprouts on the second and fourth Monday of each month.
COST: Free!
West McMicken Community Garden Workday
We’ll primarily be collecting, splitting and transplanting native plants.
Introduction to Plant Pressing
Plant pressing is more than just a creative hobby—it’s a way to document, appreciate and preserve the rich biodiversity that surrounds us; to connect with nature, slow down and truly observe the intricate details of plants that often go unnoticed. In this introductory workshop, you'll learn the fundamentals of plant preservation while getting hands-on experience in the field.
INSTRUCTOR: Luis Aguilar (CGC Environmental Education Specialist)
COST: $35
Know Before You Go: Shop for Plants like a Pro
Ever wandered nursery aisles with no idea what you’re looking for? Brought home a beautiful new plant only to have it die? Worried about invasive species, cultivars and nursery jargon? Come learn how to choose the right plants, warning signs to watch for and what to ask before you make your purchase.
INSTRUCTOR: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist)
COST: $20 / $10 for active CGC volunteers
Introduction to Native Plants
Native plants are the cornerstone of healthy ecosystems. Discover the simplicity of local plants and thriving, sustainable habitats while you learn the basics of why and how to embrace native plants in our local landscape. This basic overview class will focus on healthy ecosystems and highlight some of our favorite native plants.
INSTRUCTOR: Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)
COST: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers
Botany Bistro To-Go: Fabaceae Family
There’s always a table reserved for you at the Botany Bistro! Here you can munch on bite-sized botany as you savor the science of plants. In 2025, Season 2 of this free, virtual botanical banquet focuses on 24 different plant families, exploring their unique characteristics and ways they have adapted through time. This session is all about the Fabaceae family.
COST: Free!
MLK Community Garden Workday
We’ll be weeding and tilling to get the garden ready for spring planting.
CANCELED: Spring Grove Village Community Garden Workday
We’ll be adding leaf compost to garden beds and doing some weeding.
CANCELED: Lower Price Hill Gardens Workday
We’ll be using wheelbarrows to deliver soil shipments to home gardens located within a block of the community garden.
Backyard Composting Seminar with Hamilton County ReSource
Join Hamilton County ReSource for a composting seminar! You’ll learn how to compost and create a valuable addition to soil with a focus on how to balance a backyard compost bin, what materials are compostable and how to overcome any composting challenges.
COST: Free