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 Luis Aguilar-Dwyer, our Environmental Education Specialist.

COST: Free!

You’ll learn to help facilitate our high school field studies for participants in our Green Teens Challenge.

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 us for an informal walk around Hauck Botanic Garden and discover the history of the park and the plants growing within it.

COST: Free!

We’ll be organizing and cleaning up the hoop house to celebrate another successful Fall Native Plant Festival.

We’ll be cleaning up the Food Forest and exploring why winter habitat is essential for a healthy backyard ecosystem.

The CHPL Bird Nerds and the Civic Garden Center invite you to come discover why birdwatching is the ideal activity to combine with the practice of mindfulness! Mindful birdwatching is birdwatching quietly, intentionally and calmly while engaging with the natural world around you! Traditional bird watching is often associated with bird checklists, field guides and carrying binoculars or cameras, which can all be fun, but we’re inviting you to come to enjoy a more meditative approach.

FACILITATOR: Lea Shull

COST: Free!

Since long before Kroger Pharmacy, people have used the plants growing in their gardens and surrounding forests as natural herbal medicine. Do you have a go-to native plant for healing minor ailments? Join us to learn all about medicinal native plants!

FACILITATOR: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist)

COST: Included with CGC membership

Join CGC Community Engagement Coordinator Victoria for a special opportunity to connect and collaborate!

Bring your current project and a snack or drink to share (if you’d like) and join your fellow CGC members for an informal evening of making together! Whether you knit, crochet, embroider, sketch, paint, spin, papercraft, or anything else creative—if it’s portable enough for you to get it here, you’re welcome to come do it in good company.

Come be part of our CGC member community!

COST: Included with CGC membership

We’ll be running a community science BioBlitz to find and identify the plant species growing in our garden.

Don't miss out on months when you could still be growing! This class will cover strategies to make your harvest last beyond the traditional growing season. You'll learn how South Cumminsville gardeners take advantage of every opportunity to grow, including crop covers and perennial crops (like fruit trees)!

This class will be held at the South Cumminsville Community Garden: 3618 Roll Ave, 45223.

COST: Free! (Donations welcome)

The harvest moon is on the horizon, and so is our fourth and final Herb Circle of the year. This session, we'll focus on bringing herbs into our care routines by making an herbal salve. Join us as we celebrate the power of herbs to soothe our skin after a long season in the garden.

As always, we welcome beginners who are herb curious as well as experienced herbalists who enjoy sharing good conversation!

FACILITATOR: Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)

COST: Included with CGC membership

The twelfth-century composer, herbalist and mystic Hildegard von Bingen, while better known to modern audiences for her music, was a careful and scientific observer of the natural world, cataloguing and detailing the uses of herbs for both physical and mental wellbeing and finding solace and health in nature. In her expansive work Physica, we see a curious mind placing scientific inquiry within a theological framework of the goodness of creation.

Join us as we experience Hildegard’s soaring music while participating in simple activities that help us see the world through her eyes. After a brief introduction to Hildegard, we’ll break into three groups and make our way out into Hauck Botanic Garden to explore three stations, each with a performer offering a sampling of Hildegard’s music and an accompanying activity: herbs for health and herbal tea in the Herb Garden, an overview of botanical salve-making (sample included!) in the Food Forest, and creating a small piece of meditative personal art in the Tranquility Garden. Each group will have the opportunity to experience all three stations.

Please note that this event will be held outdoors. In the event of bad weather on September 27, the performance will be moved to October 4 at 3pm. We will be standing and walking a considerable amount during this event, occasionally over uneven or unpaved terrain. The Herb Garden and Tranquility Garden are accessible by mulched or paved path, but the Food Forest is more difficult to reach.

PRICING:

• Through December 15, all four concerts in the series can be purchased together for a discounted series price of $125 (a $35 savings)! (Please note that ticket exchanges and partial refunds are not available on series tickets.)

• Starting December 16, any remaining tickets to individual concerts will be available for purchase; see pricing information for individual concerts below.

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!

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!

Join award-winning veteran Cheesemaker Eduardo Rodriguez to explore the history, culture, process, and uses of Ricotta! In this beginner-friendly class, you'll sample some cheeses, participate in a demonstration, and have the opportunity to ask questions. You'll go home with the basket and cheese cloth needed to make Ricotta as well as a basic recipe.

INSTRUCTOR: Eduardo Rodriguez (owner of My Artisano and Slow Food Cincinnati member)

COST: $35

We’ll be cleaning up the Open Oak Landing and exploring why winter habitat is essential for a healthy backyard ecosystem.

We’ll be in the onsite veggie garden at Hauck Botanic Garden learning how best to plant and maintain a garden at this time of year.

We’ll be reviewing student submissions to our Green Teens Challenge and awarding points based on provided rubrics.

We’ll be cleaning up the Butterfly Garden and exploring why winter habitat is essential for a healthy backyard ecosystem.

Sharpen your coffee-tasting skills with Cody Brown, Director of Operations for Proud Hound Coffee!

In this beginner-friendly class, Cody will take you on a deep-dive sensory journey through the world of coffee—including its geography, essential processes (like farming, processing, and roasting), the people around the world who make it possible. After a lecture and demonstration, you'll get hands-on to learn specific tasting skills such as identifying profile notes. You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions.

INSTRUCTOR: Cody Brown (Proud Hound Director of Operations)

COST: $35

We’ll be cleaning up the Dewey Ave. Pocket Park.

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!

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 Luis Aguilar-Dwyer, our Environmental Education Specialist.

COST: Free!

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 us for an informal walk around Hauck Botanic Garden and discover the history of the park and the plants growing within it.

COST: Free!

We’ll be cleaning up the Woodland Edge and exploring why winter habitat is essential for a healthy backyard ecosystem.

The CHPL Bird Nerds and the Civic Garden Center invite you to come discover why birdwatching is the ideal activity to combine with the practice of mindfulness! Mindful birdwatching is birdwatching quietly, intentionally and calmly while engaging with the natural world around you! Traditional bird watching is often associated with bird checklists, field guides and carrying binoculars or cameras, which can all be fun, but we’re inviting you to come to enjoy a more meditative approach.

FACILITATOR: Lea Shull

COST: Free!

We’re breaking ground on the Green Buffer of native shrubs and perennials that will welcome future visitors and beautify a busy intersection.

Learn how to turn a dried-out stem of dogbane into a strong rope—and how that rope can be used to ignite fire from materials commonly found in local fields and forests.

INSTRUCTOR: Howie Zuefle

COST: $35

In this introductory class, you'll learn the fundamentals of plant preservation. No prior experience needed! After a demonstration of how to press flowers or leaves, you'll create a small piece of art with pressed botanical materials to take home.

INSTRUCTOR: Luis Aguilar-Dwyer (CGC Environmental Education Specialist)

COST: $35

We’ll be cleaning up the Urban Rain Garden and exploring why winter habitat is essential for a healthy backyard ecosystem.

We’re breaking ground on the Green Buffer of native shrubs and perennials that will welcome future visitors and beautify a busy intersection.

Love looking at plants? Learn how to draw one! Get in touch with the joy of drawing as you look more closely at the wide variety of plants growing at Hauck Botanic Garden—even if you've never drawn before.

INSTRUCTOR: Gratia Banta

COST: $50

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!

We’ll be learning what to do with all those leaves that are piling up in the lawn. (Hint: It WON’T involve black trash bags!)

In this beginner-friendly workshop, you’ll learn how to properly dry, seal, and coat real botanicals in resin so they remain vibrant, protected, and long-lasting, then make your own unique pieces to take home.

If you'd like, join us for an optional harvesting session from 9:30-10:30am on Saturday, September 26. You're welcome to come harvest botanical material to preserve from the CGC grounds or bring pieces from home to be preserved in time for the jewelry-making workshop on November 1.

INSTRUCTOR: Breanna Cole

COST: $100

We’ll be reviewing student submissions to our Green Teens Challenge and awarding points based on provided rubrics.

Join local baker Kate Nycz from North South Baking Co. to learn the process of making focaccia! You'll get hands-on to make some dough, learning tips and secrets from Kate along the way. At the end of class, you'll take your dough with you to let it finish rising and bake it at home.

INSTRUCTOR: Kate Nycz, owner of North South Baking Co.

COST: $35

We’ll be putting the hoop house to bed for the season.

Come out and play: Learn basic block printing and create your own art! In this hands-on workshop, Amy Gable of Yam Happy will guide you through designing your own stamp, transferring it to linoleum, and carving your own block. You’ll have time to use your stamp to print on paper, stickers, and a zippered pouch to take home along with your stamp. All materials will be provided.

INSTRUCTOR: Amy Gable

COST: $35

Jam as preservation is a fun, accessible way to reclaim our access to food while getting more out of our pantry. Whether you need to preserve a bountiful harvest, use up leftover produce, or make sure those tomatoes your kid decided they don't like anymore don't go to waste, your problem can be solved by a jam or jelly!

We'll begin with a brief lecture and a tasting, then go over specific directions. You'll work in groups to prepare our chosen recipes (a savory jam and a sweet jelly), and we'll end with some time for Q&A.

INSTRUCTOR: Victoria Hennings (CGC Community Engagement Coordinator)

COST: $35

A sturdy set of garden tools, well cared for, can be lifelong partners in all your outdoor adventures! This hands-on demonstration of proper tool maintenance will include simple methods for cleaning, sharpening, and using your favorite garden tools.

Have a dull spade or rusty pair of pruners lying around? Bring it along for a touch-up. You're also welcome to practice with the tools we'll provide. By the time you leave, we hope you're feeling confident in garden tool care and ready to save money by making your tools last a lifetime!

INSTRUCTOR: Jack Parlin (CGC Program Associate)

COST: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers

Fall is the perfect time for collecting and sharing seeds and extra plants. Join us for a casual potluck and leave with ornamental plants and seeds from fellow CGC members’ gardens!

See event description for details.

COST: Included with active CGC membership

Botanical gin is in, and we're here to help you make your own! In this class, we'll cover the basics of harvesting garden treasures to create your very own infusion. We'll learn about the different flavoring elements used in traditional and modern gin distilling and sample some native botanicals.

You'll leave with your own botanical blend and instructions for infusing it into the vodka of your choice after class. Make your next dinner party pop when you serve your own unique botanical gin! (This event is 21+.)

INSTRUCTORS: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist) and Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)

COST: $35

For our final performance in the 2026 Hauck Concert Series, we’ll gather together in the CGC’s auditorium to hear beautiful string quartet music. Throughout the afternoon, we’ll share spiced wine and mulled cider, light bites, guided conversation and good company. At the end of the event, we’ll raffle off the one-of-a-kind centerpieces–all made by CGC Horticulturist Julie from garden findings–for lucky audience members to take home. Each ticket includes one (1) drink ticket and light bites.

PRICING:

• Through December 15, all four concerts in the series can be purchased together for a discounted series price of $125 (a $35 savings)! (Please note that ticket exchanges and partial refunds are not available on series tickets.)

• Starting December 16, any remaining tickets to individual concerts will be available for purchase; see pricing information for individual concerts below.

Learn how to create a seasonal wreath or centerpiece with materials gathered from the garden! These all-natural works of art can be enjoyed through the holiday season and beyond. We’ll supply woven wreath forms, wire and tools and assist you in harvesting and constructing your own personalized autumn décor piece.

INSTRUCTOR: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist)

COST: $35

We’ll be reviewing student submissions to our Green Teens Challenge and awarding points based on provided rubrics.