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!

If you want to be more involved in conservation efforts but don't know where to start, this class will give you the basics. Together, we’ll discuss ecology and the importance of ongoing efforts at the Civic Garden Center, conduct a basic ecological survey using our gardens and practice a simple biodiversity exercise using trees and vegetation sampling. You'll dip your toe into field skills like species identification and data collection and learn about how you can play a part in conservation efforts. No prior experience required.If you want to be more involved in conservation efforts but don't know where to start, this class will give you the basics. Together, we’ll discuss ecology and the importance of ongoing efforts at the Civic Garden Center, conduct a basic ecological survey using our gardens and practice a simple biodiversity exercise using trees and vegetation sampling. You'll dip your toe into field skills like species identification and data collection and learn about how you can play a part in conservation efforts. No prior experience required.

INSTRUCTOR: Luis Aguilar-Dwyer, CGC Environmental Education Specialist

COST: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers

In our Kraut class, you will learn fermenting basics and walk away with your very own crafted sauerkraut. In this hands-on workshop, Gary will teach you proper cutting, brining, seasoning and fermenting white you make a quart of kraut to take home and watch bubble up. Pickled Pig will provide all supplies.

INSTRUCTOR: Gary Lebyman, owner of The Pickled Pig

COST: $50

As the climate changes, gardeners will need to embrace new strategies and practices. Fortunately, there are plenty of plants that have evolved to withstand even the toughest drought conditions. With thick leaves, deep taproots and heat-beating adaptations, these native plants have what it takes to survive our new normal. Learn all about how you can garden to benefit local wildlife and create beauty in your yard when the rest of the neighborhood is looking tired and crispy.

INSTRUCTOR: Julie Dennewitz, CGC Horticulturist

COST: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers

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!

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!

​Fall is here and the garden is bursting with edible treasures! Let’s find the roots, nuts and berries that can add local flavor and nourishment to our harvest feasts.

INSTRUCTOR: Howie Zuefle

COST: $20

Learn calm your mind and body with evidenced-based, nature-focused practices that reduce stress and anxiety, create better health, foster more joy and creativity and help us come closer to the reciprocity we have with nature.

INSTRUCTOR: Cathy Sacco

COST: $20

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!

You’ve heard you should compost…now it’s time to learn how! This beginner-friendly class will cover the basics of outdoor composting, vermicompost and bokashi. You'll also learn what a healthy compost pile requires to be productive and ways to troubleshoot common issues.

INSTRUCTOR: Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)

COST: $20 / $10 for active CGC volunteers

Are you struggling to manage invasive plants on your property Ideal for those with three acres or less to manage, this class will walk you through each step in the restoration process, from properly identifying the plants to developing a long-term management plan. You'll receive a small-scale land management plan outline to help guide your efforts following the class.

INSTRUCTOR: Sam Settlemyre, CGC Conservation Program Manager

COST: $20

Peak growing season may be coming to an end, but a gardener is busy year round (and so is Mother Nature). In this class, we'll discuss how to transition the garden into the cooler months. Learn what you can do to prepare for winter (like constructing a hoop house) and how to set your garden up for a successful season next year.

COST: FREE with code HUB2025!

Learn how to build powerful, nutrient-packed smoothies using fruits, vegetables, herbs and immune-boosting teas with Cofi Higgins of By Cofi. You'll learn about pairing flavor and function, edible garnishes and the wellness benefits of herbs and teas, then make and taste smoothies and even build a custom pack of ingredients to take home.

INSTRUCTOR: Cofi

COST: $35

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!

The Civic Garden Center has teamed up with College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) graduates Romel Sims (Trumpet, Chicago-based) and Colin Palmieri (Saxophone, Cincinnati-based) to produce an elevated musical experience that enchants the senses and takes guests on an interconnected journey through nature and sound. Garden-inspired non-alcoholic beverages will be served. Dress in your garden best for this unique adventure amidst the CGC's urban oasis!

COST: $35

Join CGC Urban Agriculture Coordinator Kymisha Montgomery for a garden-to-plate event in the Concord 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!

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! Free and open to the public; no registration required.

Join CGC Urban Agriculture Coordinator Kymisha Montgomery for a garden-to-plate event in the Mt. Airy 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!

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!

Prepare for the autumn equinox and balance the shorter day length with a poured candle of your own design! Enjoy the scents of the garden all year long with a simple candle recipe. You'll learn the basics of how to craft poured candles and make a small candle to take home.

INSTRUCTOR: Mary Dudley (CGC Director or Education)

COST: $35

Wander around on a guided tour in the Northgate Community Garden, learning about practices from gardeners from Africa and Peru. Explore cultural crops they're familiar with and ways to successfully grow crops that may have always piqued our curiosity.

COST: FREE with code HUB2025!

Want to know more about what you can do with the flowers and herbs you're growing? How about making something simple, like a sugar scrub infused in lavender or a body butter with calendula Learn about making your own natural products at our Melrose Medicinal HUB Garden Class. We will harvest from the garden and discuss different herbs, including some of their health benefits. A demonstration of the processes will also be provided.

COST: FREE with code HUB2025!

Are you a fan of playing card or board games with new and old friends in one of the most beautiful gardens in the city? Then come to Game Night at the CGC! Whether's Catan, Euchre, Happy Salmon or something else, you're bound to find a game that piques your curiosity. The rules are simple: Bring Your Own Game (BYOG) and Bring Your Own Snacks (BYOS; no alcoholic beverages, please).

COST: Free, but please consider donating!

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!

Are you a native plant novice? Expert? Somewhere in between? Join us for the Fall Native Plant Festival! Whether you don’t know what a native plant is or have been growing them for years, this free, multi-vendor celebration of all things native plants is for you. We’ll have the “who’s who” of Cincinnati-area native plant growers as well as vendors, educational sessions, food trucks, a beer garden, live music, kids’ activities and more.

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!

Learn about ten medicinal plants that are uniquely suited to nourish the queer body and mind. Deepen your knowledge about grounding and calming herbs such as linden, ashwagandha and lavender, alongside damiana, maca and other plants that support vitality, connection and queer joy. Herbal tea will be served during the class.

INSTRUCTOR: Meghan Henshaw

COST: $20

Unwind and connect with nature through the relaxing and enjoyable process of documenting the natural world using sketches, poems and notes. Participants of all skill levels will learn new ways to look at the wonders of nature—truly noticing instead of simply seeing. Enjoy the opportunity to slow down as you find new ways to settle into the natural world.

INSTRUCTOR: Ellen Foley

COST: $20

Come learn the art and practice of making incense in an accessible way using different materials and techniques that you can replicate at home! This beginner-friendly workshop is part education and part hands-on creating. After learning the basics, you'll make your own homemade incense to take home as well as ideas for mindfulness practices.

INSTRUCTOR: Sarah Kent

COST: $35

Learn to dye textiles using common plants! In this beginner-friendly workshop, we'll explore botanical dyeing using plants collected at the Civic Garden Center—many of which are likely in your own backyard. You’ll use a bundle dye technique and an iron after-bath to make a botanically dyed tea towel to take home.

INSTRUCTOR: Devan Horton

COST: $35 / $30 for active CGC volunteers