Civic Garden Center Of Greater Cincinnati

CIVIC GARDEN CENTER DELIVERS A ROBUST ARRAY OF HIGH-QUALITY, HANDS-ON, & VIRTUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

GARDENING: COMMUNITY GARDENS - OFFER SUPPORT, TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP TO GARDENERS IN MORE THAN 75 COMMUNITY GARDENS ACROSS GREATER CINCINNATI; OFFER AN INTENSIVE 12-WEEK COMMUNITY GARDEN DEVELOPMENT TRAINING THAT COVERS ALL ASPECTS OF ORGANIZING, PLANNING, DESIGNING AND SUSTAINING A COMMUNITY GARDEN; ORGANIZE AND STAFF, UPON REQUEST BY A GARDEN, VOLUNTEER WORKDAYS IN ANY COMMUNITY GARDEN IN THE NETWORK; AND PROVIDE FREE VEGETABLE AND COVER CROP SEEDS TO ALL OF THE GARDENS IN THE COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK.VICTORY GARDENS - SHORTLY AFTER THE ONSET OF COVID-19 WE BEGAN OFFERING A SERIES OF MONTHLY GARDEN CLASSES ONLINE FOR NEW OR EXPERIENCED GARDENERS. SESSIONS WERE RECORDED AND LINKED ON OUR WEBSITE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO ACCESS.CGC COMMUNITY GARDEN - STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS MAINTAIN AN ON-SITE GARDEN PRODUCTION GARDEN GROWING FRESH PRODUCE FOR DONATION TO A LOCAL FOOD PANTRY.SCHOOL GARDENS - PROVIDE WEEKLY CLASSROOM GARDEN LESSONS AND HANDS ON EXPERIENCE GROWING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN A SCHOOL GARDEN; OFFER A QUARTERLY SERIES OF TRAININGS FOR TEACHERS INTERESTED IN CREATING OR MAINTAINING A SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAM; AND PROVIDE SEEDS AND OTHER SUPPLIES TO ANY SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAM IN GREATER CINCINNATI.SUMMER SPROUTS - PROVIDE AN 8-WEEK GARDEN TO TABLE PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGES 6-12. PROGRAM IS TYPICALLY HELD AT 3 DIFFERENT GARDEN LOCATIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH A SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAM AT A CHURCH OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SUCH AS THE YMCA.OUTCOMES INCLUDED: SIX NEW GARDENS ADDED TO THE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY GARDENS, BRINGING TOTAL NUMBER OF GARDENS IN THE NETWORK TO 74. VIRTUAL VICTORY GARDENS' CLASSES REACHED 618 PEOPLE IN JULY-DECEMBER 2020. ONSITE COMMUNITY GARDEN PRODUCED MORE THAN 650 POUNDS OF PRODUCE THAT WAS DONATED TO LOCAL FOOD PANTRY. WITH THE HELP OF NUMEROUS VOLUNTEERS, CGC HELPED TO MAINTAIN 5 SCHOOL GARDEN SPACES WHILE STUDENTS WERE AWAY FROM THEIR CLASSROOMS DURING COVID-19.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: GREEN LEARNING STATION (GLS) - THE GLS IS A PLATINUM LEED CERTIFIED BUILDING FROM WHICH WE OFFER STEM FIELD TRIPS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 7-12, ADULT AND STUDENT TOURS SHOWCASING A VARIETY OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FEATURES AND SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES, AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS. GREEN GIRLS IN STEM - PROVIDE MONTHLY ONLINE SESSIONS AND VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS TO HELP YOUNG WOMEN EXPLORE CAREERS, TECHNOLOGIES AND DESIGN PROCESSES RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES OUR REGION IS FACING.LIVE MORE SUSTAINABLY NOW - OFFER A MENU OF CLASSES FOR ADULTS ON VARIETY OF SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS TO HELP PEOPLE LIVE MORE SUSTAINABLY AT HOME, AT WORK AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.COMPOST KIDS - OFFER TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN GRADES K-6 AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY WHILE LEARNING ABOUT IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING.OUTCOMES INCLUDED: TOTAL OF 811 INDIVIDUALS WERE EDUCATED THROUGH GLS PROGRAMS IN 2020. TRANSITIONED GREEN GIRLS TO A VIRTUAL PROGRAM, INCREASING PARTICIPATION FROM 12 YOUNG WOMEN IN 2019 TO 29 IN 2020

TREEFORESTATION: HELP TO PROTECT OUR URBAN TREE CANOPY AND HEALTHY GREEN SPACES BY ENGAGING STUDENTS AND ADULTS IN ONLINE AND IN PERSON CLASSES COMBINED WITH HANDS ON HABITAT RESTORATION WORK IN SEVERAL FORESTS AND PARKS.OUTCOMES INCLUDED: MORE THAN 600 UNIQUE VOLUNTEERS DONATED MORE THAN 2500 HOURS OF SERVICE TO HELP PLANT ALMOST 4,000 NATIVE PLANTS AND TREES AT 3 RESTORATION SITES. APPROXIMATELY 225 INDIVIDUALS WERE EDUCATED THROUGH OUR VIRTUAL HORTICULTURE CLASSES AND PRESENTATIONS.