NEWS from the Fall 2013 ...building community through gardening, education and environmental stewardship. IN THIS ISSUE... BRING ON THE TREES! Executive Director’s Message p2 Board President’s Message p3 There’s still time to order one of our beautiful cut Fraser Firs from North Carolina. Also, beginning Friday, November 29th, trees will be on sale FUNDING OUR MISSION: Recent inside the Green Learning Station at Oak and Reading (our parking ar- Grants and Donations p4 ea). Of course hundreds of returning tree customers know that the best strategy is to reserve the tree in advance and let our volunteers load it STEM and Sustainability p6 onto your car while you browse the huge selection of Clay Alliance pot- tery and other gift’s in our lobby. Tree Sale hours are: Our Future of Gardening in Schools Monday – Friday 9-5 p7 Saturday 11-5 Sunday 11-5 Educating Youth: Welcome Mary! p8 Don’t wait too long to order; quantities are limited. Call us at 513- 221-0981 or visit our web page at www.CivicGardenCenter.org Classes and Workshops p9 Horticultural To-Dos –Bennett says “don't rest yet!” p10 Hoffman Library News p11 Volunteer in the Spotlight p13 Our Holiday Wishlist p11 Orchids & Bonsai p12 Gardeners turn in the green manure crop at the Over The Rhine People’s garden. Learn more about Com- munity Gardening on page 5. Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati Executive Director’s 2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, OH 45206 Message Closed December 24 through January 1 In this age of information overload, I Lobby hours: 9-5 M-F, 9-4 Sat., Closed Sunday often find myself tuning into Admission to the facility and Hoffman Library is free information only after I’ve heard the same thing referenced a number of Phone: 513-221-0981 times. Or, maybe I’m like the road- FAX: 513-221-0961 runner who needs to be hit over the www.civicgardencenter.org head by an Acme anvil to pay Horticulture Helpline (M,W,F mornings): 513-221-TREE attention. Either way, I heard numerous times from more than a CGC Staff few people that Bill Moyer was doing an interview with author and Vickie Ciotti (x12) Vickie Ciotti environmentalist, Wendell Berry, so I Executive Director tuned in. [email protected] I’m not certain I’ve ever seen or heard an interview with Mr. ● Terry Houston (x18) Berry. He could be anyone’s grandfather, father or uncle. Executive Assistant His southern accent gives him a certain air of wisdom and [email protected] immediately you know he’s one of those true gentlemen. One of his first comments has stuck with me. He said that ● Jan Simms (x14) “we do not get to ask if we will be successful (in turning Volunteer Coordinator around the destruction of our environment), but rather we [email protected] must ask what is the right thing to do.” Although feasibility studies and public hearings have their place, there are some ● Peter Huttinger (x16) issues important enough that we must just get on with Community Gardens Coordinator actions directed at solving the problem. He doesn’t spend [email protected] time pointing the finger of blame, or as a former colleague ● Mary Dudley (x11) used to say “celebrating the problem” by talking it to death. Youth Education Coordinator He’s somewhat matter-of-fact in that we must just do what [email protected] we can; “do the right thing”. — Refreshing and empowering. I’m also reminded of an interview of Mary Beth King, owner ● Bennett Dowling, Horticulturist (x26) of Sweet Peace Bakery. She said “don’t do nothing because Horticulturist you can’t do everything.” I’m unsure if it’s an original quote, [email protected] but certainly the first time I had ever heard it. These words have become my mantra. How often have you felt Cara Hague, Horticulturist (x17) paralyzed by the enormity of work facing you? We all end [email protected] up sitting on the couch some days because we just don’t know where to begin in order to do all we must. Too often ● Ryan Mooney-Bullock (x22) the substantive problems our society faces seem Green Learning Station Coordinator overwhelming. It takes resolve and inspiration to believe [email protected] that my small individual actions will provide any real impact. It doesn’t take a great deal of research to find out just how ● Sam Dunlap (x35) quickly and dramatically those small actions add up to big School Gardens Coorinator changes. [email protected] Berry was asked how we could possibly find hope in our ● Roger Smith (x19) current situation. His response was (I’m paraphrasing) that Finance Manager we must map out the grounds of a legitimate, authentic [email protected] hope. “If you can find one good example, you have grounds for hope. Change yourself and you have reason for hope. “ ● Mary Lou Schueler (x17) It helps us get off the couch and begin to tackle the work – Bookkeeper even when we know we can’t do everything. Hope drives us [email protected] to do what we know is right. NEWS from the Civic Garden Center Published by Jan Simms 2 Greetings from the President CGC Board of Directors Thanks to these folks for overseeing the CGC of the CGC Board of Directors operations and for the direction they provide , John Bentley Matt O'Connell The first snow has hit the Queen Mary Bishop Kevin O'Dell City...in November! The weather Chris Doan Patrick Polley reminds us that gardening has Kara Troquille Gunsch Amber Shidler seasons - as does your Civic Ann MacDonald Karen Sills Garden Center. Dan Meyer Pete Singer This year, spring began with the Arthur Motch Beau Tuke best-ever Home & Garden show Rick Noland and continued with a terrific Plant Rick Noland Sale. Summer displayed vertical gardens on the Green Learning Station, new signage Fall Appeal Sets 20% Funding and the flowering of the “green roof” next to the walkway into our main building. Fall featured our first - but Increase Target certainly not the last - Brews and Blues festival. Now, as Very soon our annual Fall Appeal Letter will show up in we rake leaves, and shovel snow, at home, and look your mailbox! As we strive to reach our fundraising goal toward winter, the Civic Garden Center is preparing for next year. for 2013, our thanks goes out to all who have given so generously to support our mission. We are already We are moving forward on completion of the interior of looking forward to gardening with you in the coming year! the Green Learning Station. Thanks to the generosity of several supporters, we have begun to fully realize the How you can contribute... vision of a laboratory to educate and demonstrate environmental stewardship. Work on the interior should If you would like to make a donation to support any of our be complete in Spring ‘14, providing enhanced programs – Community Gardens, Youth Education, capabilities in this major addition to our campus. Horticulture Education, the Green Learning Station, the In keeping with the season, the Civic Garden Center’s Serenity Garden – or to offer general support to the Civic annual Christmas tree sale and eco-friendly holiday Garden Center, please contact Executive Assistant, begins this month! The Civic Garden Center offers Terry Houston at (513) 221-0981 ext 18. Donations can be freshly cut Fraser fir trees, wreaths and white pine made any number of ways including automatic monthly roping, unique handmade items, garden gifts, pottery credit card deductions, on-line and through stock transfer. and Christmas tree decorations. The sale begins Nov. 29th and continues thru Dec. 15th. Stroll our grounds, sip hot cocoa and, on Nov. 30th and Dec. 7th, create your own video card to send out for the Holidays. Check our website, www.civicgardencenter.org, or call 513-221- 0981. The Civic Garden Center is committed to helping make just completed the Master Gardener class - with the wisdom Cincinnati a great place to live. Our mission of building gained from a successful career leading research and devel- community through gardening depends on you, our opment teams in the fragrance and flavors industry. She will friends and supporters. The Fall Appeal is our key be a wonderful President. fundraiser for the year. It is this appeal which provides the majority of funding for the classes, support for Thank you for your support this year. You should feel confi- Community Gardens, outreach programs, grounds dent that your Board, working in partnership with Executive maintenance, everything the Civic Garden Center Director Vickie Ciotti and the excellent Civic Garden Center contributes to our community. Please allow me urge you staff and volunteers, will continue to strive to make the Civic to respond as generously as possible to this year’s Garden Center a jewel in the crown of the Queen City! appeal, so that we can continue to serve our city in so many ways. Happy Holidays!! Finally, as the seasons turn, so does the leadership of your Board of Directors. Mary Bishop takes on the responsibilities of President of the Board for 2014 and 2015. Mary combines a passion for gardening - she has 3 Hauck Society Members In-Kind Donations The following individuals have given major financial gifts to the Civic Garden Center. We thank them and recognize them Ace Hardware with year long membership in the Hauck Society. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens Compost Cincy Magnolia Level $10,000+ Judi Graves Linda Dooley Allison Herschede Priscilla Garrison Haffner Mrs. Martha Ewalt LaMacchia Family Foundation Mr.