Urban Farming Initiative

????The start of March marked the launch of our Community Garden and Volunteer Programs! Our Urban Farmers got to work planning spring projects and prepping gardens for a busy season. We also kicked off Weekly Open Gardening Days, welcoming residents, friends, and community members to join in.?? A huge thank you to the 80+ students and faculty from?Clark Montessori?and?Gamble Montessori?High Schools for dedicating 160+ hours to Food, Justice, and Sustainability intersessions! Together, we picked up 100+ pounds of litter, prepped 34 raised beds, and planted early crops.???? We also launched?Saint Ursula Academy Mini-mester on Food and Social Justice with a tour and hands-on garden prep. Over the next six weeks, SUA students will explore food systems and social justice with UFI workshops. Thanks to?La Soupe, Inc., we started twice-a-week Garden Shifts at the St. James Art Garden, engaging volunteers from their network—special shoutout to Kim, Mike, Jim, Brian, and Cathy for braving the early season! We were honored to join?UC Health?patients and doctors for a gardening and circularity session, deepening our connection to food and nature. Plus, we attended?Lockland Highschool Wellness Event, supporting young minds in health and wellness. ??Early spring reminds us of all the good things waiting to bloom. ?? Thank you, community, for showing up—we can’t wait to do it again next week!

Spring has sprung, but we sprouted early! ?????? Today is the Spring Equinox, and we’re celebrating hard work, community, and biodiversity in the Urban Farming Initiative Gardens! From buzzing critters to friendly chickens, from tiny sprouts to towering trees—we’re loving it all. ?????? Through sunshine and rain, with the help of neighbors and friends, we’re growing something special. ?? Check out some of our garden gems: ?? Magnolia – A tree with roots dating back 100 million years, that blossomed this week. ?? Red Maple – A North American classic and syrup superstar. ?? Seedlings – Brussels sprouts, kale, gourds, pak choy & basil, ready to thrive this summer. ?? Chickens at May St – Compost champions and beloved garden buddies. ?? Daffodils – Bright bursts of sunshine blooming in the garden. ?? Mushrooms – Hidden treasures popping up in the soil. ??? Connie the Cat - The garden cat of Concord Garden. ?? Plum Trees- Gorgeous now and tasty later is the real reason we spend all season at Melrose Garden. Looking to learn more about Cincinnati biodiversity, stay tuned! Thank you Gary Dangel, Walnut Hills RF and Civic Garden Center for nurturing these urban paradises! ??

??Tea Blending Workshop – Create Your Own Custom Herbal Blend!? Join UFI and local herbalist Meghan Henshaw, founder of Ocotillo Herbals, for a hands-on, aromatic experience where you’ll learn to craft your own custom tea blends while exploring the health benefits of herbs. Meghan sources many of her ingredients from the Walnut Hills Community Garden, making this a truly local, farm-to-cup experience! ??Date: March 29th ?Time: 12:30 – 2:00 PM ??Location: 2533 Kemper Lane Come awaken your senses, deepen your herbal knowledge, and take home your very own handcrafted tea blend! ??Spots are limited—reserve yours today with the link below! https://lnkd.in/g-XskT7h

??We’re kicking things off for The Circular Food Podcast with Councilwoman Anna Albi, diving into the interconnected challenges of food insecurity and gun violence in Cincinnati.?? ?Did you know? ?21.5% of adults in our city struggle with food insecurity—a root cause of systemic issues like homelessness, youth gun violence, and workforce instability. ??Join us as we explore how urban farming, community-driven solutions, and youth programs can transform neighborhoods. Let’s build a future where no one goes hungry and every community thrives.?? ??Click the link in our Instagram bio or below to listen!?? https://tr.ee/G9eO9d3oP5

?Join us for the 2025 UFI Home Run Derby on Saturday, April 5th from 12-2pm at Ashland Ball Field! Whether you're stepping up to bat or cheering from the sidelines, there's something for everyone.?? Team Rules: ??Teams must register 5 players: 4 batters and 1 pitcher/alternate ?Each batter gets 10 "outs" - any swing counts as either an out or a point ??Win big! The winning team gets $1,000 to donate to a garden of their choice ??Not playing? Come enjoy food, drinks, and prizes while supporting your favorite sluggers!?? ??Location: 2810 Ashland, Cincinnati OH 45206 ??Questions? Call 513-202-3244 or click the link to sign up! https://lu.ma/kajwqz1p

Congratulations to 80 Acres Farms on its latest milestone—acquiring three indoor farms to accelerate the future of sustainable food production. In announcing this expansion, 80 Acres highlights the key impacts this growth will have: ?? In-house plant breeding for superior taste and nutrition. ? Enhanced efficiency and increased yields through cutting-edge technology Broader reach for fresh, pesticide-free produce nationwide. ?? This move strengthens 80 Acres’ mission to redefine agriculture, making high-quality, sustainably grown food more accessible than ever. Read more about this exciting development and what it means for the future of urban farming. Read the full article below: https://lnkd.in/g5fd8K4Y

A huge THANK YOU to all the amazing volunteers and the entire UFI team who came out this past Friday for our Walnut Hills community cleanup! With beautiful weather on our side, we made a real impact—just check out the first photo to see how much trash we cleared in just a few hours. A special shoutout to Keep Cincinnati Beautiful for providing the materials we needed to make this happen and operate safely—we couldn’t have done it without you! Beyond the cleanup, this was an incredible opportunity to connect with neighbors, meet those who use the Taft Garden, and take the Walnut Wheels out for a spin. Building relationships like this makes us even more excited for the growing season ahead. Want to be part of more events like this? Click the volunteer sign-up link below and join us in growing a greener, stronger community! https://lnkd.in/gtKCJjvG #UrbanFarmingInitiative #WalnutHills #CommunityCleanup #GrowTogether #KeepCincinnatiBeautiful

Join Urban Farming Initiatives this March for volunteer and education opportunities. Whether you’re looking to learn, connect, or get your hands in the dirt, we have something for you. Volunteer & Education Events Opportunities throughout March—stay tuned for details. Weekly Garden Volunteer Shifts Saturdays | Taft Garden | 9 AM - 12 PM Sundays | St. James Garden | 9 AM - 12 PM Thursdays | Melrose Garden | 9 AM - 11 AM Fridays | Beecher Garden | 10 AM - 12 PM Fridays | May St. Garden | 9 AM - 11 AM Community Food Distribution Tuesdays & Fridays, we come together to share soup from La Soupe and distribute healthy meals to families and individuals in need. This is a great way to support food access in our community and connect with neighbors. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gtKCJjvG

It was fun presenting about the Urban Farming Initiative at last night’s Adjust’d healthcare event! The other presenters did a really great job sharing their advances in cardio health, music as therapy, family healthcare data access, and programs for disabled athletes to get new equipment. All of these business being built in Cincinnati and the Midwest. If you’d like to learn more about our products or get a personal pitch, let me know! We’re taking off and happy to share our story with those unfamiliar with what we are doing! #circularfoodsystems #neighborhoods #foodies #foodasmedicine #foodprices #workforcedevelopment

??This Wednesday! ??Feb 26 | 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM ??Sharonville Convention Center ??The Urban Farming Initiative will be live at the Alloy Growth Lab 2025 Startup Showcase! We're excited to share our upcoming projects and opportunities to get involved. ??Come see firsthand how we're growing a greener future. Honored to be part of this event—see you there! #StartupShowcase2025?#Entrepreneurship?#Innovation?#startupsuccess