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Urban Farming Initiative Newsletter #9: Growing Together in April

Urban Farming Initiative Newsletter #9: Growing Together in April

What's happening this Earth Month?

April 07, 2025

Dear Urban Farming Initiative Community,

Spring is in full bloom, and April is shaping up to be one of our most exciting months yet! With Earth Day just around the corner, there are countless opportunities to get involved—whether it’s through community events, food access opportunities, or our weekly community garden shifts. This month, we are not only hosting our own activities but also highlighting incredible events put together by other organizations. There’s something for everyone, so sign up for what interests you!

With so much happening, it’s crucial to stay updated—be sure to follow us on Instagram so you don’t miss out on any announcements.

Community Events

Find event details on our Instagram.

Here is a list of UFI events and other community events in the area this April. We’re highlighting amazing events from Ocotillo Herbals, Cincinnati Recycle & Reuse Hub, Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition, Flow Naturally, MOBO Bicycle Cooperative, Queen City Bike, and La Soupe!

St. James Garden Party

Want to get to know our local volunteers and garden coordinators a little better?
Join us on Saturday, April 27th from 12 PM to 1 PM for a fun and casual meet-and-greet! Bring your friends and family to connect with the amazing people who help keep our gardens thriving. Enjoy great conversation and delicious local eats provided by La Soupe. We’d love to see you there!

Food Access Opportunities

Volunteer Shifts – Community Gardens

March Recap

March was a month full of community, growth, and hands-on gardening! We had the pleasure of working alongside incredible volunteers from La Soupe, Saint Ursula Academy, Clark Montessori, the University of Cincinnati, and Gamble Montessori. Rain or shine, they showed up, got their hands dirty, lifted heavy loads, and tackled every challenge with a smile. We are so grateful for our local volunteers!

A huge thank you to the 80+ students and faculty from Clark Montessori High School and Gamble Montessori High School who volunteered 160+ hours as part of their Food, Justice, and Sustainability intersessions! Together, we picked up 100+ pounds of litter, prepped 34 raised beds, and planted a variety of early-season crops.

We also launched the Saint Ursula Academy Mini-mester focused on Food and Social Justice! Kicking off with a tour of our offices at the 1819 Innovation Hub, we then worked together in a UFI community garden. For the next six weeks, five SUA students will join us for workshops on advancing social justice through food systems.

Thanks to the amazing team at La Soupe, we launched our twice-a-week Garden Shifts at the St. James Art Garden! Every week, 10 volunteers from La Soupe’s network help maintain the community garden near their HQ. Special thanks to Kim, Mike, Jim, Brian, and Cathy for their early-season dedication!

Education was also in full bloom with learning opportunities led by Ocotillo Herbals and UC Health. We had the chance to visit the Osher Center for Integrative Health at UC Health, where Churchills Tea (thanks to Findlay Market) created the perfect tea experience for the event.

We joined the UC Partner Breakfast to celebrate Over-the-Rhine Community Housing receiving the 2025 Roger Grein Award for Community Impact—such an inspiring morning!

Co-founder Ben Booker and a few of our interns, Morgan Gonzales and Sarah Austgen, connected with alumni at the Net Impact UC Alumni Panel—big ideas, even bigger impact. We were honored to join UC Health patients and doctors for a gardening and circularity session, deepening our connection to food and nature.

Additionally, we attended Lockland High School’s Wellness Event, engaging with students and educators to promote health and wellness.

Get Involved

We’d love to see you at an event this month! Have questions? Want to volunteer? Click below to sign up or reach out. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram to stay updated.