JULY 2026

The Place We Call Home

Nothing brings a tear to one’s eye like seeing a vision becoming reality. CPI is making strides towards the rehabilitation and reimagining of our properties on Enright Avenue! Some highlights:

• You can now vote for your two favorite names in our naming collaboration for the building at the corner of 8th & Enright!

• The next workday at the building will be Sunday, July 19, 10 AM to 12 PM - final(?) cleanup before beautification. Add it to your calendar!

• Our updated wish list includes the priority items, services, skills, donations, and other kinds of inputs & outputs we are seeking from the community.

• We have the first confirmed enrollments for the new Residential version of our Permaculture Design Course! This is an exciting new chapter for us.

Community Use of These Spaces

We are piloting a policy and process to facilitate shared use of the first floor of the building with our community. To inquire about reserving the space, send us a message. (And pardon our dust! It’s still a work in progress.)

We are also now accepting proposals for fall and winter workshops, classes, demos, presentations, site tours, and similar educational events that can enrich our offerings beyond the flagship permaculture design courses. If you would like to teach, host or present through CPI, you can download our proposal form and guidelines to get started!

Shopping at the nursery is now available by appointment only until walk-in shopping resumes in the fall. Honeyberries and goumi berries have been among the 2026 favorites this season!

Shopping by Appointment: Get 1:1 help with your plant selections. Call/text (513) 259-3504 or cpinursery@gmail.com.

Summer Volunteering Hours - Tues, Weds & Thurs AM/PM Shifts

• July 14, 15, & 16, 8-12pm & 6:30-8:30pm

• July 21, 22, & 23: 8-12pm & 6:30-8:30pm

• August: 4, 5, & 6: 8-12pm & 6:30-8:30pm

• August 18, 19, & 20: 8-12pm & 6-8pm

>>SEE SCHEDULE AND SIGN UP

We are looking for local, sustainable solutions and materials, and ideas for getting things done in a mindful, resourceful, “scrappy” way, making use of existing available resources — including those present in our community. We appreciate anything you can bring to the table!

• SIGNAGE: Replace roadside signs without a new permit

  • UPDATE: We are moving ahead with a replacement sign. Donations made now can help us cover this cost!

• SECURITY: Locks, cameras, lights, and alert systems

• HVAC: replace a stolen A/C unit and secure from theft

• REPAIRS: Gutter and siding repairs, new drop ceiling tiles

• PAINT AND FURNISHINGS

  • UPDATE: We should be in position to begin interior beautification in Aug/Sep. Accepting contributions of design knowledge, materials, and labor.

• SHADE COVERAGE for the pavement pad in front of the nursery - open to ideas, materials, labor

• JUNK REMOVAL/RECYCLING of old pub assets

  • UPDATE: Basement clean-out postponed until winter

• PLANT GROWING & PROPAGATION SUPPLIES for the nursery

• ASSISTANCE APPLYING FOR GRANTS & FUNDING

If you’d like to be part of the leadership & decision-making body for these properties, considering joining the CPI Board.

Do you have roots or connections in the East Price Hill neighborhood? If so, volunteering could look like helping us make introductions and inroads and build awareness! Use the form at the bottom of the Wishlist page to contact us about this.

Time flies: The 2025-2026 Yearlong Permaculture Design students are nearing the final stretch of their program, while the Summer Intensive Course at Nightingale Montessori kicks off today!

Pre-registration is now open for the 2026-2027 class beginning this November. We are excited to welcome back lead teacher Doug Crouch for the coming year! Dates and other details TBD, but you can pre-register now to get on the list for this session.

Education Committee Meeting

Are you interested in having input on the permaculture design courses and helping us improve? The CPI Education Committee is having a virtual meeting on Monday, July 20 at 6 PM to plan for the coming year. This committee is chaired by 2025 graduate Mary “Sunny” Rhodes. To inquire about joining or getting a link to the virtual meeting, contact her!

Residential PDC

We have space to accept up to two more enrollees in the pilot year of our new 12-month residential permaculture training program and are accepting applications through July 31.

Learn more about it here!

Michelle Dunn sits down with Susan VonderHaar and Howie Zuefle from the Cincinnati Permaculture Institute to discuss sustainability, regenerative living, and environmental initiatives taking root across Southwest Ohio. The conversation explores how local communities can embrace permaculture principles to build healthier ecosystems, strengthen neighborhoods, and create a more sustainable future.

Inputs & Outputs: PC Bulletin Board

Produce Pop-Up Shop Meeting

Saturday July 25th, 1:30-2:30PM at the Woodlawn Community Center, 10050 Woodlawn Blvd. Cincinnati

Cofi Higgins, a student in our current yearlong Permaculture Design Class who is actively engaged in the Woodlawn community, alerted us to this upcoming event "gathering a team of passionate community members to help plan and execute a powerful pop-up experience." We're happy to see things like this popping up, and encourage you to pop in! RSVP to Cofi at (513) 888-1379 or executiveassistant@bycofi.com by July 21.

Trade Show Opportunity

CPI Graduate Yasha Ogg (class of 2025) is seeking people or businesses interested in presenting at an October trade show in St. Louis. He is specifically seeking a vendor focused on sustainable landscaping. If you are interested, contact Yasha at 765-421-7386 or yogg@cannondesign.com.