Fall/Winter Digital Newsleaf 2024

In this issue, we'll discover the true science behind nature's medicine, tips to create change through civic engagement, and read "ground-breaking" details about the future of Long Branch Farm & Trails. There are also lots of engaging and exciting seasonal programs you won't want to miss this season!

A NEW FIELD STATION

FOR LONG BRANCH

By Laura Schmid, Associate Director of Development

This fall, Cincinnati Nature Center will break ground on

a brand-new field station at Long Branch Farm & Trails.

This will be the Nature Center’s

first new building since the Rowe

Visitor Center was built in 1971.

Executive Director Jeff Corney

says, “It’s been a long time

coming. In the past 15 years, our

program participants have more

than doubled, we’ve debuted

several large community events, our

membership has tripled, and we’ve

wholly expanded our conservation

and research work. We’ve

repurposed and restored several

buildings over the years, but

now it’s time to meet our critical

mission needs and take a fresh

approach at Long Branch.”

Among the most recent

enterprises is the native plant

propagation facility at Long

Branch Farm, located on the 212-

acre area that once served as an

educational farm. Since 2017, a

resolute crew has been building

hoop houses, nurturing thousands

of seedlings, and learning how to

retail native plants in a way that

promotes the Nature Center’s

mission and subsidizes the work.

Reimagining the space has

required ingenuity and stick-to-

itiveness. Farm operations were

shuttered in 2005, leaving little

infrastructure that was suitable

or even safe to utilize. The plant

propagation team has made do

with minimal water supply and

without on-site ofces, electricity,

and even restrooms. Our brave

staf have adapted to the rustic

amenities. They work on mobile

devices in all seasons and all-

weather conditions. They’ve

implemented an experimental

solar-generated pump to extract

water from a nearby pond. And

they have one port-o-potty.

Despite these hurdles, the

installation has been an

overwhelming success. Native

plant production has increased

four-fold, restoration projects have

expanded, and field research—in

partnership with the University of

Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

University—is well underway.

Still, the facilities are not suitable

for either continued expansion

or public access. The new 4,000

square-foot field station will serve

as a hub for these conservation

activities. The new building and

enhanced propagation facilities

will include:

Ofce space and restrooms

Lab workstations

Native plant seed storage

Program meeting space

Native seed processing barn

Equipment space

Additional plant cultivation

hoop houses

Additionally, infrastructure

upgrades will allow visitor access

and increased capacity, including

expanded water supply for

irrigation, sewer hook-up, roads,

and parking lots.

The estimated cost

of the Field Station

is $3.6 million.

Fortunately, we’ve

had several generous

and visionary donors

invest in the fully

funded project.

“Considering what we’ve been

able to do out there with so

little to work with, I’m excited to

think about everything we can

accomplish with a dedicated

building. I want to create a space

where everyone—professionals

and homeowners alike—can learn

to restore, conserve, and protect

our natural areas,” says Director

of Conservation Cory Christopher.

“There’s so much happening at

our Long Branch nursery. Not just

plant propagation, but research

and land management. We need to

be where the action is.”

10 Newsleaf | Fall/Winter 2024

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