Therapeutic and Medicinal Garden
CCL is actively searching for a site in which to implement a research project on the history of medicinal plants in domestic medicine. The project grew out of a collaboration on “housewife gardens” and the history of domestic medicine with history prof. Kate Sorrels, Dr. Kris Ramprasad, MD/History MA, and history PhD student Theo Jansen.
Our vision is to create a therapeutic garden—a landscape with accessible design, sensory plantings, and places for rest and reflection—and to embed within it a historic medicinal herb garden with interpretive signage.
We are speaking with several local entities about possible locations and we welcome additional ideas. We are looking for an urban location with easy access to UC for co-op students and course partnerships. Please reach out if you have a suggestion!
Stowe Garden Project
History prof. Kate Sorrels spent a 2025-2026 sabbatical year launching the Stowe Garden project, in collaboration with Cincinnati Parks, Ohio History Connection, and the Harriet Beecher Stowe House. The project works to restore the two-acre historic landscape around Cincinnati’s Harriet Beecher Stowe House as a vibrant green space for the community. The museum recently underwent a major interior restoration and serves students, families, and visitors from across the country. However, the landscape remained neglected. Located at a busy urban intersection, the property faces several challenges, including invasive species, traffic noise, litter, and detritus from demolished homes and years of illegal dumping.
To date, volunteers from Cincinnati Parks and UC have removed invasive English ivy, Amur honeysuckle, garlic mustard, euonymus, and other invasives and planted a native prairie garden. Course partnerships in fine art, horticulture, english, landscape architecture, history, and medical humanities have generated garden plans, public art exhibits, and educational materials. Students have also left their mark on the garden through a co-op program.
CCL has now turned the project over to Cincinnati Parks and the Stowe House. Students can still participate via course collaborations and volunteer opportunties through UC’s Center for Community Engagement.
Hillsides and Health in Cincinnati and Beyond
The city of Cincinnati has been shaped by its hillsides and their propensity for slipping. The topic evokes tensions over development, safety, and conservation, but concerns about health, well-being, and beauty have actually been decisive in launching and maintaining efforts to preserve hillside ecosystems. This project uncovers those stories and connects them to ongoing conservation efforts.