Thursday, September 20, 2012

Whitridge Garden

A small stretch of Greenmount Avenue in the Harwood neighborhood is looking a little greener these days thanks to some dedicated local residents. Residents of the 400 block of Whitridge Ave. gathered last weekend to transform a vacant lot on the corner of Whitridge and Greenmount into a new neighborhood garden. After obtaining a $500 Home Depot gift card as part of the Love Your Block grant,  project leader Amanda Ruthven was able to buy soil, paving stones, and mulch for the lot. Native plants and shrubs were purchased from the Herring Run Nursery, a native plant nursery run by Blue Water Baltimore. On the workday, dozens of neighborhood residents worked the entire day to clean up the lot, dig up the grass, and install the garden. The stars of the workday were the neighborhood kids who helped out all day, and who unanimously agreed that "its fun to play in the dirt." By turning a trash strewn vacant lot into a neighborhood green space, the Whitridge Avenue Community Garden is a testament to how even the smallest projects can have a big impact on a neighborhood.


 before
 
hauling dirt

putting in the plants
 
 
kids helping out
 
after

Monday, September 17, 2012

Community Pumpkin and Cabbage Patch

Carmine Garden


Carmine Garden of Franklintown was recently awarded a Love Your Block grant through Power in Dirt to add community pumpkin and cabbage patches to their wonderful garden. The garden, on the 5100 block of Carmine Avenue, has been growing for years under the faithful guidance of Christina Kirkland.

Pumpkin Patch
 
The pumpkin and cabbage patches will provide food and fun for the neighborhood kids who help out with gardening all year long.

Cabbage Patch