This was our first project and actually got pulled together very quickly. The Pearl Street garden is directly on Pearl Street in between the HAAA park and the pedestrian bridge in between two apartment buildings. It is a tiny pie shaped piece of land that was filled with weeds, broken glass and most unfortunately lots of gifts from the neighbourhood dogs.
To our surprise the clean up only took one evening's work - heavy dirty work with 6 adults and 2 children but still it was accomplished very fast. By the weekend new soil could be added, while the rain came and went on us. Some cool rocks and branches were added and it started to feel like an actual garden.
Plants were added the week after. Most are meant to attract butterflies to the area. Two vines are planted, a honeysuckle that will bloom all summer and a Virginia creeper to help cover the concrete wall, eventually protecting it from graffiti - we hope.
Our crew also painted over the existing graffiti and added a mural on the wall. Space was left for budding artists to contribute their own art work in a positive way - which did actually start shortly after.
Some of the residents who saw us at work commented on what an improvement it was for the small area. Others even "guerrillaed" our guerrilla garden and added plants of their own.
I was surprised how quickly a group of strangers could pull together a project to accomplish something. And also how it makes you feel like you part of a community by making those strangers part of your community.
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