Lemon Ridge Garden: August 2009

Lemon Ridge Garden Site Prep
EPA Phase II Soil Testing
(w/ 2008-09 EPA Grant)

Lemon Ridge Garden Site Clean Up
Continuing Development Process 2006

Lemon Ridge Garden Site Improvement Project
New Sidewalks through OHCD Grant - October 2006

Before: Fall 2006

After: Fall 2008

Lemon Ridge Garden Site
Development Progress
Before: circa 2002

After: circa 2007

Lemon Ridge Garden Site Clean Up
All Volunteer Super Team!

Lemon Ridge Garden Site Clean Up
Site Original Condition
Before: circa 2002

Future Site of Lemon Ridge Garden
Corner of Ridge + Mt. Vernon Streets
circa 1932

Lemon Ridge Garden
2009 Progress Update

Hello Lemon Ridge Garden Neighbors!

Here are some highlights of what has been happening
in the garden:
Summer 2009
Lemon Ridge Garden Fence Line Garden begun!
May 2009
The 2009 Lemon Ridge Garden Sidewalk Sale Fundraiser!
Jan 2009
EPA Phase II Soil Testing
Fall 2008
EPA Phase I Site Evaluation
July 2007
Lemon Ridge Garden + Philadelphia TreeTenders Collaboration
10 Trees Planted around garden space! (Ridge + Mt. Vernon Streets)
June 2007
CDC Conceptual Design for Lemon Ridge Community Garden Completed
Fall 2008
Neighborhood Gardens Association Grant for Sidewalk Repair Received
New Sidewalk installation: Ridge + Mt. Vernon Sidewalks Replaced!
Fall 2006
Community Design Brainstorming Charrettes
Preparation for collaboration with AIA Community Design Collaborative [CDC]
for landscape architecture + site design development support
May 2006
Lemon Ridge Garden Fund Raiser Street Party
2004/2005/2006
Vacant Lots Clean Up Process
Fall 2003
Lemon Ridge Garden Inc. Formed

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Lemon Ridge Garden FAQ's

Q: When will the Lemon Ridge Garden be open for use?
A: Currently the garden is not yet open to visitors, as we are still in the preliminary design and evaluation phase. Once these phases are complete, we welcome help in planting and growing in the garden. Check this website regularly for updated information about the garden and when it will be open.

Q: What’s been happening lately at the Lemon Ridge Garden? I don’t see anyone gardening there?
A: Lots has been happening with Lemon Ridge Garden, but much of it has been “behind the scenes”. We’ve been busy working with landscape architects to develop a design for our garden (see proposed Landscape Plan LEFT). This has been accomplished through the Philadelphia AIA’s Community Design Collaborative program. We have also been awarded a grant from the EPA to perform an evaluation of the garden soil for growing potential and appropriate levels of food and work safety. Some of our more visible improvements include the planting of eight street trees along Ridge Avenue and Mount Vernon Street. We also planted grass in the tree beds and flowers along the fence line.

Q: Who can join the Lemon Ridge Garden?
A: Although we welcome EVERYONE to join our garden, we are hoping to build our immediate local community involvement within the West Poplar and Callowhill neighborhoods of Philadelphia.

Q: When can we meet + discuss ideas, issues, policies, etc. for the Lemon Ridge Garden?
A: The Board of the Lemon Ridge Garden holds regular meetings on the 3rd Thursday of every month @ 7pm in the CNA Meeting Room, located at 429 N.13th Street, first floor. The meeting is open to the public between 7:00-7:30 PM. The community is welcome to bring any ideas, issues, etc. to discuss at this time. To help prepare the agenda for the meetings, please email us your discussion points a day or so BEFORE the meeting: lemonridgegarden [at] gmail.com

Q: If I join Lemon Ridge Garden as a volunteer, do I get my own garden box?
A: The Lemon Ridge Garden is envisioned as a NEW type of COMMUNITY garden. During the early development of the garden design a lot of thinking, discussion, and creative ideas went into creating an open a plan for growing and learning in a garden setting. While working with the Philadelphia AIA Community Design Collaborative, a plan for a very diverse garden landscape was developed that has some raised bed areas (for vegetables, etc.) and A LOT of more open, loose growing areas for wild flowers, grasses, etc. The overall community consensus from the community design meetings was to look at different formats for growing areas, other than the typical square 8' x 8' wood trimmed raised bed growing formats that other community gardens tend to have. This is an experiment in moving towards 'no boundaries', open-format growing. This is also an experiment is trying to reduce the typical 'ownership' issues that sometimes happen in community gardens. We welcome volunteers that wish to be involved in learning, growing, cultivating, etc. a neighborhood community greenspace (aka: garden, park, etc..) We hope to make this everyone's garden to develop and enjoy - not just a place for someone to grow their own vegetables for their own use.

Q: How do I get involved and do I have to pay to become a member of the Lemon Ridge Garden?
A: No, you do not have to pay to be involved in the Lemon Ridge Garden. The Garden is a volunteer type community space and there are many ways to be involved:
-visitors
-volunteers
-board members

Depending on your interest you can:
-volunteer to work during our open workdays, held Sundays from 3-6 PM
-offer to teach a garden type community class
-visit during our Special Projects work sessions, etc. (to be posted on our blogsite)
-come by one of our Special Events for fun, refreshments, and community exchange (to be posted on our blogsite)

Any support (financial, sweat equity, materials donation, ideas, etc. ) to continue the ongoing garden development is ALWAYS welcome.