The W Rockland St Project

What one Philadelphia city block can do to change its future.

Category Archives: Beautification

The littlest planter at Grow This Block!


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It’s Time to Grow This Block! (Again) – W Rockland St’s Annual Block-wide Planting Day in Germantown, Saturday, June 1

This Saturday, June 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., residents of W Rockland Street in Germantown will participate in Grow This Block! – the W Rockland Street Project’s third annual neighborhood gardening experiment.

This entire yard was ripped up and transformed! Big thanks to Matt Wysong for helping with the project!

This entire yard was ripped up and transformed! Big thanks to Matt Wysong for helping with the project!

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to grow flowers and food gardens right in the city. 

This year, residents and volunteers will plant annuals, perennials, shrubs, herbs, veggies and even fruit. All residents will have the opportunity to make a sidewalk planter, add new plants to their gardens, build entirely new gardens, in yards or in containers, hanging planters and pots. Everyone is encouraged to get involved in this block-wide planting day, even first-time gardeners.

Residents pay an affordable registration fee to participate (details below). We are able to subsidize the cost of plants and supplies with the help of a Philadelphia Activities Fund grant, issued by 8th District City Councilwoman Cindy Bass. Many plants are also created by dividing existing perennials from gardens on W Rockland Street. Growing from seed and striking new plants from cuttings and layering also contribute to lowering costs.

Grow This Block! works to build community and connect neighbors, beautify the block, reduce litter, educate children and adults about urban farming and horticulture, and more. Two-thirds of the block’s 46 households have participated in past years. For a look at the event, check out our photos and recap from GTB! 2 and for more insight, read architecture critic Inga Saffron’s take in The Philadelphia Inquirer here: Germantown sisters use tactical urbanism to bolster their block.

Sweat equity. Grow This Block! 2012 was a huge success. See more photos here.

Sweat equity. See more photos here.

Volunteers make things grow. Consider joining us this weekend! Planting location is the Unit Block of W Rockland Street in Germantown, 19144, between the 4800 blocks of Germantown Avenue and Greene Street (here’s a map). Contact Aine or Emaleigh at (215) 805-8091 // rocklandstreet@gmail.com for more information. Check out the flyers below to learn how Grow This Block! works.

Flying Horse Center at 5534-46 Pulaski Ave


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Zack Bird is the Man, and Other Thoughts About Germantown United CDC’s Sustainability Forum

We had a great time talking about neighborhood revitalization and citizen engagement projects at Germantown United CDC‘s second annual forum last week. While sharing our work was fun, it was equally cool for us to learn about other projects in Philadelphia. Zack Bird’s DIY anti-graffiti campaign was particularly inspiring, and we could relate to his remarks about why he does it (see below). After reading Inquirer columnist Karen Heller’s story about his paintings in the Wissahickon, you’ll probably want to pick up a paint brush and join him in the park, too. He has quickly achieved philebrity status in our book! We couldn’t actually wait until after the panel to tweet about him –

Twitter_aine
If you missed the program, check out Luke Smith’s recap of the event below, which includes a summary of Zach’s talk and our contribution. For more, see Germantown-based photographer Tieshka Smith’s collection of photos or check out stories in The Philadelphia Tribune, NewsWorksWHYY, Flying Kite, and the Philadelphia Real Estate Blog. – Aine & Emaleigh

Guest blog post by A. Luke Smith | Board Member of Germantown United CDC

About a hundred people turned out at the Flying Horse Center last Wednesday evening, May 8, 2013, to attend Germantown United CDC’s Second Annual “Forum on Sustainability,” which featured a “trade show” followed by a panel discussion where attendants learned how “it IS easy being green!”

Aine representing Tree Germantown. You want a tree, right?

Aine representing Tree Germantown. You want a tree, right?

The projector displayed a tuxedo-wearing Kermit the Frog to welcomed guests to the beautiful space at the Flying Horse Center, where various organizations and city offices engaged face to face with interested Germantowners.  Derrick Searles of the Streets Department’s Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee informed visitors that anyone can host a block cleanup and,  with just an advanced phone call,  the city will gladly come and pick up all of the trash and debris the same day.   The Sustainable Business Network recruited Germantown business owners and entrepreneurs to join the citywide network of businesses committed to the business ethos embodied in what they call “the triple bottom line,” or “Profits, People, Planet,” a concept that was repeated later during the forum discussion.  Attendees bounced between tables hosted by local urban farms like Grumblethorpe, organizations like The Food Trust dedicated to bringing that healthy fresh food to Philadelphians living without access to it, and a prison-to-work program called “Roots to Re-entry” that gives prison inmates the opportunity to learn urban farming in the prison’s rehabilitated green house.  There were too many fantastic organizations and agencies to list here (see the pre-event flyer for that).  So many, in fact, it was a challenge to get interested Germantowners to leave the tabling area and take their seats at the forum!

Once seated, the audience listened intently as each of the seven panelists shared presentations and spoke passionately for 20 minutes about their work, and the work of their respective agencies and organizations.

Keynote Speaker and discussion moderator Robert Fleming, founder of Philadelphia University’s MS in Sustainable Design Program, posed the first question to the panelists:  “Most peoples’ objective in life is to make enough money to live as comfortable as possible.  But you guys are special.  What makes you tick?”

After a moment of humble silence, acclaimed graffiti-fighting Muralist Zack Bird was the first panelist to chime in.  “I actually have a good answer to that,” he began.  “In my work for Palm Restaurants, I’ve had the chance to travel around the county building restaurants.  I spent up to a month on each job, and so I’ve gotten to know a lot of American cities.  But when I recently returned to northwest Philadelphia, I really rekindled my love affair with this place, especially with the natural beauty of the Wissahickon, and the history. I’ve found that it’s really a unique place, and I wanted it to be beautiful. And so a while ago I made a commitment to pick up litter anytime I see it.”

“At first I thought I was doing a favor to the community by picking up trash.  But I was thinking about this recently, and I’m really doing a bigger favor to myself.  Whether it’s picking up litter, or faux-finishing to restore a tagged up retaining wall in the Wissahickon, it just makes me feel great, like I’m floating on a cloud.  So I guess that’s why I do it. That’s what makes me tick.” 

Every panelist applauded in agreement to Zack’s response.

Zack Bird paints away graffiti and recreates stone.

Zack Bird might be a magician.

Then the audience queued up for questions and comments.  Audience member Lisa Hopkins of the Civic Association Southwest Lower Germantown wondered whether The Food Trust had considered bringing back something like the home economics classes she remembered from her own school days, because teaching young adults how to cook, clean, and sew could be a key to healthy, sustainable living.  While Dwayne Wharton said that his organization’s connection to schools is to help bring in healthy food, he thought the idea was a good one. Continue Reading →

Two-time Grow This Block! participant, taking it to the next level with the garden plan this year! Photo by Inga Saffron


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Aine and Emaleigh talk do-it-yourself neighborhood revitalization at forum on sustainability, May 8

Aine and Emaleigh, co-organizers of the W Rockland Street Project, will be talking about DIY neighborhood revitalization and citizen engagement projects at Germantown United CDC‘s second annual forum on Wednesday, May, 8, 2013. Utilizing both grassroots marketing and 21st century communications tools, rocklandstreet.com – this very blog you’re reading! – tells the story of what one Philadelphia city block can do to rebuild community and change its future with a do-it-yourself spirit.

The program will be held from 6 – 9 pm at the Flying Horse Center located at 312-316 West Chelten Ave. Email info@germantownunitedcdc.org to RSVP.

Panelists include:

You should come!

If you’ve never been to the Flying Horse Center, read more about the building, which has become a multi-use community center for Germantown, housing offices, small businesses and event space.

It IS Easy Being Green. That’s true.

DIY Projects on W Rockland Street

Two-time Grow This Block! participant, taking it to the next level. Photo by Inga Saffron

The beauty of public seating. This bench was made of 3,800 recycle plastic bags! Thanks Keep Philadelphia Beautiful!

The beauty of public seating. This bench was made of 3,800 recycle plastic bags! Thanks Keep Philadelphia Beautiful!

Garden Party in the Lot Formerly Known As Vacant

An early Philly Spring Cleanup project

An early Philly Spring Cleanup project

Work AND Play.

Work AND Play.

Creative urban intervention! A sidewalk garden grows.

Creative urban intervention! A sidewalk garden grows.

 

 

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Party with W Rockland St at the Philly Spring Cleanup, Saturday, April 13

Philly Spring CleanupSo you think picking up trash can’t possibly be fun? Think again! If you want to make a difference in Philadelphia and have fun doing it, join W Rockland Street Neighbors in Southwest Germantown for another exciting Philly Spring Cleanup project.

This is our fourth consecutive year W Rockland St has participated in the cleanup – in the past, we’ve cleared mounds of trash from vacant lots, built community gardens, painted vacant houses, planted flowers in the sidewalk, and more (take a look at our 2012 and 2011 projects). We call that change you can see, and we couldn’t have done it without the wonderful volunteers that join us each year. Come along and work with W Rockland St Neighbors!

2013 Spring Cleanup Goals:

  1. Help neighbors sweep the sidewalk and street along the entire block;
  2. Lend a hand in basic cleanup and maintenance of two large parcels of vacant land on the block;
  3. Repair and paint the wood fence protecting the vacant lot in the middle of the block;
  4. Help cleanup in front of vacant houses;
  5. Assist elderly neighbors in sprucing up their front yards;
  6. Plant flowers and plants in large pots and garden beds for sidewalk beautification.

 

W Rockland serves as an example of what one Philadelphia city block can do to change its future through citizen engagement, do-it-yourself spirit, and tactical urbanism. We are located between the 4800 blocks of Germantown Avenue and Greene Street, flanked by the 100 blocks of Logan and Wyneva Streets. Read more about our neighborhood improvement projects right here on our blog.

Got questions? Contact rocklandstreet@gmail.com // 215-805-8091 

Cleaning the alley during the 2010 Philly Spring Cleanup

Cleaning the alley during the 2010 Philly Spring Cleanup

Loading up the Streets Department trash truck during the 2012 Philly Spring Cleanup

Loading up the Streets Department trash truck during the 2012 Philly Spring Cleanup

Watering new pop up sidewalk gardens on W Rockland St

Watering new pop up sidewalk gardens on W Rockland St

Garden Party in the Lot Formerly Known As Vacant


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W Rockland wins two awards in Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s City Gardens Contest!

Recently we received a letter in the mail from The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. It didn’t look like it was about membership (we are members!). We tore it open to find that W Rockland Street had won two prizes in PHS’s annualCity Gardens Contest, which gives Philadelphians recognition for their “dedicated and imaginative gardening skills.” Go W Rockland Street!

We’ve been thinking a lot about the impact of greening the neighborhood, with the recent murder on W Rockland Street in mind. Read on for a look at the PHS honors and our thoughts on crime and urban gardening in Philadelphia.

Beans!

2nd Place: COMMUNITY GARDEN COMBINATION

The Rockland Street Community Garden was awarded Second Prize in the Community Garden Combination category for first-year community gardens with both vegetables and flowers. This is a big achievement for the block and all the residents and volunteers that helped to transform the long-neglected vacant lot into an urban garden and gathering space. Located at 15 W Rockland at the top of the block, the garden is home to 13 raised garden beds (lucky number!), a melon and climbing vine patch, a compost bin, a floral garden, and jungle gym for kids. We broke ground and built this space on April 16, 2012 during the 4th annual Philly Spring Cleanup (learn more about the project), and its been growing and evolving ever since. One thing to note! We don’t own this land, but we transformed the eyesore anyway.

Here’s what the judges said:

“The garden has a colorfully inviting entrance and neatly laid out raised beds inside with a space set aside for socializing. It is clearly meeting its mission of creating community through horticulture. Impressive that this community has come together to build a garden on an abandoned lot. A credit to the garden creators!”

A look at W Rockland Street projects and events

Continue Reading →

Aine (left) and Emaleigh Doley encouraged neighbors to revitalize their block of West Rockland Street in Germantown by becoming urban gardeners in their own yards. The sisters' "Grow This Block!" campaign led West Rockland to receive the Streets Department's Philadelphia More Beautiful Neighborhood Transformation Award last year. Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer


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Philadelphia Daily News checks in on W Rockland St

Back in April, we traded a few tweets with Philadelphia Daily News writer Dan Geringer about Philly 3-1-1. He had just published a story called, WHY 3-1-1 MIGHT NEED TO CALL 9-1-1: Many don’t know it exists. We told Dan that we have used Philly 3-1-1 tons of times, and we’ve seen a lot of action and issues resolved. He wanted to know more. So we started talking about W Rockland St and different citizen driven neighborhood improvement projects our block has created, while also working hand-in-hand with the City of Philadelphia.

Garden Party in the Lot Formerly Known As Vacant

That conversation led to a great big story in the Philadelphia Daily News earlier this week.

Dan came to the block on what felt like the hottest day ever. Full sun and 95 degrees, walking around a city block. We’re lucky to have survived. Despite the heat, people were out and talking, PlayStreet was in full effect, and the hydrant was on to cool the scene (with the special sprinkler cap from the Fire Department). Continue Reading →


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Greening Germantown: W Rockland Street Neighbors “Grow This Block!”

On Saturday, June 2 in Germantown, W Rockland Street residents got together to Grow This Block! for the second year in a row. Each household had the opportunity to participate in this block-wide neighborhood planting experiment. View a full gallery of photos from the day on Flickr!

So many plants at Grow This Block! 2 – view more photos!

Little Kevon bringing plants out of our backyard through the tight alley

100s and 100s of annuals, perennials, shrubs, herbs, veggies, and fruit were planted during the event. 20 W Rockland Street households planted gardens this year and 7 nearby neighbors picked up flowers for their households. Some refreshed their gardens and redesigned their yards, others planted pots of herbs and flowers for their steps, and a few planted gardens for the very first time. Participants from the block included homeowners, as well as many new and longterm renters. At the first Grow This Block! in 2011, around 30 houses participated, but this is one case where less participants actually means greater success. Several residents that planted big gardens in 2011 already had their gardens going strong this year. We also moved off the block and welcomed three neighbors from the 4800 blocks of Greene Street and Germantown Avenue, which run perpendicular to W Rockland. Four other visitors and friends of neighbors also picked up plants for their homes. Amazingly, four former block residents who participated in last year’s event returned to visit and help out neighbors! Greening is contagious.

Grow This Block! is an example of what citizens can do when equipped with the tools that empower people to green and beautify their own neighborhoods. It’s a back to basics approach to improved quality of life. Everyone should have the opportunity to beautify his or her home – that can start with something as simple as a garden.

Two-time Grow This Block! participant, taking it to the next level with the garden plan this year! Photo by Inga Saffron

Herb digging in

The leafy green goods came from all over – we’re resourceful! Some of the plants were grown from seed by Ainé, who is the mastermind behind Grow This Block!, others were divided from gardens right on W Rockland earlier in the season. A large selection of decades-old perennials were unearthed from our mom’s magnificent gardens in Havertown (she sold the house in 2011, but we were sure to dig up the best plants first, of course). Most were purchased from Home Depot and Laurel Hill Gardens.

In the afternoon, the great Sally McCabe with the Philadelphia Horticultural Society led a planting workshop and Q&A with the Germantown gardeners. At the end of the longday, we had a BBQ and held a raffle for all participants. Winners took home planters with stands and the most coveted giant teacup planter filled with Impatiens.

The great Sally McCabe with the Philadelphia Horticultural Society led a planting workshop and Q&A

We can’t wait to see what W Rockland Street looks like later in the summer when gardens are in full bloom and plants are growing tall!

IT TAKES A CITY…

THANK YOU, THANK YOU

The day would not have been possible without the support of our friends, family, and partnership organizations.

  • Matt Wysong helped one household rip out old fencing, dig up their entire yard and plant a floral and vegetable garden. It was the biggest transformation of the day! Matt happens to be a city planner with the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. He travels with his own pickaxe and gets his hands dirty on the weekend, naturally.
  • Melissa Templeton baked some delicious cupcakes for the kids. She is a serious cupcake maker and organizer of Cupcake Smash, the popular Philadbundance fundraiser. Melissa has been an amazing supporter of all our big projects!
  • The City of Philadelphia delivered the dirt, literally. Manny Ramos, Program Coordinator and Thomas Conway, Deputy Managing Director, with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services coordinated the delivery of two truckloads of rich compost soil and mulch. We’re looking forward to working with Manny and Tom on other projects this summer!
  • The Philadelphia Horticultural Society and Keep Philadelphia Beautiful both donated funds which helped offset the cost of plants and supplies. PHS also delivered another truckload of mushroom soil for our community garden beds and brought Sally McCabe to the block.
  • Our friends Eryn Casey and her daughter Avry, Sean Hart, and Regina Ivoskute, all worked together to transform a curb cut (or litter trap, depending on the day) into a small garden, and plant a sidewalk pot.
  • Our mom Ann helped plan the event and pick-up last minute supplies, and our dad Ron, sister Alex and niece Mia came to show support. Our dad and Alex have already been wrangled into helping us finish the community garden we built. Dad even got a new drill for the occasion.
  • Thanks to all our other friends who came by to check out the scene and show support including Kara LaFleur, Mike and Jamila Carter, and Cornelia Swinson of Germantown Restoration CDC.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who planted, volunteered, and visited W Rockland Street!

OH, AND SEE MORE PHOTOS!

Ainé with prize winner Minnie and Rockland Street kids

This entire yard was ripped up and transformed! Big thanks to Matt Wysong for helping our neighbors build floral and vege garden!

The completed garden, can’t wait to see the beans climb the fence!

The littlest planter at Grow This Block!

Another new garden! - view more photos!


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Getting ready for Grow This Block! 2, Saturday, June 2

This Saturday, June 2, W Rockland Street will Grow This Block! for the second year in a row. Each house on our block (plus a few neighbors on nearby blocks) will have an opportunity to participate in this block-wide garden planting day! Last year over 30 households participated, gardens grew, and even Mayor Nutter stopped by to see what all the fuss was about! What was the scene like? Watch this 6-ABC news segment and check out photos from last year to get a taste. Join us this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and get in on the action! Rain date: Sunday, June 3, same time!

Residents and volunteers will be planting annuals, perennials, shrubs, herbs, veggies, and even fruit in their front yards. Participants will receive soil, mulch and garden gloves. There will even be some pots and hanging baskets for residents that do not have yards. Grow This Block! believes that everyone should have the opportunity to grow flower and food gardens in their own yards.

Participate.

Grow This Block! The Flyer!

Volunteer. We need you!

Calling all active citizens, volunteers + gardening lovers to participate in Grow This Block! 2. What we need!

  • Plant donations – annual + perennial flowers, herbs, fruit & veggie plants, shrubs
  • Volunteers to help turn over soil and plant with residents (you do not have to be a gardener or have a green thumb!)
  • Gardeners that can partner with residents during planting, answer questions and teach the basics of gardening one-on-one
  • Witnesses to something extraordinary!

Grow This Block! 2011 wouldn’t have been possible without all our amazing volunteers!

Connect.

Anyone interested in volunteering, contact Ainé Doley at (215) 805-8091 or email aine.doley @ gmail.com for more information. Planting location is the Unit Block of W Rockland Street in Germantown, 19144.


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Change You Can See: Looking Back at 2011

It’s Memorial Day and we’re taking a look back. 2011 was our biggest year yet! Here’s an overview of achievements and projects that took place in the year 2-0-1-1!

W Rockland Street

1. A very exciting block-wide beautification project dubbed Grow this Block! over Memorial Day Weekend – a day on which over 30 households on W Rockland Street planted flowers, vegetables, fruit and herbs in their front yards.

Grow This Block! May 28, 2011

2. Assistance with do-it-yourself property improvements; secured outdoor paint and supplies for residents who wished to paint their front porches, railings and fences (over 10 households refreshed)

3. The tear-down of two blighted houses that plagued the community for over 20 years, which we advocated for on behalf of the community; we’re still in the process of planning a community garden for the neighborhood in what is now huge plot of vacant land

Demolition. Day 1. Friday, June 2, 2011.

4. An information filled community meeting attended by over 75 neighbors from both W Rockland Street and surrounding blocks with guest speakers from Philly311, Streets Department of Philadelphia, SWEEP, Philadelphia Police Department, and RecycleNOW

Germantown Community Meeting on March 21, 2011, Philly311 Director Rosetta Lou speaking

5. The ongoing transformation of six vacant lots, plagued by illegal dumping, into clean and green space while implementing feasible maintenance plans as we continue to work on more permanent solutions for the vacant land

An early Philly Spring Cleanup project before the abandoned buildings were torn down

6. Regular block meetings for W Rockland Street residents (well-attended)

7. Activities for children including Play Street in the summer months, and nature projects

Yasmine harvesting crops planted during Grow This Block!

8. Rockland Street Cat Health Day, an ongoing opportunity for residents to get low cost spay/neuter services (got to love the kitties) which has resulted in the reduction of stray animals in the neighborhood

9. Regular collaboration with organizations and institutions in the city including Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia City Planning Commission, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, DePaul Catholic School, Keep Philadelphia Beautiful, Streets Department of Philadelphia, Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee, and others

Some of our volunteers for the day with 8th District City Councilwoman Cindy Bass (in the orange scarf)

10. Mayor of Philadelphia Michael Nutter visits W Rockland Street, after reading about Grow This Block! in The Philadelphia Inquirer. Councilwoman Cindy Bass stops by many times throughout the year to show support for special projects.

Me and Mike, Mayor Nutter greets W Rockland Street kids in 2011

11. An inspiring and very well attended block party of all block parties that featured games for kids, a dunk tank, original performances and spirited acknowledgments of long-time community residents

Ainé in the dunk tank at the block party in July 2011

12. In October 2011, W Rockland Street even won a Neighborhood Transformation Award for Beautification Projects, presented by the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee, an arm of the Streets Department of Philadelphia

Marianna, Junior Block Captain, with the Neighborhood Transformation Award


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Central Germantown Beautification Plan presentation Thursday, May 17

Excited for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission’s Central Germantown Beautification Plan presentation on Thursday, May 17th. We are interested in learning how the plan progressed from a focus on the Chelten Avenue commercial corridor to the Beautification Plan. PS: How about moving a little to the Southwest and hitting Lower Germantown, too? It’s crumbling.

What was initially the Chelten Avenue Corridor Plan is now the Central Germantown Beautification Plan. This plan will help guide future public realm improvements within Central Germantown. The Philadelphia City Planning Commission will present the results of public input from our first community meeting and on-line survey, along with draft recommendations for the plan.

Thursday, May 17th
First  Presbyterian Church
35 West Chelten Avenue
Open House from 6:30 to 8 pm

Contact: Matt Wysong, matt.wysong@phila.gov
www.phila2035.org | www.philaplanning.org
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