Post Tagged with: "annie shaw"

Pennsylvania Garden: The Jewel of Potrero Hill from NENtv on Vimeo. There are no finer examples of one person’s determination transforming an unsightly piece of land into an urban oasis of plants and community than Potrero Hill’s Pennsylvania Garden. In 2008, resident Annie Shaw took a d-shaped piece of land next to the Mariposa Street off ramp on 280 South and began transforming it into a community garden. Soon, the [...]

Planning a street garden is something I’ve had a lot of time to think about. Usually I do this as I am moving a plant to a new location, and thinking to myself “If I had planned all this out, I wouldn’t be breaking my back right now…” Pennsylvania Garden had one plant in the beginning – a Princess Plant (Tibouchina urvilleana) planted by our neighbor, Jim. I put other [...]

In my last NEN Blog I wrote about how we’re attacking the process of getting grants to fund Pennsylvania Garden, the guerrilla garden turned San Francisco Street Park in Potrero Hill. This time I’ll let you in on the secret to getting volunteers to help with your project. You know, those magical people from all walks of life who unselfishly show up and work their butts off for no pay on the [...]

In my last NEN blog I told you about how Pennsylvania Garden (map) got started – from guerrilla garden to official San Francisco Street Park! Well we’re now in our second year, and the larger plants are looking pretty established. We’re still working on some areas, but when I look around the garden what I realize we need is hardscape improvements. You know – retaining walls, terraces, paths, benches and [...]

Prior to December 2008, the D-shaped patch of land opposite my old apartment was known as the Mariposa Street off ramp on 280 South. It was also known as a place where you could allow your dog to poop and not have to pick up, or a place you could shack up with a 40 oz. of Mickey’s until the cops moved you along! All that changed when I decided [...]