Improving DC's Public Spaces
Learn about our mission and how you can help!
Improving DC's Public Spaces
Learn about our mission and how you can help!
Learn about our mission and how you can help!
Learn about our mission and how you can help!
In spite of the extraordinary challenges of 2020, Guerrilla Gardeners of Washington DC is celebrating an outstanding year filled with accomplishments that positively impacted our community.
In January, we tackled a neglected stretch along the I-695 on-ramp, replacing unsightly weeds with wildflowers to create a pollinator habitat that supports birds, bees and butterflies.
In the Spring, our expanded garden in Winston Park burst forth in a sea of red and yellow tulips before giving way to new plantings of bee balm, black-eyed Susan's, cardinal flower, coreopsis and coneflower.
In April, we helped remove 20 tons of asphalt from outside the walls of the historic 8th & I Marine Barracks to create a rain garden.
In the Fall, we once again planted liriope in the tree boxes along Barracks Row.
Throughout the year we restored historic call boxes and continued our stewardship of Margaret's Garden and the Navy Yard Triangle.
In September, we embarked on an ambitious long-term project to reclaim the Potomac Triangle Parks from neglect and misuse, clearing overgrowth and establishing gardens.
The community response to these projects was overwhelming. Guerrilla Gardeners volunteers logged over 1,500 service hours alongside our collaboration partners Brothas Huddle, Capitol Hill BID, Daughters of the American Revolution, Naval Lodge No. 4, United States Marine Corps, Capitol Hill Restoration Society and Barracks Row Main Street.
Our work was funded by individual donors, large and small together with grants from the Capitol Hill Community Foundation, DC Access, National Capital Bank Foundation, Dila Construction and Awesome Foundation DC.
Public officials aided our efforts, especially dynamo ANC Commissioner Kelly Waud (6B07), Ward 6 Community Liaison Naomi Mitchell, Steve McKindley-Ward (DDOT) and Kathleen Rehwaldt (DPR). Still more community members supported us from behind the scenes.
With sincere gratitude we wish them and you the best in the year to come.
Happy New Year!
Guerrilla Gardeners of Washington DC is mentioned in an article about volunteering to improve public spaces:
Going Out Guide
Start the year off fresh with one of these outdoor cleanup activities
Guerrilla Gardeners of Washington DC has teamed up with Brothas Huddle and the residents of Potomac Gardens and Hopkins to landscape two adjacent parcels known as Potomac Triangle Parks. Together, we helped to organize the community to reclaim these overgrown and underutilized spaces and make them more attractive, usable and safe - and keep them that way.
Several years ago, the Potomac Triangle Parks were renovated but the government funding ran out before any landscaping could be done. No provisions for upkeep were established either, resulting in conditions wrought by neglect.
Our collaboration has begun to change that. We are empowering the residents of this community to assume collective "ownership" of these spaces in order to improve and maintain them for their own use and benefit through "sweat equity." Neighbors have embraced the residents of Potomac Gardens and Hopkins through this project with donations and physical labor.
Hill Rag: Guerrilla Gardeners Give Triangle Parks a New Look
Guerrilla Blog: Unsung Heroes of Potomac Triangle Parks
Capitol Hill Corner: Guerrilla Gardeners Rally Community to Take on Potomac Avenue Triangle Park
The commitment of Guerrilla Gardeners of Washington DC to the Potomac Triangle Parks and the Potomac Gardens and Hopkins community is broad and long term. In addition to landscape improvement and maintenance, we will offer education and training opportunities and support creative programming for these spaces and well as the work of Brothas Huddle.
Contributions are 100% tax-deductible and will be used to support these volunteers and their work through a dedicated fund for continued upkeep and enhancement. All donations collected through this link (same as the one below) will be used for this project only. Reaching the campaign goal will ensure these parks will be maintained and further developed through the end of 2025.
WE DID IT!
What we accomplished:
- Planting bulbs (300 tulips, 700 daffodils and 175 Asian lilies)
- Splitting and planting daylilies - 265
- Planting liriope - 130
- Addition of soil conditioner
- Weeding (always weeding!)
Thank you volunteers!
Potomac Triangle Parks on August 26, 2020
Potomac Triangle Parks on September 26, 2020
Work alongside the residents of Potomac Gardens and Hopkins as they improve these spaces for the benefit of us all. Come get your hands dirty!
Take a tour of our Urban Country Road pollinator habitat.
This project was made possible by a grant from Awesome Foundation DC.
Guerrilla gardening started in the 70’s by environmentally conscious people with a green thumb and a mission. The practice is intended to make unused and neglected spaces beautiful, green and healthy. Early guerrilla gardeners performed their work in the dead of night, though recently the practice has become more open. There are blogs and community groups that can provide you with a guerrilla grow guide and support if you want to try a little random act of growing in your neighborhood.
There are many reasons that people take up the cause of guerrilla gardening. The activity is sometimes an attempt to increase urban green space for recreation. It can also provide spaces with edible plants for neighborhood use. Some gardeners simply do it to cover up unsightly areas or take back overly developed regions. It may even be a protest against inadequate government maintenance practices. Whatever the reason, creating guerrilla gardens is a satisfying activity that can be meaningful in many ways.
- Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist
We want make our community a better place for all of us.
We were 'guerrilla gardening' before we knew it had a name.
If you like to get your hands dirty, we're always looking for new recruits!
A tribute to a guerrilla gardening pioneer
We are a 100% volunteer 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Your contribution is tax deductible.
No one receives compensation of any kind for their work with Guerrilla Gardeners of Washington DC.
Copyright © 2021 Guerrilla Gardeners of Washington DC - All Rights Reserved.
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