DC’s Hidden Green Infrastructure

DC’s Hidden Green Infrastructure

SW Hill Association, ANC 8D-Hosts a “Garden Day” every year providing info, seeds and bulbs, volunteer coordination, ect.. to encourage the localized greening of this underprivileged neighborhood.  Works with neighbors year round to minimize the negative affects of living near the Blue Plains Sewage Treatment Plant by planting fragrant flowers and bulbs that discourage rodents.

Montana Senior Gardens-Coordinates senior community garden that provides low income seniors a place to grow their own produce while greening what had been a previously derelict lot.  Also had a youth gardening program with local elementary school to teach kids the benefits of gardening and good nutrition, while giving them a chance to appreciate all that nature offers. 

Moses Urban Gardening-Large community garden that provides food to this low income neighborhood while utilizing some of the many acres of the now defunct St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

Hermana Hermana (Sister Sister)-Works with after school and summer programs to teach kids at two different multi-cultural community centers the joys of gardening and the importance of the natural world.

Hot Peppers Garden Club-Provides kids who live in housing projects in the Columbia Heights area an opportunity to get out of their apartments and grow in community gardens.  Hot Peppers meet after school, on weekends and all summer long so kids can be a part of the garden from planting to harvest.

Urban Rangers- A unique program that rewards neighborhood kids with revamped bicycles for keeping Unity Park and other area green spaces in the Adams-Morgan neighborhood clean and beautiful.  The Rangers also go on regular group rides and hikes exploring DC’s Rock Creek Park while learning to appreciate our forests and waterways.

Westminster Street Neighborhood Association-These neighbors have been busy for the last several years replanting street trees and rebuilding a dangerous playground.  Their newest battle is reclaiming a public ball field that is currently being used as a parking lot for a nearby church.

Brookland Garden Club- Neighbors pool resources and time to beautify traffic dividers, tree boxes and parks.  These folks planted more than 3,000 ABF bulbs in one weekend to beautify a historic building and the lot surrounding it that had fallen victim to neglect.

Gateway Georgia Avenue NW-Keeps clean and beautifies with trees, bulbs and grasses the stretch of Georgia Ave. that crosses the DC-Maryland state line to demonstrate to those entering DC that this city is cared for by its residents. 

U.N.I.Q.U.E.- A multifaceted program that trains young people through hands on work experience in the fields of lawn and garden care.  U.N.I.Q.U.E.’s most recent endeavor is to clear out and replant a neighborhood amphitheater that has gone unused for many years.  After working with DC Parks and Recreation on site design the park will be cleared of overgrowth and replanted with sturdy perennials.