Urban Greening Coordinator Assists with Lawrenceville Garden

Suzanne met Extension's Urban Greening Coordinator, Joe McCarthy, along with Phipps Educator Gabe Tilove at the March 31st event. The following month she applied for a Family Support/Environmental Mini Grant through OCD and was notified on June 1st that her request had been approved. The ugly overgrown plot which started life as a parking lot was on its way to becoming a green oasis for the families and staff of FCC-Lawrenceville.

Suzanne credits the mentoring of Joe and Phipps Master Gardener John Boyton with helping her avoid pitfalls in the areas of garden design, materials and plant selection. Recognizing the special stressors that accompany gardening in an urban setting, the pair was quick to suggest vegetables, herbs and perrenials that would be tolerent of heat, drought and environmental pollutants. 

Utilizing the combined manpower of FCC staff and client families, a captivatingly  perfect little garden was established in time for an August 3rd Open House. The generous donation and delivery of topsoil from Home Depot of Monroeville freed up funds for the addition of more plants and several "comfort" items to the "Tranquility Garden". Now, visitors are invited to rest on a comfortable bench, listen to the calming sounds of a fountain and enjoy a gravel walkway through the garden. 

Future plans include educational classes on nutrition/cooking utilizing herbs and vegetables from the garden, but that will be another growing season. Until then, the staff and clients of Lawrenceville FCC and their neighbors are content to sit back and "smell the roses"!  

Active Urban Greening projects exist in the Larimer, Hazelwood, Coraopolis and Homewood communities of Allegheny County. Neighborhood organizations seeking assistance, for their own green project, are encouraged to contact Extension Coordinator Joe McCarthy (412)473-2540 or fjm12@psu.edu .