Project team

Head: Westside Homeschoolers Group

Partners: Bellaire-Puritas Development Corporation,

Project description and goals

The project developed out of shared interests from a group of home-schooled families looking for community connection, as well as interdisciplinary activities to be used for educational opportunities.  Particularly, an internationally-focused garden will be created along with a complimentary market that will provide both small business and horticulture lessons to learners, both young and old. As well, a landscape meant to attract butterflies will planted adjacent to the garden and market site, providing further benefits that will enhance the human and environmental capital of the neighborhood.  

Existing conditions

The 5,040 sq. ft. lot is located at the corner of W. 138th St. and San Diego St.  It was once residential, having hosted a structure was demolished in 2004.  The site is slightly sloped, covered in weeds, and has full southern exposure with no standing trees.  The lot is in close proximity to the project lead (who is an organic gardening expert), and is not far off from a number of other home-schooling families as well.

Proposed interventions

The garden proposed is meant to cover much of the area’s space as an attempt to maximize the return of the harvest. Steps to achieve this include: soil prep; mulching to prevent weeds along the edge and fence line; the installation of a drip irrigation system to help even water disbursement; and the creation of a rain barrel system.  Plantings will focus on various heirlooms, with eventual organic distinction being enabled through natural soil build-up. The market component will be developed on-site, with days and price dependant on quantity and demand.  In both cases, the sustainable gardening and small business components will allow for a learning lab for both the homeschooled children and their families. As well, a Monarch butterfly habitat will be planted along a newly constructed fence, allowing further educational opportunities along with aesthetic enhancements.

Site maintenance

Initial garden labor and maintenance is expected to be intensive in the short-run, with the project director taking the lead in both scheduling and task breakdown.  In particular, weeding will be a focus both initially and throughout the season, and to help manage this the group will be using a wheel how with a stirrup blade for removal. Garden debris will be disposed of using green practices, with weeds being fed to chickens housed in a chicken tractor and other debris composted in closed bins on-site.