garden : 2011

I fix things…it’s what I do. These photos represent a work in progress. I hope to add a pergola and many more trees (like Bamboo) before I rent the place.

The house I bought to “rehab” is over 100 years old and did not have plumbing or electric when it was built. Of course those were added over the years, as was a central heating and air conditioning system, but everything is very old—I would estimate this house has not undergone any major upgrades in over 50 years.

My objective is to fix this place up by hand—but it’s a huge task—compounded by the fact that:
#1. I’m living here through all the demolition, and
#2. The neighborhood is still quite sketchy, despite the boom of Fishtown and Northern Liberties, only 1 mile south.

This neighborhood is still mostly working class people, which is totally fine, but it’s the teens and younger who have nothing to to, and so they are loud, obnoxious and destructive. This area is adjacent to Port Richmond, where an ex-girlfriend of mine grew up. She was a positive influence on me, and so, I feel that fixing this place up is my way of giving back to a community that produced such a good person. I suspect (hope & pray) that one day this hood will be nice…until then, I’m doing my part to clean and green!