Something I’ve failed to blog about yet was a HUGE project the house did May 17^th. On this day our home experienced an incredible make-over to the front yard. The whole house got together to help out making a Garden of Gratitude…as inspired by the Westside Permies! (http://westsidepermies.ning.com)

Redoing the front had been on our minds, but it was with the inspiration of the Westside Permies Garden of Gratitude event that really got us going on it! Marla and I spent hours preparing during the weeks leading up to the big event by measuring the lawn, researching plants, searching the free section on Criagslist for supplies, and building raised beds.

We tore out our lawn by hand (and rake and hoe and shovel, as well as a lot of brute strength!!) and then we got to work filling the raised bed with soil, planting, and landscaping the rest of the used-to-be-lawn area! We had help from our neighbors, friends, and some inner-city students that one of our community members, Jessie, works with.

People came and went but everyone gave their best to the effort and 12 hours later our front lawn had been transformed into a low water garden of joy!

Now, 2.5 months later we have been enjoying luscious artichokes, tomatoes, lettuce, beets, strawberries, peppers and zucchini!

Our home is an interest point for all who walk past! We are the only house on the block without grass and it is a vibrant and brilliantly textured and colored feast for the eyes (and stomach!).

We hope our home is planting seeds in the minds of our neighbors to follow suit and grow food in their yards!