Hope Gardens

In the street corner in front of you is an example of a Hope Garden.

Working with The Watershed Project, residents in North Richmond have transformed the "hell strip" (the area between the sidewalk and the street) into Hope Gardens. The project was a partnership between the community and the Watershed Project, with each garden adopted by a resident who agreed to water and maintain it. The gardens were planted with drought-tolerant plants and have improved the relationships between residents, inspiring others in the neighborhood to get involved in community gardening.

Since 2019 The Watershed Project has planted five gardens every spring that are cared for by North Richmond residents. Planting days are joyful occasions when volunteers and community members come together and plant drought-tolerant, easy-to-care-for flowers next to the sidewalk. Several North Richmond and Richmond residents have participated as Green Ambassadors, acting as community leaders for this project by helping us find residents who want to adopt a Hope Garden and modeling how to plant and water the plants alongside volunteers.

Slowly but surely, one garden at a time, Hope Gardens are transforming weedy eyesores into oases of color, enticing people and pollinators with their beautiful flowers. If you live in North Richmond and would like to adopt a Hope Garden, contact paula@thewatershedproject for more information.

The pictures presented are prime before and after the open strips are converted to homely, friendly, adopted gardens.