Porter Square Neighbors Association

Location: Cambridge Department of Public Works, 147 Hampshire Street.

Last year, a small group of us adopted several City of Cambridge-owned pocket gardens. We volunteers groomed (weeded, pruned, deadheaded, etc.) garden beds, tree wells, and containers throughout the growing season. Ellen Coppinger, Landscape Administrator at the Department of Public Works (DPW), was very helpful, providing us with tools, training, and plant material.

We all enjoyed the fresh air, interesting conversations, and exercise and we were greatly appreciated by passersby and businesses. We also improved our own and our neighbor's quality of life by promoting beauty in our environment. Can you beat that for a free activity?

This year the program is expanding to include more parks and more people. You may already have noticed a spot you would like to take care of - we'll help you get started. At the meeting we will match volunteers with garden spaces in their neighborhood. The kick-off meeting is Wednesday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Department of Public Works Conference Room, 147 Hampshire Street. You need not be present to participate but it would be helpful. You need not be a Cambridge resident to join us.

Please contact Ellen Coppinger, ecoppinger@cambridgema.gov for more information or to express interest. You can also reply to this email to Kathy Gardner at pickapocketgarden@gmail.com but I will be out of internet range until the end of May, so won't be able to respond to your email right away.

Kathy