Who says you can't grow anything in the desert? All you naysayers can find out the truth like we did on a Sunday between 10 am and 2 pm at a little spot called The Growhouse.
Located on the northwest corner of 6th Street and Garfield and supported by Roosevelt Row CDC, The Growhouse is a public space where anyone who wants to participate can share in the bounty.
"The location of the house is key for the neighborhood, [we're] an anchor for our block." says Kenny Barrett, Program Manager for RR CDC.
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| Catherine Slye |
| Kenny Barrett and volunteers |
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| Catherine Slye |
| Volunteers and the headless scarecrow |
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| Catherine Slye |
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| Catherine Slye |
Started in August 2008 (during the deep fat fryer part of summer, no less), The Growhouse began as an intentional experiment.
"We wanted to show how easy it is to grow vegetables in your own yard," says Barrett. "Why water grass when you can grow vegetables?"
It's grown (pun intended) into a deliberate plan for the space. The space, by the way, is leased by the RR CDC from the Pappas family, which owns the house peeking out behind all that green. Necessities like water and rent have been paid for in the past by renting (inside) space to artists for First Friday events; now, sales of eggs and vegetables (at the Phoenix Public Market Arizona Homegrown Solutions Community Exchange table) go toward these bills.
The goal is to become self-sustainable with collective shared use grow lots and ideally run as a membership based entity, as early as this fall. Collective gardening = collective harvest. Those that participate, receive.
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| Catherine Slye |
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| Catherine Slye |
"The garden is growing and taking on new forms almost daily," Barrett says. Already, they have chickens -- which means eggs. You can get them daily at
Urban Beans.
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| Catherine Slye |
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| Catherine Slye |
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| Catherine Slye |
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