A Visit to Walnut Way
On Saturday, October 6, I had the pleasure of attending Harvest Day at Walnut Way, on 17th and North Avenue. The entire 2200 block of N. 17th Street was blocked off for the celebration, with a large sound truck on the north end, providing a stage and sound system for talk and music.
There is much to celebrate on this block, a former home of drug houses and the people who ran them. This is the story of two particularly dedicated people, Sharon and Larry Adams, who returned to the block after many years’ absence and were horrified at what had happened to Sharon’s former home.
She and Larry determined to make this city block bloom, to reclaim it into a neighborhood, where people helped one another, and celebrated life’s ups and downs together. One primary vehicle for this movement was the re-introduction of fruit and vegetable gardens in backyards and empty lots. There is a peach orchard halfway down the block, raspberries, tomatoes and a variety of other good things for people to eat and sell through the Fondy market.
So, this was not just any old generic harvest celebration; it was a moment to reflect on the work which had been invested in this very block’s growth and produce. One of the most special parts of the day included the Nefertari African Dance Co, which featured six young girls who clearly had worked hard under the direction of Marilynn Douglas, the group’s director, and one of the drummers. There were three other young guys drumming, and the effect was tremendous.
This was Walnut Way’s 12th annual fall celebration. Keep an eye out for it next year, as Outpost has a presence in it, as well. Come on down, enjoy the music and wonder at what can be accomplished in a neighborhood’s love affair with an urban garden!
- Nancy Ettenheim, Member, Board of Directors
Comments
Bloggers
Archived Columns
Tags
Archives
-
April 2024 (1)
March 2024 (1)
February 2024 (1)
December 2023 (1)
August 2023 (1)
March 2023 (1)
February 2023 (1)
November 2021 (1)
September 2021 (1)
November 2020 (1)
October 2020 (1)
July 2020 (1)
June 2020 (1)
May 2020 (1)
February 2020 (1)
January 2020 (1)
December 2019 (1)
November 2019 (1)
October 2019 (1)
August 2019 (2)
May 2019 (1)
March 2019 (2)
January 2019 (1)
December 2018 (1)
November 2018 (1)
October 2018 (2)
September 2018 (1)
February 2018 (1)
November 2017 (2)
October 2017 (1)
July 2017 (2)
March 2017 (1)
February 2017 (1)
January 2017 (1)
December 2016 (2)
November 2016 (1)
August 2016 (2)
July 2016 (2)
March 2016 (2)
February 2016 (2)
January 2016 (1)
December 2015 (1)
October 2015 (3)
August 2015 (1)
July 2015 (2)
June 2015 (1)
March 2015 (2)
February 2015 (2)
January 2015 (2)
December 2014 (2)
November 2014 (1)
October 2014 (3)
August 2014 (2)
July 2014 (1)
June 2014 (2)
May 2014 (2)
April 2014 (1)
March 2014 (2)
February 2014 (2)
January 2014 (2)
December 2013 (1)
November 2013 (2)
October 2013 (1)
July 2013 (2)
June 2013 (1)
May 2013 (2)
April 2013 (1)
March 2013 (2)
February 2013 (1)
January 2013 (2)
December 2012 (3)
November 2012 (1)
October 2012 (3)
September 2012 (2)
August 2012 (4)
July 2012 (4)
June 2012 (6)
May 2012 (3)
April 2012 (4)
March 2012 (6)
February 2012 (8)
January 2012 (3)
December 2011 (4)
October 2011 (4)
September 2011 (3)
August 2011 (5)
July 2011 (7)
June 2011 (1)
May 2011 (2)
April 2011 (7)
March 2011 (10)
February 2011 (12)
January 2011 (11)
December 2010 (19)
November 2010 (13)
October 2010 (22)
September 2010 (16)
August 2010 (24)
July 2010 (33)
June 2010 (5)
May 2010 (52)
April 2010 (37)
March 2010 (55)
February 2010 (44)
January 2010 (46)
December 2009 (40)
November 2009 (26)
October 2009 (37)
September 2009 (34)
August 2009 (24)
July 2009 (21)
June 2009 (29)
May 2009 (30)
April 2009 (33)
March 2009 (16)
February 2009 (2)
January 2009 (5)
November 2008 (1)
October 2008 (1)
September 2008 (2)
August 2008 (3)
July 2008 (2)
June 2008 (6)
May 2008 (2)
April 2008 (10)
March 2008 (5)
February 2008 (5)
January 2008 (12)
December 2007 (5)
October 2007 (3)
August 2007 (3)
July 2007 (1)
June 2007 (5)
May 2007 (4)
April 2007 (6)
March 2007 (3)
February 2007 (3)
January 2007 (4)
December 2006 (2)
October 2006 (2)
September 2006 (5)
August 2006 (8)
0 (1)