Abandoned Baltimore parking lot turned into hoop house gardens

Could an abandoned parking lot soon be converted into an oasis of health?

The group is seeking more sponsors even as it has begun building the garden in summer's heat.The project is sponsored by the faith-based Lamb Inc. and the Ark Church, which is located nearby at 1263 E. North Ave. EVI Inc., a local investment group headed by Ernst Valery, is also a sponsor.Valery said Thursday the new gardens in the Oliver community will help spark a new sense of pride. Vegetables, herbs and fruit will be sold and donated to local residents and businesses once they mature.The new urban garden will consist of a pair of 20-by-96-foot beds, said Ally Schonfeld, 23, the project manager and a recent graduate of Goucher College.Schonfeld said as soon as the frames are completed, plastic will be placed over the asphalt and then woodchips, to help contain the nutrients of the soil that will go on next. Within a week, there will be the beginnings of crops there, she predicted.Of course, if you're already in the process of selecting your bed frame, do not hesitate to do your own test on the unit. It is important that you assess the sturdiness of your chosen contemporary bedroom furniture (http://www.avantmod.com/) so that you can be sure about its durability which could save you money in the long run. A bed frame that is high in quality will not only lend your bed with good support and aesthetics, but more importantly will guarantee you that you won't be expending on unnecessary repairs or untimely replacement in the future.Valery, who also owns the small Milk and Honey grocery in Mt. Vernon, is planning to build off the success of the new urban garden and add a small cafe nearby on North Avenue soon. A market could soon follow, he said."It's private developers helping them make it happen and that's what it's all about."That's what a group of northeast Baltimore residents are working on Thursday as they gathered to construct two large hoop house gardens amid the blight and vacant houses of Aisquith Street near North Avenue."It's redefining the quintessential bodega," he said."This will help all of us out," said Margaret Conner, a 63-year- old member of the church's usher board, as she drilled pine planks that make up the garden's raised beds. "They need it here to help grow their own food."

"It's redefining the quintessential bodega," he said.

Author: Melody Simmons