In 1978 the city built this raised area by the beach, probably to keep the lake from flooding the street. They built the brick walls at a 45 degree angle, filled the raised space with soil, and planted some hawthorns. In the mid 90s some of the people who moved into the building next to the raised area collected hundreds of fish (alewives) that had washed up on the beach and turned them into the soil. They planted wildflowers, which didn't last long. But the fish fertilizer made the soil we plant in as dark and rich as chocolate cake. Since then I've amended it a lot, organically.

I believe there are now five people working on this space. I was the first to plant here, in the modern era. I wasn't sure if it was legal, and was kind of hoping to get arrested for planting flowers in city property, but the city let me do it. Now four more people have started to plant stuff here, and I'm glad that my act of rebellion had led to a general uprising.

In 2005 this garden was in the Garden Walk put on by the local community council. In October they had an awards ceremony for various categories of local "shining stars", like Volunteer and Business and School. This garden won the Spirit of a Good Neighbor award, and in my speech I gratefully accepted the plaque on behalf of all my fellow gardeners, and went on to thank my director, my co-stars, my parents, God, and all the 'little people' who made the whole thing possible, and to reaffirm the profound humility I felt at this great honor. I was about to say "You like me! you really like me!" when I was pulled off the stage with a giant hook.