Miracle Garden on Duncan St.in the Harris Creek Watershed

On Saturday,the Miracle Garden on Duncan St Celebrated 20 years in operation. How do you like that for Sustainability? Lewis Sharpe is not only the Master Gardiner there,but he is also the Gourmat Chef. He prepared for us a sumptuous meal prepared from the Harvest. Noah and Jade,the children of Anita Stewart-Hammerer acted as the Tour Guides. Congratulations Duncan St. Many more years to you all.
Where this makes sense is to connect these green gardens,much like Olmstead did in the early 1900s when he talked about an enveloping green necklace surrounding the City and penetrating it. It provided outdoor activities,both fun and recreational. In Watershed 246,we hope to do the same. It has been said that you can create real community with Horticulture and Gathering Spaces where conversation,learning and spirituality can take place. Thus,the Harris Creek Watershed Project is more than a Stormwater Project. Think of it as a way to bring back Viable Neighborhoods that form the Backbone of a Healthy Baltimore. We are trying..... RDB

Harris Creek Watershed (246) Stormwater Project Meeting on September 1,2009

Putting together the Community Gardens (green assets) in the Neighborhoods that serves as a Gathering Space,not only for gardening but also Events and Educational Opportunities that provide Safe conditions. www.facebook.com/raymondbahr

Metropolis Baltimore Greening and Cleaning Effort

The Harris Creek Watershed (246) Stormwater Project
Humanity Initiative
Creating Community through Horticulture and Gathering Spaces

The Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association (BHWA) has taken on a Stormwater Project in the Harris Creek Watershed. This encompases 1270 acres and extends from Clifton Park to the Harris Creek Outflow in Canton (2700 block Boston St). It's purpose is to significantly reduce Trash and Pollution from going into the Baltimore Harbor. It plans to do this through Community Education and Implementing Best Management Practices for Stormwater Management. We know that currently there is 3-5 tons of Trash being deposited in the Harbor each month. To be successful,it is necessary not only to educate but to have the Stormwater Plan accepted by the 20 Communities in the 246 Watershed. The concerns of the Community Stakeholders need to be addressed as well. The Plan is to understand not only the Stormwater Plans but how best to Improve the Neighborhoods and Help in the Stregthening of these Communities.

The Approach we are taking is to Partner with other Community minded Groups by focusing on the Greener,Cleaner Efforts. The Humanity Initiative is derived from the recently held Conference entitled "Humana Metropolis Baltimore" sponsored by the Maryland Historical Society and the Parks and People Foundation and places emphasis on "Green,Healthy,Neighborly,Safe,Equitable and Efficient" in an effort to connect the Green Spaces throughout Baltimore City and bring more people out of their houses and enjoy Life. Lenneal Henderson felt that three other features should be added,namely "creative,communicative and artistic". Scot Spencer from the Anne Casey Foundation thought that "diversity concerns" should also be added. The Sum of adding these is to put into place a collective effort to connect green parks,community gardens and markets in hope of improving the Quality of Life in these Communities.

Equation for accomplishing this.

Greening Efforts Gathering Spaces Expanding the Effort Value Added Aspect

Community Gardens Enlive with Education Include more people
Parks and Entertainment Create New Programs
Converting vacant lots,
alleys,asphalt playgrounds

The First Meeting on collecting the inventory in Watershed 246 took place Sept 1,2009 and Assets will be reported in the next e-blog. Raymond Bahr MD BHWA

September 1,2009 Preparing the way for the Watershed 246 Stormwater Project

The Harris Creek Watershed 246 Stormwater Project involves 20 Neighborhoods that go from Clifton Park to the Harris Creek Outflow on Boston St. in Canton. In most of the Watershed medium income is down and unemployment up. Attempting to educate these Neighborhoods about Trash and Stormwater plans may be difficult unless there is also an attempt to understand the conditions under which the people residing in these Neighborhoods exist. How does one go about creating a positive force that will work to improve the Quality of Living in these Neighborhoods? How can Transformation take place?

I would propose that we look seriously at the recently held Conference entitled "Humane Metropolis Baltimore". It was sponsored by the Parks and People Foundation and touched on subjects germaine to answering the question of this Transformation. The relationship that we have to one another can be enhanced by activities that bring us out of our selves and encourage engagement and participation addressing common goals. Humanity blossoms in this environment. How can this be achieved and is this pipe dream possible?

the Formula for achieving this can be summarized this way,

(1)- Support the many "greening" projects throughout these Neighborhoods. I have been impressed by all the meaningful people involved in such activities.Their struggles to maitain this effort,especially in the present Economy,has not gone unnoticed. A listing of these activities is being put together. Connecting these "green"activities is a way of providing security and safety in these Neighborhoods. In many ways,it resembles the "green necklace" envisioned by the Olmsteads around the turn of the Century.

(2)- Create "Gathering Spaces" that bring people out and communicate more....the more,the better....Master Gardeners mixing with the Food experts and the Chefs....local experts among the opinion gatherers.

(3)- Find ways to engage as many people as possible....in some form of activity. Patterson Park and the Friends of Patterson Park is a prime example of what can be done optimally with a large Community coming together to make it better for everyone to enjoy.

(4)- Now with the above three as a start,begin to Grow exponentially in numbers of green gathering spaces and expansion for newer ways to involve even more of the populace....the elders....the disable......more programs for children....more school involvement(chess garden)


Inherited Poverty brings with it the baggage of Toxicity that has a negative influence on these Neighborhoods,but the Humanity that is promoted with an Emphasis on green gathering spaces that engage the members of the Community helps to offset this and gathers momentum as it pervades throughout the Community.


As the saying goes,

The Goal of these "green spaces" is to bring People Together to Rub Shoulders,Have Fun,and with Luck......even Get To Know Each Other.

When we work to make Life a Better Place for All of Us,we will have Prepared Well the Community for introducing the Harris Creek Watershed 246 Stormwater Plan.

Respectfully,Raymond D.Bahr MD BHWA