This year's Green Alley Makeover Day is scheduled for Saturday, September 22, 2012 from 9:00am to 1:00pm, the same day as the Ward 4 Neighborhood Clean Up at the State Fairgrounds. You can host a Green Alley Makeover in your alley with or without help from HMC's staff and Community Building Committee and the Hamline Midway Environmental Group. Download an organizing packet, or pick one up from the HMC office. If you would like assistance with your project, complete the application packet by Wednesday, August 22 at 5:00pm. If you are not receiving volunteer assistance, you may host your event any day and time. Organizers of Green Alley Makeovers will be entered to win a $100 gift certificate to Custom Drapery & Blinds!

What is a Green Alley Makeover? It’s a day to work together with your neighbors to plant, weed, and beautify your alley! Swap plants; haul away brush, compost, and waste, plant natives, ornamentals, or edibles; and top it off with a community potluck. You and your neighbors may have other creative ideas as well, such as traffic calming, artwork, and arbors. See photos and a summary of the 2011 Green Alley Makeover here.

Over 30 volunteers turned out for the first Green Alley Makeover on Saturday, September 24, 2011! The crew pulled weeds, pulled trees, disposed of garbage, mulched, and planted on 17 properties. Many thank-yous go out to neighbors, Hamline Midway Environmental Group (HMEG) members, Hamline Midway Coalition's Community Building Committee (CBC), and our Master Gardener Diane Fraser. The alley was transformed when trash-filled, overgrown, and untidy spaces were cleaned up and planted. Plus, some block residents connected for the first time while others strengthened their relationships throughout the process. Better neighbor connections and well-kept spaces can help prevent crime such as illegal dumping, graffiti, and residential burglaries.

The vision of the project was to support residents who want to improve their alleys for water quality, safety, food production, and aesthetics. This block on Charles Ave between Griggs and Syndicate got 20 property owners on board with a green alley pilot project, and in exchange, received organizing help and volunteer assistance for a Green Alley Work Day from the CBC and HMEG. One alley resident and work day volunteer expounded on the benefits of the event: "Many alley [spaces] that looked derelict now look clean and tended-to. I met neighbors I'd never spoken with before, and had great conversations with residents I almost never see. [Plus] I got to use a weed wrench!" Another volunteer said, "Extreme Alley Makeover should be the name of this program - beautiful transformations of neglected space!"

What does it mean to "green" your alley? Residents recently packed the Hamline Midway Coalition's conference room in April of 2011 to explore this question, share ideas, and hear from experts in water quality and horticulture. The Hamline Midway Coalition's Community Building Committee (CBC), in partnership with the Hamline Midway Environment Group (HMEG), is supporting residents who want to improve their alleys for water quality, safety, food production, and aesthetics. Residents who get their neighbors on board with a green alley vision can get organizing help and volunteer assistance on alley work days from the CBC and HMEG. Contact us for more information.