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The community garden vote I almost skipped actually fixed our parking problem | DIY Democracy - Free To Speak

The community garden vote I almost skipped actually fixed our parking problem

I was sure the proposal to turn that empty lot into a garden was a waste of time. But after 4 months the neighbors started carpooling to tend it, and now we have 12 extra parking spots on weekends. Anyone else seen a small project solve a totally unrelated issue in their town?

3 comments

3 Comments

pat_moore2mo ago

Started noticing the same thing with a little free library someone put in by the bus stop near me. It turned into a spot where folks would stop and chat, and now people actually watch out for each other's cars on the street. Nobody planned it, just happened because everyone was already there anyway.

emeryj662mo ago

And honestly the best part is you don't have to organize anything. Just put the box up and let people decide what happens. If you clear out the junk that collects in the bottom every couple weeks and maybe throw in a fresh stack of books nobody's gonna read, the regulars will handle the rest. A few bags of trash and a cheap folding chair is all it takes. I learned the hard way that if you try to make rules for it, like a sign saying "take one leave one" or "no magazines", people just ignore it and you end up policing a book box which defeats the whole point. Let it be a little messy and the community figures out their own rhythm.

king.eric2mo ago

Little free libraries do that. There's one outside a laundromat near my work. Started as just books, now there's a beat up armchair someone dragged over and a coffee can for donations. Old guy named Frank sits there most mornings reading paperback westerns. He'll yell at kids running in the street, make sure they look both ways. Three months ago a woman left her purse on a bus stop bench and someone grabbed it, gave it to Frank. He held onto it until she came back crying happy tears. All because somebody bolted a box to a post.