DAYtrip

The Ephemeral Temperance Alley Garden

By Charlotte Crook

Tucked away in the middle of Washington, DC, lies the Temperance Alley Garden… for now. The small garden, a center for the community at 1909 13th Street NW, is worth the trip. If you’re not looking closely, you might miss the park. The garden really is in an alley. Located between U, T, 12th, and 13th Streets, it may be hard to find, but that is part of why it is so special. The garden provides an oasis from the noise and crowds of the city. Its landscape is calming and comforting. With ivy growing up the surrounding fence, one feels truly enveloped in the environment. Being in the city, the garden park is accessible. It’s just a short walk around the block from the U Street/AfricanAmerican Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro stop. Started and managed by the U Street Neighborhood Association, this garden park is temporary. The space will be developed into apartments and retail spaces in 2023. The association has made the most of this space while they can. This issue is not so straightforward, though. In October 2020, the U Street Neighborhood Association made a deal with EastBanc, a real estate and technology company. They signed a three-year lease with the company to occupy the space. The area had been set for development, but at the time, was an empty lot. The lease said the association could use the space as a community garden. Once the lease is up, the community is expected to hand the land back over to EastBanc for the construction to begin. For now, the community and visitors can still enjoy this haven. The park has lots of seating. A pavilion sits in the center of the garden, with tall grasses, flowers, and plants spreading out around it. At first glance, the garden might seem to be overgrown. That’s not the case. This landscape mimics a natural one. The wildness is what makes it so special. At the same time, it doesn’t conflict with the city landscape-- it embraces it. The result is a blend of urban and natural environments, allowing it to fit perfectly into the community. Many call this space a “time machine.” In the garden, it feels like you’ve gone back in time. You are transported to a serene space—what this area may have looked like before development. The association calls it a “tamed meadow,” rather than an “engineered fantasy.” Its elements of naturalism are vital to this garden’s aesthetics and function. The garden even has its own time capsule. For fall, pumpkins and mums decorate the entrance with a handmade sign attached to the doorway, a testament to the community’s involvement in this garden. The space is perfect for a picnic, with tables and chairs set up throughout. Small paths meander around the garden, leading to different plant beds and the seating areas. There’s a café garden, a story circle, and a labyrinth. Although the garden is a good spot to visit, it was created for the community. It has a space for local residents to grow vegetables, but this is primarily a meeting place for the community. Neighbors can convene here for weekly workshops and events. Events are held year-round to build community. Weekly morning meditations promote wellness in the community. The calming environment provides the perfect backdrop for this type of event. In November, you can head to the garden for those morning meditations on Wednesdays from 8 to 9am. This is a great way to start your day if you are in the area, and all supplies are provided. No additional upcoming events have been announced for November, but earlier in the season, the association hosted fall-themed events. In September, the association hosted a harvest moon gathering, a yoga session, and an autumnal equinox celebration. In October, the garden hosted a pumpkincarving event. They also host events in the garden that don’t necessarily have to do with gardening. In months past, events have focused on mutual aid and grief related to climate change. Recently, events were centered around the arts. Just this season, there was a nonfiction writing workshop, an Art of Memory 101 program and a garden photography class. There’s truly something for everyone here. The U Street Neighborhood Association has said that the space is a living classroom. Their goal is to involve the community as much as possible. They want each visitor to be a part of the evolving history of the space. Construction is set to officially begin on the apartments in 2023 and end in 2026. The current development plan, according to the U Street Neighborhood Association, is not up to the current zoning code, so the association has monthly meetings with one of EastBanc’s vice presidents of development. The company filed an application for development to the Historic Preservation Review Board in the spring of 2021 and plans on submitting a zoning application in the winter. Although looming construction plans will displace the garden, that won’t stop the U Street Neighborhood Association from using this space to its fullest potential for now. o

Charlotte Crook is a senior journalism major minoring in history at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. She is an intern this fall with Washington Gardener and is passionate about raising house plants (to varying degrees of success).