Hanging Gardens

The Forest Arms Building was one of Detroit’s most lavish apartment buildings when it was built in 1908. It later housed many Wayne State college students until a fire damaged the building in February of 2008.

Scott Lowell owns The Forest Arms Building and a restaurant favorite of mine, Traffic Jam & Snug. He is thankfully trying to save the building and has already begun the beginning stages of renovation.

Team Detroit, a local ad agency, decided to create Detroit’s first vertical garden on the building as part of a volunteer beautification effort. They’re working with UCCA and Greening of Detroit to make it all happen.

To see photos of the planting visit the Remains of the D or the Hanging Gardens website. If you would like to see the Forest Arms Building in person, it is located at the intersection of Forest and 2nd in Midtown.

Humble Design

Ana Smith and Treger Strasberg formed Humble Design last year to provide families coming out of homeless shelters with functional and welcoming home interiors. Ana explains, "We'll meet the family at the space and find out what their likes and dislikes are. Then, we start the gathering process." By scouring Craiglist, garage sales, and thrift stores, the ladies of Humble Design are able to take unwanted household goods and turn them into much needed items for their families. They also strive to be completely green by reusing mistinted/returned paint. "We're trying to make Detroit the amazing city we know it can be. One family at a time," said Treger.

Both Treger and Ana are busy moms and it's very inspiring to see all that they have accomplished in just one year. To see photos and stories of some of the families they have helped visit their website here.

If you live in the Detroit area and have any extra mattresses/boxsprings/frames consider donating to Humble Design, it is one of their biggest needs. Ana and Treger might even stop by in their big white truck to pick it up for you!

Greening of Detroit Volunteer Day

It's not everyday that painting a liquor store means doing some good for your city. As part of our work volunteer day, we painted an abandoned liquor store in order to convert it into a garden shed. We had a lot of fun working with Greening of Detroit. They are doing a lot of cool projects all over the city and it was nice to be a part of one of them.