Interview with John Lindsay (Wiota Street Garden)
Channel: Philadelphia Community Gardens Memory Project
Date: 2021-10-27

Community gardener John Lindsay of Wiota Street Garden on-site on 4022 Powelton Avenue covers Lindsay's gardening background, the situation in the neighborhood when he arrived, and the development of the gardening space in the early 1980s with permission from the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. Lindsay also discusses changes in the garden's use and the West Powelton neighborhood over the years, including the use of the garden space as a park from the early 1990s until 2008, and the garden's relationship with the Lombard Central Presbyterian Church. Lindsay also provides a tour of the garden space and talks about the relationship between his work renovating buildings and the garden. Lindsay talks through development challenges to the garden, including a 2014 incident in which Lindsay worked with the Neighborhood Gardens Trust and a 2016 - 2017 incident in which Lindsay rallied the community. Lindsay also discusses a recent workday with the Lebow School of Business at Drexel. Lindsay explores his recent work with son Milton Lindsay on the Winter Gardens Contest, including his relationship with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Finally, Lindsay contemplates the future of Wiota Street Garden and the future of urban gardening in Philadelphia more generally.

Interviewing and recording credit: Joe Makuc 
Photo credit: Rob Cardillo