The day that Mary Ann Newcomber found about the SNOW Block Alley was indeed a lucky day for the project. Mary Ann has an enthusiasm that is contagious and let’s just say, she knows people. I’m sure I owe the front page coverage on the Idaho Statesman to her, she’s mentioned us several times on her Dirt Diva weekly radio spot on 94.9 The River and she’s talked about us on her blog. Now she’s written an article on the project for the winter edition of Rocky Mountain Gardening which you can read below. 

I’ve venture to say that Mary Ann knows everything about growing plants in this part of the world, and if she doesn’t, she’s friends with seemingly the who’s who of gardening in Boise…and beyond. And did I mention she’s a complete crack up to boot? I can hardly wait for spring because I can only imagine what I can learn and the fun I will have with this amazing woman.

The SNOW Alley Project

by Mary Ann Newcomer

One day last spring, Linda Whittig and husband Devin Koski were attaching galvanized livestock panels to the side of their garage in a Boise alley. They had run out of sunny spots to garden in their North End property and the alley had lots of sun.  They planned to train berry canes up the wall of the garage. As they say, “it grew from there.”

An artist by training, Linda could “see the potential” of turning the entire alley into a garden space. That morning, it was just a dirt alley full of trash cans and “stuff.” She had wild and big ideas: a place for families to gather, a place to grow a little food, a place for chickens. They could make beer, cheese, wine, and an orchard. They would transform the dusty alley into Eden! Ideas were sketched; spaces were measured vertically and horizontally. Devin–who happens to be exceptionally good at woodworking–came up with a way to build concrete corners for raised beds. They came up with a name: SNOW Alley. SNOW is short for “somewhere north of Washington,” and refers to Washington Elementary, one of the oldest public schools in Boise.

The SNOW project had two major hurdles to overcome: getting  all the neighbors on board and paving the alley. Ten families signed on for cooperative canvasing, fund raising, connections, and tenacity. Donations were secured, planter boxes built, and huge rain water storage tanks installed (to catch and redirect roof runoff). Devin created a new Little Free Library. Paving the alley was the priciest part of the project at $5000. The local highway district donated the materials and the homeowners paid for the labor. A neighborhood grant of $500 was a start.  It didn’t happen overnight, but it came together in time to harvest herbs, tomatoes, pumpkins and bouquets the first season. Local nurseries and businesses donated espaliered (trained) fruit trees, planting mix and lumber. Neighbors pitched in with sleeves rolled up.

The eaves of the garages are lighted at night with LED lighting. They are working on solar panels. Kids ride bikes and trikes and scoot along until long after the sun goes down. Budding chalk artists work on the pavement as a canvas. A garage door becomes a movie screen for outdoor movie night complete with popcorn. A child height window allows the kids to watch the neighborhood chickens as they cluck and lay their eggs.  Hops and grapes go in next season, so they can craft their own beer and wine. Certified arborists and horticultural friends are planning to do show and tell classes in the alley next spring.

“These North End lots are all small city lots, with lots of shade,” said Linda Whittig. “This gave the kids a safe haven for playing together in one place, the parents a place to meet and chat, and sunny spaces for small family gardens.” As they say in the ‘hood, “Community is right up our SNOW alley.”