doing stuff in your neighborhood

[larknm]

I don't do any specific plan, but here are some things I've done on our mostly low-income street. Got a dog removed who was being used for fighting and had turned from happy to miserable and had the skin torn off the whole top of her head. Got access to a puppy who was penned and starving and formed a (his first) relationship with him, took him to a grassy place many times so he walked on grass for the first time, enabled him when he had chances to learn to play--in city water sprinklers, making a toy out of a dead snake--his first toy--and TTouching him (I am a Tellington Method practitioner). Bought a penned-up, starving adolescent dog, took him to a sanctuary I'd researched that found him a great home in Sacramento, CA. Occasionally have given small amounts of money (up to $20--only once that high, otherwise bus fare) and food to hungry neighbors. Also clothes and rides to the hospital or shelter. Take catfood every few days to a woman with abut 8 stray cats and kittens, and am planning with her to have them taken to a good shelter. Whenever I'm decluttering something, I lay it out on the curb for neighbors to take.

[razz]

My current neighbourhood is pretty quiet so little needs to be done beyond stopping to chat as I walk my dog twice a day. I do babysit another's dog as needed, trade magazines and books with others, share produce from garden and plants and that is about it.

[Lainey]

My immediate neighborhood is pretty middle-class, so I help out in that I support small purchases like girl scout cookies or school fundraisers.
We've seen a slight uptick in the number of people who panhandle on the freeways or entryways to the more upscale shopping areas nearby. I save extra change from my purse and roll it, so I usually have a roll of dimes or nickels to hand out if I feel moved by the person, or in some cases, an entire family who is standing there.

I also put out stuff for big trash pick up that some find usable and haul away before the trash truck gets here - things like a small metal file cabinet or similar. They are welcome to it.

If I go to an event with vendors, like in a stadium or street fair or parade, I usually buy something from them too because I know those folks are really struggling and every dollar counts.

[awakenedsoul]

larkm, Great thread! I live on a low income street, too. I've done some of the same things that you have. I rehabbed a run down, eyesore of a cottage that had been vacant for two years, and was surrounded by weeds. I turned it into a feminine, pretty, antique filled jewel. I put in cottage landscaping, painted it, and fixed up the inside, as well. I clean up and put out things I no longer need at the curb. (old furniture, water heater, appliances, etc...) Everything has been picked up by someone in need within one night. I share seeds, plants, and homegrown vegetables and fruits with neighbors. I gave a boy at the bus stop some cash when he didn't have the money to fix his flat tire on his bicycle. I have taken in animals that were neglected or needed a home: two chickens, a pot bellied pig, and three dogs over the years.

On the darker side, I have turned in neighbors who were smuggling large groups of people over the border in the middle of the night, and taken a clan of people to court who would throw unbelievably loud parties, litter, get drunk, and harass those who were quiet, considerate, homeowners.

I've planted twenty trees, and have designed a garden that attracts wildlife, bees, butterflies, birds, and ladybugs. I've made meals for an elderly woman who lives up the street when she was overworked with caretaking her mom and husband. I raked up her leaves, picked her lemons for her, (she has a huge tree,) and cleaned her chicken coop. I've also taken care of horses and goats for people when they were out of town.

I have caught a couple of teenagers in the act when keying cars or trespassing on someone's property. I called the police and the owners thanked me.

I may have started a couple of trends: bicycling instead of driving, and putting in a potager garden instead of a front lawn.

[razz]

Had to check out a potager garden as I had heard of them but never explored what is meant by the term. They are lovely! Great idea!

[awakenedsoul]

Had to check out a potager garden as I had heard of them but never explored what is meant by the term. They are lovely! Great idea!

Thanks razz. I think so, too. They're really good with this drought. It changes the whole feel of the neighborhood. Sometimes people will slow down as they drive by me on my bike and ask, "Are you going to plant pumpkins this year?" Everyone seems to love the look of Cinderella pumpkins. I didn't plant them this year. They need too much water...

[SteveinMN]

Maybe it's just living in the Frozen North, but it almost seems we're more interactive with neighbors in winter than in summer. There are cars to push out of snowbanks and walks to shovel/snowblow when people are gone or can't do the work themselves. It seems to be a neighborhood thing (at least among adjacent neighbors) that whoever gets out their snowblower first takes care of their property and then does a pass at a neighbor's sidewalk. Heck, it's just a little more walking and a little more gasoline.

But we do things in other seasons, too. My next-door neighbor's wife passed away this past spring; several neighbors (including us) came by to keep her company as she declined, some (us again) made meals for the family, others ferried people around when vehicles needed repairs, and others kept their driveway and front walk clear. That same neighbor has been plying us with cucumbers and, soon, tomatoes. Another neighbor of ours offered his van when we needed to get our disabled family member to the ER fairly quickly.

I've lived in a bunch of places around the Twin Cities; this one is by far more of a neighborhood. I love it here.

[KayLR]

We're new to our neighborhood. Two things have happened which haven't happened in prior neighborhoods.

1-We attended a neighborhood potluck picnic and made actual connections. It was sponsored by the Neighborhood Assn., which is part of the City's structure. I've been writing articles (for free) for the neighborhood newsletter--the editor was delighted when I offered. So far I've written about bees, water conservation (lawns) and about food safety related to summer picnics/potlucks.

2-Our neighbors have connected with us. They are Romanian immigrants who fled Ceaucescu 20+ yrs. ago, and they run an adult family foster care home. They are the warmest, friendliest neighbors I've ever had. He has honeybees and gives us honey. He cannot grow tomatoes, but we can and share. You cannot just drop by the front door and hand them tomatoes or cucumbers; they'll insist you come in for a short visit in their comfortable homey living room. She often brings us these little sweet cakes she bakes which look like they're from a fancy bakery. They are hysterical, too.

One site you might want to check out if you haven't already is nextdoor.com. You can join for free and interact with your neighbors concerning safety, crime watching, garage sales, local reviews, whatever. It's been a nice way to connect.

[ToomuchStuff]

Should be a clickable link above. Although I find it sad, that to connect with ones neighbors, your more likely to find them online, then know them in person. Had a discussion with a friend of mine a couple years ago, who is 58 and generally grew up in my area. Neighbors used to have clotheslines, and no a/c and kids would go out to play. You could hear everything from fights, to know who was with someone else.

[SteveinMN]

Neighbors used to have clotheslines, and no a/c and kids would go out to play. You could hear everything from fights, to know who was with someone else.

Around here if you want to meet the neighbors, you walk your dog. You will meet all kinds of people.