Yesterday evening, part of the Leave It Better team, myself and Carolyn, headed back to the Imani Garden in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. On the walk to the garden from the Utica Ave. subway stop, one must cross over Atlantic Ave. It's 6 lanes across, with a wide elevated track of the L.I.R.R. in between. Standing at the brink of the road, waiting for the light to change, it feels like you're looking out over a fast-moving river of metal and concrete. Both sides of the avenue are filled with auto body stores, and repair garages, the whole place devoted to keeping automobiles going.

(Half of Atlantic Ave. in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY, USA)

Shortly after the passage, we found Stacey putting the finishing touches on the hen house. The last staples into the chicken-wire walls on the open-air section of the house. She's worked as an architect for a couple years prior to starting bk farmyards, and has constructed a number of interiors, but this hen house was the first free-standing exterior building she had ever designed, and then built to fruition. It was a team effort, almost 20 people working together, a combination of volunteers and professionals from the New York Restoration Project (NYRP). About 6 long days of work, over the course of two weeks. They lost a few days of construction because of heavy rains. You could see the relaxed satisfaction of completion in Stacey's expression and in her movements.

(The last staples go into the hen house)

The sun was setting, and it was the time of day where everything looks beautiful. Even the blazing traffic on Atlantic Ave. But the most beautiful object, the willow tree in the middle of the garden, reached everywhere, it's long branches swaying in soothing undulations.

(The willow tree at Imani Garden)

After a second brief interview, Stacey asked that we take a picture of her with the hen house. Her pride and satisfaction glowing through.

(Above you can see the indoor and outdoor component of the hen house. Hens will roost in the night in the enclosed structure on the left. During the day, they'll have access to the open-air portion of the house, located on the right.)

After finishing something, it's always good to take a picture. The image of completion satisfaction, will help to get you through difficult projects in the future!

l e a v e   i t   b e t t e r  . . .