First (maybe) annual Neighborhood Plant Exchange
Saturday, September 19th 2026
1-3pm
64 West Ross St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa 18702
On-site partners include:
Wilkes University Biology Department
Hidden Garden, Plymouth
City of Wilkes-Barre Fire Department
Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University
Circle Center for the Arts
Zebulon Butler House Museum (Open for visitors 3-4pm)
Details & Instructions:
Please register below and indicate how many plants you are bringing
Label plants with species & care instructions
Bring plants in containers you are willing to part with
Each plant you bring allows you to choose one plant to take home
Plants must be healthy and disease free
Bring a box to take your plants home in
UPDATE: 64 West Ross St. Flower Garden & Outdoor Education Space
Coming Soon / 2027
FUTURE PLANS:
Fall 2026 - Organize cohort(s) to advise on the design and funding for the garden. Restore utilities. Soft launch programing.
September 19, 2026 - Neighborhood Plant Exchange, Saturday 9/19/26 from 1-3pm, details TBA.
October 2026 - Workshop - How to make sheet bed mulch beds (great for spring 2027 planting)
Winter 2026/2027 - Finish design and start building the garden.
Spring 2027 - Finish building, start planting the garden, & soft launch programing.
Collaboration with:
Susan Smith, Susan Smith, MFA, PhD
- Associate Research Professor of Art
Graduate Coordinator, Intermedia Program
University of Maine, Orono
- Co-Director, Art Extension
Urban Soil Institute
NYC Soil & Water Conservation DistrictThe Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University.
Summer 2027 - Programing & garden maintenance.
For more information, or to join our list of advisors and collaborators, please complete the form at the bottom of this page:
Timeline / Project History:
May 2021 - Mayor George C. Brown ordered the emergency demolition of what neighbors referred to as the ‘ vine’ or ‘ivy’ house (after years of neglect it was beyond repair and overgrown with vegetation.)
‘Vine house due for demolition’ - Times Leader, April 9, 2021
Crew razes problem house on Ross St. in Wilkes-Barre - Citizen’s Voice May 5, 2021
Wilkes-Barre house in ‘deplorable shape’ demolished - Fox56 May, 5, 2021
The property has been vacant since…
August 2024 The Lower South Valley Land Bank acquired the property.
Land bank purchase remove 19 properties from Luzerne County back-taxe auction - Times Leader, August 7, 2024
September 2024 - Social Fabric Collective began regularly attending the Lower South Valley Land Bank’s monthly board meetings.
November 2024 - The deed was recorded with the Luzerne County Courthouse.
March - April 2025 - The land bank announced an RFP (request for proposal) process. A group of over (50) neighbors, downtown businesses and local non-profit organizations signed on in support of the proposal to create a perennial flower garden & outdoor youth education space.
May 2025 - The neighborhood shared idea with city council. About a dozen members of the community also met with Mayor Brown.
Article about May 2025 City Council meeting, including garden project - Times Leader, May 22, 2025
Group wants Wilkes-Barre historic district lot for garden, learning area - Citizen’s Voice, May 26, 2025
June 2025 - The land bank’s board voted unanimously to sell the garden the property.
Land bank OKs sale of Downtown Wilkes-Barre lot for educational garden - Citizen’s Voice, June 11, 2025
June 2025 - February 2026 - lingering legal issues -including IRS liens had to be resolved.
March 2025 - the property was professionally surveyed and we applied for a city zoning hearing.
April 2026 - an agreement of sale was signed, one week later the garden received approval from both city planning and zoning.
Community garden gets Wilkes-Barre zoning nod - Times Leader, April 15, 2025
Wilkes-Barre flower garden, youth education center clears final hurdle - Citizen’s Voice, April 17, 2026
May 29th, 2026 Closing.
June 8, 2026 - Neighborhood block party to celebrate.
July 31, 2026 - Amazon Northeastern Pennsylvania Community Fund Grant Application Deadline.
August 28, 2026 - Luzerne County Act 13 Grant Application Deadline.