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 The
Rachael Ray Show had already scouted out and identified a location
at the corner of Wharton Street and East Passyunk Avenue at 9th
Street, for a much-needed project to transform a vacant lot at one
of Philadelphia’s most famous blocks (“Steak Street” South Philly)
into a community garden surrounded by picturesque murals. This space
was to serve as a food-producing garden, urban green space and the
location of the taping for Rachael Ray/6ABC Great Philly Grill-Off.
To ensure the community garden’s sustainability after the show
taping, the Camden City Garden Club were enlisted to engage and advise gardeners from the
community
 Mr.
Contractor
received a call from Rachael Ray of the Rachael Ray show. She asked
our office manager, Jennie, if we wanted to contribute back to the
city of Philadelphia for a very good cause. Naturally we said yes, but
wanted to know more information and be able to discuss with the entire Mr.
Contractor family. We were put in contact with Rachael's
producers and it was explained to us that a vacant lot owned by
Pat's Steaks would be converted to a community garden. Just one
problem, the show was new to the area and needed a contractor they
could depend on and trust while also capable of getting the job done
on time. Fortunately they called the right company.
 Mr.
Contractor has been a proud member of the Philadelphia neighborhood
for over 60 years. Many of our customers live on or around Wharton
and Passyunk Ave. We knew precisely the vacant lot Rachel Ray wanted
to fix up. Anyone that has eaten at Pat's Steaks or Gino's would also
recognize the potential that the lot transformation would have on
the area. The Spector's (Allan, Phyllis, Barry, Ken, Lonnie, Steven, Greg and
Brandon) were unanimous with their decision to donate labor and
material to help Rachael Ray in their project to beautify
Philadelphia
while giving the community a
functional garden.
 We
were asked to repair and apply new stucco on a side of a building
(where a mural would be painted), build and position 18 garden
beds out of wood, erect a living garden wall, create 2 rainwater
platforms, install a gutter system to direct rainwater from a
building, construct and install a wooden pergola going down the main
path, and perform miscellaneous repairs. The task seemed daunting considering the detailed blueprint,
7-day turnaround needed, coordination with other vendors, the shows budgetary
concerns, and freeing up some of our crew while still maintaining
business as usual with our current customers. But like any other
task brought before Mr. Contractor, we not only completed the
project, we produced a great quality attention-grabbing finished
product.
 You would think that getting the job done wouldn't be so difficult
once we got the rhythm going. Of course, one doesn't account for the
filming needs and constant stopping for film crews, interviews, commentary
by the host, and staging of the set. Not only was this being filmed and produced
for the Rachael Ray show, but this garden had the involvement
of Dean Hill, host of DIY Network's "Grounds for Improvement".
 The garden's afterlife will be managed by the Camden City Garden Club, which operates the Camden Children's Garden and many urban gardens on vacant lots in Camden. Residents in the South Philadelphia neighborhood can volunteer to maintain the garden, and grow produce in the raised beds.
"It's one thing to build a community garden, it's something completely different for a community garden to sustain itself," said Dean Hill, a landscape architect based in Orlando, Florida, hired by the show to design the garden. "We want to make sure this thing is successful today, tomorrow, next year, the following year."
 The
stars were shining in the City of Brotherly Love as the Rachael Ray
Show took to the streets for a huge block party with hometown legends Patti LaBelle and Boyz II Men. Plus, three die-hard locals battle it out with their best dishes in our "Great Philly Grill-Off," and makeover pro Ty Pennington helped
finally unveil to the city a lasting gift of transforming the empty lot into a thriving community garden.
Mr. Contractor was in attendance in the audience to witness the
reactions of the community and share in the joy.
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Designs, LLC
