Pittsburgh East Hills vacant lot is once again a ‘beautiful,’ fruitful farmstead
“This is my dad, and here is the squash he grew in his garden,” Celeste said, pointing to an aged photo of her father with vegetables.
By Lacretia Wimbley
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Dec 12, 2021
Excerpt:
“I was watching from my window, and I just came on over and started cleaning up,” said the North Carolina native and longtime Pittsburgher. “I just didn’t like that the lot was going to waste like that, so I bought it. I had always wanted a she-shed, so I started building and everything just came about.”
Today, it’s an impressive farmstead once more. The property is encased in bright red fencing with a sign that reads, “No dumping, up to $10,000 fine.” A quirky outhouse with word art hanging upon it stands near an Amish wagon and an Indian head that Julia had carved into a tree. There are three fire pits, too, as well as Julia’s “she-shed,” equipped with a flat-screen TV and hand-carved wood furniture.
And she built it all by herself.
Three male goats named Buff, Neckbone and Hipneck sniffed my hand during my visit several weeks ago. This is one of those places you have to visit in person to experience the magic. I was speechless at all Julia had managed to build. It took me back to my roots as I remembered what it was like helping my parents repair housing in the sweltering Mississippi Delta heat.
