Abstract Grandmother and retired childhood care provider, Darene “Dee” Johnson, discusses her childhood growing up in Washington D.C. on 11th Street, NE. She recalls playing games in Lincoln Park with her cousins and siblings and enjoyed the beauty of the fruit trees and gardens in her neighborhood. However, during this period in his childhood, Ms. Dee explains the tension in her family, and her mother’s untreated mental and physical illnesses. Moving to Southeast D.C., Ms. Dee immediately...

Abstract Fred Craig begins by describing some of his favorite memories with his family, and of time spent working on his family’s farm. Rarely playing indoors, Fred and his friends saw local forests and parks as their playground. And he would continue to hike the forests near Parkland until he was 25 years old. By that time, he had developed a budding interest in wild plant and tree identification, which only increased under the tutelage of experts and elders in the D.C. area. An active member of the...

Abstract Nathan Harrington discusses pivotal experiences in his childhood and young adulthood that motivated him to found the Ward 8 Woods Conservancy. He recounts his parent’s careers and the serendipitous conditions that lead to his birth. Being the youngest of many siblings, Nathan describes lots of time spent alone with his parents, and with his Mom in particular. Noting his Mother’s untimely and tragic passing in 2012, Nathan recalls special moments they shared and the lasting impact of her...