KINGSTON, R.I. – October 3, 2022 – Plant and tree books are always among the most popular in any library’s children’s collection. The Secret Garden and The Giving Tree are time-honored classics for good reason, tapping into that desire we all have to find a peaceful oasis and escape reality, if just for a bit.
In downtown Providence, two University of Rhode Island Extension Master Gardener volunteers on staff at Providence Public Library (PPL) have brought those literary classics to vivid life, creating a green escape — and community harvest — in the middle of the capital city.
On Empire Street downtown, passersby on the street may not even realize a rooftop garden is flourishing overhead. It’s one of many surprises to be found in the historic library, which was recently renovated. The idea for the 16×20-foot garden was supported by a grant from the Rhode…