Turning Hard Urban Spaces Into Thriving Ecosystems
What started as a childhood vision inspired by Big Bird's alley garden on Sesame Street has grown into a mission to reclaim our urban spaces in the name of nature. The Quane Garden is about working in harmony with the natural world, using resources thoughtfully, and creating beautiful spaces for both people and the native creatures who call our city home.
And it's about having fun.
Meet Steve
Growing up in the Indianapolis suburbs , I was captivated by the urban streetscape of Sesame Street—those brownstones, stoops, and the vibrant community life woven into the city's fabric. But what truly captured my imagination was Big Bird's little garden tucked away in the alley beside 123 Sesame Street. The idea that you could create a slice of countryside within all that urban structure sparked something in me that would lie dormant for decades.
[In my best Sophia Petrillo voice] Picture it - San Francisco, 2016. After a building waterproofing project left our service alley filled with debris and looking worse for wear, I found myself with a weekend alone, a gifted joint, and a determination to step away from the toxicity of social media for some fresh air and sunlight. Armed with a broom and dustpan, I began cleaning up what seemed like just another unfriendly utilitarian space.
That weekend changed everything. What began as simple cleanup has evolved into a nearly decade-long passion project—transforming a neglected utility passage into a thriving, summer-dry ecosystem that provides year-round color and serves as a haven for hummingbirds, butterflies, bumblebees, and even a pair of resident ravens who offer their gravelly commentary on my labors from the fire escape above.
As the garden began to flourish, something beautiful began happening in Quane Alley—the very space that would inspire our name. Dog walkers started pausing at the rear gate, curious about the plants and eager to share their own gardening ambitions. Parents pushing strollers or guiding kids on bikes would stop to ask questions about the blooming flowers or sample whatever produce was in season. What had once been just a utilitarian passage became a neighborhood gathering point, where strangers became friends over shared wonder at nature's resilience and beauty. The alley taught us that gardens don't just grow plants—they cultivate community.
What We Do
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Transform Your Urban Space
We specialize in helping you reclaim hard urban spaces—backyards, alleys, unused corners, neglected areas—and transforming them into beautiful, thriving gardens that work in harmony with nature's rhythms.
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Native Ecosystem Restoration
We honor the natural heritage of your location, helping you create habitats for local pollinators and beneficial insects while celebrating the native plants that once flourished in your area.
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Community-Centered Design
We help you create gardens that become gathering places—space where neighbors pause to chat, share gardening tips, and connect with both nature and each other over seasonal harvests and shared wonder.
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Sustainable Practices
We believe in working thoughtfully with available resources, creating low-maintenance, climate-appropriate gardens that thrive with minimal intervention while maximum impact.
