In 2020, Ashley Knueppel and Joe Deutschmann began greening and cleaning up an empty, blighted lot on their block. Together, alongside neighbors, they built the Lil' Ogden Community Garden, which served as a community space for many years. In 2025, when the garden site was sold to a developer, the loss underscored the need for stronger long-term planning, coordination, and stewardship of community-created green spaces. In response, Ashley and Joe founded this nonprofit to support neighborhood-led greening efforts that are more resilient, intentional, and community-controlled.
March 2020: Ashley & Joe begin cleaning and restoring abandonded, vacant lots at 15th & Ogden Streets.
Summer 2020: The first gardeners begin planting vegetables, herbs and flowers; Vineyards Cafe builds two picnic tables for the space.
2020–2025: Lil’ Ogden Community Garden expands with new plots, gathering spaces, and community events - made possible by amazing neighbors!
Summer 2025: Community advocates to swap two garden lots for 1438 Poplar St via petitions and city meetings.
October 2025: Garden lots sold for development; however, discussions with city to purchase 1438 Poplar St begin.
December 2025: Francisville Garden & Greenspace Collective (FGGC) is formally established.
January 2026: Ashley gets the crazy idea to apply for a grant with the William Penn Foundation, leveraging community relationships with a goal to bring neighbors together around a shared vision of the future of not only 1438 Poplar, but other greenspaces.
May 2026: William Penn Foundation awards FGGC the "Community Greening Plan" grant. Work begins!
The Lil’ Ogden Community Garden was created and cared for through years of volunteer-led neighborhood stewardship. What began as formerly vacant and overgrown lots evolved into an active community gathering space shaped by the people who used and cared for it together.
Over time, the space grew to include 15 community garden beds, native flowers and pollinator-friendly plantings, a free herb garden open to neighbors, picnic tables and outdoor seating areas, and shared gardening supplies including soil, compost, mulch, and seeds available for community use. The garden also became a space for neighborhood gatherings, seasonal celebrations, volunteer clean-up days, casual outdoor meals, children’s activities, and community events that brought neighbors together across ages and backgrounds.
More than a garden, the space became an example of how small neighborhood green spaces can support connection, care, creativity, and community well-being.
Francisville Garden & Greenspace Collective is led by a volunteer Board of Directors composed entirely of Francisville residents with backgrounds in community engagement, systems design, environmental stewardship, operations, education, entrepreneurship, and neighborhood organizing.
Joe Deutschmann
President & Treasurer
Ashley Knueppel
Vice President
Erika Fink
Secretary
Gabe Spiller
Board Member
Fatimah Johnson-Drame
Board Member
At FGGC, we believe shared green spaces are about more than beautification. Thoughtfully cared-for public spaces can strengthen neighborhood connection, support mental and physical well-being, encourage environmental sustainability, and create opportunities for neighbors to gather, participate, and feel a sense of belonging.
Our work is guided by the belief that public spaces should reflect the voices, experiences, and history of the communities they serve. We value resident-led stewardship, inclusive community participation, cultural preservation, accessibility, and long-term care for shared neighborhood spaces.
We believe even small green spaces can have a lasting impact when they are shaped through collaboration, rooted in local knowledge, and maintained with care over time.