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GREENSBORO -- It didn't look like much this summer.

Just a narrow strip of dirt -- and not much of it -- behind a building in downtown Greensboro.

But like the artists' installations inside 606 and 608 South Elm Street, this plot of land is a work in progress. That's what Elsewhere Artist Collaborative is all about.

Art and collaboration.

Thinking outside the box.

Seeing extraordinary possibilities in ordinary things.

Here, a wall is constructed with empty wine bottles from a nearby restaurant. And fluorescent light fixtures become planters.

It's not easy to create a lush garden out of an urban landscape of brick buildings, fire escapes and earth that's more asphalt than rich soil.

Take land space. There's not a lot of it. So you've got to think vertically. Visualize arbors and planters that can hang from above.

The garden project, called Urban Green, is an alley reclamation effort sponsored by the Greensboro Future Fund. A part of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, the charitable organization aims to strengthen the community.

Those cultivating this garden are setting out to prove that green space can flourish in an urban setting. You just need to dig in and get your hands dirty.

Elsewhere volunteers worked throughout the summer and will continue to do so until the first frost -- all to prepare the space for spring planting.

If all goes according to plan, this canvas will produce both visual and edible art that appeals to all the senses.

Imagine, morning glories and moonflowers climbing a red arbor.

Or sinking your teeth into a vine-ripened tomato.

Imagine the aroma of sage, rosemary and mint -- a menu of possibilities.

Contact Tina Firesheets at 373-3498 or tina.firesheets@news-record.com