The intention of this project was to build a fence around the neighbourhood garden and to involve the community in this project. It was sponsored by the grunt gallery, a non-profit artist-run art gallery.

This project grew out of the sense of community that had developed around the Neighbourhood Gardens at Fraser and 8th Ave. and the relationship that the grunt gallery had with the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. Pat Beaton initiated the project by suggesting it to the grunt gallery who then enthusiastically agreed to produce it and apply for funding.

Four artists were then hired to complete the project: Merle Addison, also the project co-ordinator, Pat Beaton, Charmian Bullen and Haruko Okano. The artists designed the overall specifications including the type of wood, the size of pickets and the nature of the techniques that would be used on the pickets (i.e. carving and wood burning but no painted elements).

A trial series of workshop were held to work out the details; of tools, materials, help needed and the capacity for the workshop space. The second set of workshops then ran smoothly and were always full. The workshops were free and open to all local residents and a wide spectrum of social, cultural, and economic groups became involved.