Oak Cliff Activists--Between Their Bikes And Gardens And Chickens And Goats--Seek To Redefine Their Community Without Destroying It

Comments (0) By Andrea Grimes Thursday, Aug 19 2010

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Volunteer for one little thing in Oak Cliff, and expect to get sucked into an entire lifestyle. Heck, even when you don't volunteer, you're going to end up involved, anyway. Like this past Bastille Day, when Jason Roberts and his friends figured a sweaty Wednesday night would only bring out 300-400 folks to celebrate a French holiday with a street fair in Bishop Arts. More than 1500 people showed up. They ran out of mussels and wine just an hour and a half into the event. The line for the pétanque court? Don't even ask.

The Lytles were there, just to hang out. At the end of the night, when Eno's was packed with beret-wearing hangers-on buying pint after pint, it was time for the organizers to clean up. But when it's your friends doing the dirty work, sitting by and watching with a beer is a lame move. So the Lytles pitched in, of course. "Those are our friends doing that," says Zac. Why wouldn't they join in?

Sara Kerens

Last year, Scott and Mariana Griggs bought the land for the “West Dallas Country Club,” their nickname for the community garden where Mariana spends most mornings watering and weeding. Scott, a lawyer, spends his free time advocating for North Oak Cliff development and preservation.

Sara Kerens

When Andrew Howard, 34, moved from Lakewood to Oak Cliff, he didn’t figure he would become a “goat herder.” Now he cares for two charges, Clyde, pictured, and sister Bonnie.

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So if someone from Oak Cliff asks you to help out with something, beware. And go buy some chicken wire, maybe some goat feed and a tool kit. Because the biko slope is slippery, and those people don't believe much in braking.