news
Coming to a Garden Near You: Philadelphia Pepper Project
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Hot peppers may not be in season right now (unless you’ve got a greenhouse), but there are plans afoot for an exciting pepper project in Philadelphia. Called the Philadelphia Pepper Project, it aims to grow heirloom peppers with Philly history and make them available in public gardens and byways in the city. The idea is to reintroduce the heritage of these peppers to gardeners and others and help preserve the history.
Anita McKelvey, a semi-retired chef and director of Authentic Philadelphia, is behind the project. Be sure to check out the blog to see what projects she’s participating in each month. The blog is also full of useful information on pepper varieties, seed houses, pepper history, interviews, and advice on seed saving.
Keep an eye out for heirloom varieties of peppers available through the Philadelphia Pepper Project this summer. We’ll definitely be waiting to see what kind of peppers pop up throughout the city!
Posted by Nicole on 02/16 at 08:35 AM
Membership Drive: Winter Harvest
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Bob Pierson and the good folks at Farm to City are looking to increase enrollment in the Winter Harvest Buying Club. Their goal is 300 active members. If you’re not familiar with it, Winter Harvest features over 500 items and 20 pick-up locations. It’s a godsend in the winter - when you’d rather be inside than making a pilgrimage to the Reading Terminal. I’ve been a member since November 2005, and without it, the winters would be that much darker.
If you’re interested, click here to enroll.
Posted by Kevin on 01/24 at 06:36 PM
Community Grants for Clark Park
Friday, April 08, 2011
Are you a West Philly denzien who loves Clark Park, but could think of a few improvements to make it better? Now’s your chance! University City District (UCD) and the Clark Park Partnership, a consortium that oversees park maintenance, events, policies and capital projects, have announced the 2nd annual Clark Park Community Grants. Up to $3000 for one or more projects that enhance Clark Park will be awarded. Eligible projects will include planting, mulching, maintenance, signage, park cleanup, or other permanent improvements to the park. (Educational or cultural programs are not eligible.) Projects awarded last year were the installation of the first commercial-grade special needs swing in the Clark Park playground as well as the watering and maintenance of 30 Clark Park trees by the skilled UC Green Corps. For more information, look here.
Important Dates
March 21, 2011: Guidelines and application released at http://www.universitycity.org (click here to download)
May 2, 2011: Applications completed and sent to:
Clark Park Community Grant Program
c/o University City District
3940 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Beekeeping Project Needs Support
Monday, February 07, 2011
There’s an awesome new project afoot in West Philadelphia - a community apiary and youth beekeeping program! Daniel Duffy, who currently tends bees in partnership with The Woodlands Community Garden and UC Green, has developed a kickstarter website that offers membership in a Community Supported Apiary in return for funds to help launch this project. From Duffy himself:
“I’ve been working with local beekeepers, farmers and UC Green to raise money for a community bee yard and the first urban apiary-to-table youth beekeeping project. We’ve put out a web site, which you can see here. Right now we’re raising money through Community Supported Apiary (CSA) shares and individual donations to set up hives at the Woodlands Cemetery in April.
Educators have started using beekeeping as an educational tool. With 20% of Philadelphia youth out of work and school, our bee yard will provide a unique opportunity to help students develop widely-applicable jobs skills and entrepreneurial savvy. Students are now applying for a program where they’ll use the apiary to raise bees and sell their honey at the farmers market.
But honeybees are primarily important because they pollinate a third of our food, and they’re dying off at an alarming rate. Some estimates give the bees little more than 20 years to live in the US. With so many commercial beekeepers backing out of the business because of economic necessity, there’s a void to be filled with new ideas and models.
There is a good reason to rely on individuals to fund this project. It has the potential to get different communities involved. And while we have a plan and the partnerships to help carry it out, it still helps to get lots of input in the project’s nascent stage.”
And if you really care about bee health, sign this petition to urge the EPA to ban the pesticide clothianidin that has been linked to Colony Collapse Disorder.
Posted by Erica on 02/07 at 05:01 PM
Support Your Local Food Co-op
Sunday, January 30, 2011
When I moved back to Philadelphia in 2008 there were only two food cooperatives in the entire city, and I was lucky enough to live a few blocks away from Mariposa Food Co-op in West Philly. Now there are new food co-ops forming all across the City of Philadelphia; Weaver’s Way has opened two new branches, there’s a food co-op being formed in South Philly, and the Mariposa Food Co-op is expanding. As a supporter and grower of local food, I am incredibly excited for Mariposa’s move and the increase in space, inventory, and community involvement that comes with it. Help support Mariposa’s expansion by going to the Valentine’s flea market/craft fair fundraiser in February.
Hiding in Plain Sight - Finding the City’s New Green Space
Thursday, January 27, 2011
(Laurel Hill Cemetery)
Next week at the Academy of Natural Sciences, the next in a series of panel discussions about the Mayor’s Green2015 plan - this one is about being creative about finding new green space in the City of Philadelphia.
“Cities are continuously searching for new ways to make underused spaces greener to create the next generation of urban parks. As we learned last month, Philadelphia has initiated Green2015 - an action plan to turn schoolyards, recreation centers, public and private vacant land in to accessible green spaces. In his newest book Urban Green: Innovative Parks for Resurgent Cities, author Peter Harnik shares his thinking about the complexities of creating new parks. Borrowing the best from other cities, he will discuss solutions - from reusing defunct factories, to eliminating parking lots and closing streets, to developing rooftop parks.
A panel of local stakeholders, facilitiated by Penn Praxis director Harris Steinberg will share innovative examples of how Philadelphia is already practicing what Harnik promotes and is well on its way to achieving the goals of Green2015.”
Featuring:
* Peter Harnik, Author of Urban Green: Innovative Parks for Resurgent Cities. Mr. Harnik will sign copies of his book, which will be for sale at the Academy’s bookstore.
* Harris Steinberg, Director, Penn Praxis (moderator)
* Alexander “Pete” Hoskins, President/CEO of Laurel Hill and W. Laurel Hill Cemeteries
* Jamie Wyper, President of the Roxborough Conservancy
* Mark Focht, Executive Director, Fairmount Park
This event is being brought to you by the Philadelphia Commission on Parks and Recreation, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Where: Academy of Natural Sciences
When: Monday, January 31, 2011 - 6pm reception, 6:30pm to 8:30 pm program
Soil Kitchen
Friday, January 07, 2011
Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy just commissioned the artist group Futurefarmers to create a temporary public art project that addresses urban sustainability. The Soil Kitchen will be a pop-up facility in an old warehouse at 2nd and Girard that will function as a wind-powered soup kitchen, soil testing laboratory and event space. The project will be up for about a week, coinciding with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Conference scheduled to take place in Philadelphia April 3-5, 2011.
Soil Kitchen will incorporate community involvement, naturally generated energy, local foods, food exchange, the creative reuse of a brownfield site, and brownfield mapping. This new site-specific public artwork will provide a stage for community interaction, dialogue, and education on topics of sustainability that impact every Philadelphian. The work will depend on the thoughts and actions of the people who engage with it.
Futurefarmers, founded in 1995 by Amy Franceschini, is a collective of artists and designers based in San Francisco, California. Their work explores a myriad of social and environmental issues by encouraging participation and interaction. Futurefarmers’ playful and accessible projects provide platforms for local communities to examine issues central to their lives.
Follow the project at: http://www.soilkitchen.org
Posted by Erica on 01/07 at 10:30 AM
Short, inspirational documentary about Mill Creek Farm
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Check out this great, two-part short documentary about Mill Creek Farm in West Philadelphia. Jo and Jade have been going at it for years and have built a real community resource, supplying education, organic local food, and a safe community space. Learn more about how to get involved on their website.
To help ensure that Mill Creek can continue its work, help it become part of a landtrust. Let Councilwoman Blackwell know that this land shouldn’t be on the auction block for future developement”
Please take a minute to send a message to Councilwoman Blackwell.
To submit your comments online, use this form:
http://www.phila.gov/citycouncil/blackwell/feedback.html
To learn more about the land trust issue and how Mill Creek Farm is threatened, go HERE.
Get to Farming!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Great news Urban Farmers! The Pennsylvania Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act allows concerned citizens and neighbors to claim abandoned lots and “refurbish” them - which means you that you can turn that trash lot next door into a garden. Recently, the Urban Tree Connection in Haddington section of West Philadelphia tested the law and won, striking a victory for neighborhoods dealing with blighted property. You can read more about the recent case in this Philadelphia Inquirer article. Now, get to planting!
John and Kira’s launches seasonal chocolates
Friday, October 22, 2010
For the last few years, local sweets darlings, John and Kira (Baker-)Doyle, have been producing artisinal quality chocolates from their kitchen in the Northeast using Philadelphia ingredients ( I love the garden mint from Drew Elementary and UCity High School). Now they’ve sweetened the deal by adding seasonal specialties. This fall’s line features spiced pumpkins filled with pumpkin pie caramel and spices, chocolate cherries and rosemary bergamont and mint “urban garden” chocolate bars. you can find John and Kira’s at local farmers markets, the Reading Terminal Market’s Fair Food Farmstand, or order direct from their site at http://www.johnandkiras.com.
Posted by Erin on 10/22 at 11:47 AM
Eating well and locally on $4.50 a day? It can be done!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Monica Eng of the Chicago Tribune decided to take the SNAP challenge - to feed herself for just $31 a week, or the average budget of a person receiving food stamps in Illinois. Not only is she doing it, she is shopping primarily at farmers markets and supplementing with bulk grains etc. from Whole Foods. She’s doing a pretty great job! Follow her this week, and use this “study” as a great example when people tell you that eating well and locally is too expensive.
Kensignton Community Co-Op Seeks Members
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Begun as a buying club, the Kensington Community Co-Op is in the middle of an ambitious membership campaign to expand the Co-Op and bring fresh, local, and healthy food to the Kensington community. If you live in Kensington, please consider joining up, and remember that creating safe, healthy and sustainable food stores not only help you and your family, but your neighbors, as well!
From the site:
“Looking ahead”
The year ahead will be to raise enough funds through member investments, donations, grants and loans to purchase equipment, to buy a building, finance construction and hire a general manager. Once our funds are secured we will begin to narrow down our options for a location.
“Local Ownership Means a More Secure Future.”
Since KCFC is owned and operated by its members, it is their needs that the co-op most cares about, rather than the needs of corporate investors whose interest are often strictly the bottom line. Become a member of KCFC and your bottom line becomes our bottom line. Invest in your community today!
Follow FarmtoPhilly.com on Twitter
Thursday, August 05, 2010
That’s right, folks! We’re finally on twitter, if you’re into that kind of thing. Follow us at Farm2Philly and receive up-to-the-moment updates about events, local food, breaking news, and new posts. We promise not to bombard you, but some things are best expressed in a tweet!
Posted by Erin on 08/05 at 04:30 PM
Great Recycling News for Philadelphians
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Feeling depressed every time you check the bottom of a plastic container, only to not see the approved #1 or #2. Wipe that plastic-guilt tear from your eye, Philadelphians, for a better recycling system is finally here. Today the Street department announced:
STARTING AUGUST 1: Recycle All Plastic Containers!
You’ve been recycling plastic containers marked:
#1: Soda, water bottles
#2: Milk jugs, detergents, shampoo bottles
Now you can add:
#3: Rigid plastic containers and juice bottles
#4: Plastic tubs and lids from butter, margarine or similar products
#5: Yogurt containers and deli trays
#6: Plastic cups, plates and to-go containers
#7: Many mixed plastic containers and plastic products
In the past few years we’ve gone from bi-monthly to weekly recycling, from separating to single stream. And now we finallyhave expanded plastic recycling. Send Mayor Nutter, and the Office of Susatainability a BIG thank-you at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Of course, you should be reducing as much (or more! more!) than you are recycling. But here’s a reminder of what else you can throw in the blue bucket:
Metal:
Tin and aluminum cans, empty aerosol cans, empty paint cans
Glass:
Jars and bottles
Mixed Paper:
Newspaper, magazines, mail (junk and personal), phone books, food boxes (remove plastic liner), computer paper, flyers, wrapping paper (no foil or plastic wrap), soda and beer cartons (no food-soiled paper, please!)
Still aren’t getting your Recycling Rewards? Sign-up HERE!
What the World Eats
Sunday, March 21, 2010
I love the “What the World Eats,” the photo essay on Time magazines online site. The essay, by Peter Menzel, is part of his book “Hungry Planet.” Food can tell us so much about culture, lifestyle, and economics - it’s fascinating to see these family portraits in the kitchen, tables piled high with all of the food the family eats in a week. Most obviously, family’s in wealthier countries consume significantly more processed food while producing more food-related waste. In less wealthy countries, diets are filled with grains and local produce. They also spend significantly less money on food every week. It’s not exactly pair to directly compare economies, but it seems obvious that if family’s in countries like the United States and Great Britian spent more of their food dollars supporting local farmers, they’d be both healthier, less wasteful, and spend less money.
Posted by Erin on 03/21 at 06:16 PM
