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!

Walnut Hill Farm Stand Opens!

Thursday, June 09, 2011

The farm that Erica and Nick from Philly Rooted (and Farm to Philly!) have been working so hard at has produced its first full crops and the farm stand, in cooperation with the Enterprise Center, is open for business!

The Walnut Hill Community Farm, in collaboration with Farm to City and Common Market, is operating two farm stands this season. The farm stands are operated by our Youth Growers, who learn business skills, tend the urban farm, and sell the fresh produce back to the community. One stand is located on-site at the Community Farm (4610 Market Street), supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It runs on Tuesdays and Fridays from 3:00-6:00 PM. A second farm stand is located on the concourse level of SEPTA’s offices (1234 Market Street). This stand operates every other Wednesday (next market day is June 15th from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM). For more information, please contact Bryan Fenstermaker at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 215-895-4020.

Start Your Own Community Garden!

Monday, January 17, 2011

I can personally attest to the awesome-ness of this course - after I took the winter and spring sessions I started not one, but two community gardens in West Philly!

Garden Tenders:  Create a Neighborhood Garden

These self-help courses are designed for individuals and groups who want to improve their neighborhoods by turning vacant lots and other spaces into both community and individual gardens.  Garden Tenders participants learn how to get gardens started, and how to keep things going once the garden is in the ground.

2011 COURSES
Winter:    Saturday, January 29, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Fee $10 Preregistration deadline: Jan 21.

Spring:    Wednesdays, March 23, 30, April 6, 20, and 27, May 4 and 11, 5:30-8:30 p.m. &
                    Saturday, April 16, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.:  Fee $25 Preregistration deadline: March 18.

These trainings are held at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 100 N. 20th Street, 5th Floor.
To register and pay online, go to https://www.pennhort.net/gardentenders
Act 48 credits are available.

For more information, contact Sally McCabe at 215-988-8846 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)