How To: Start A Community Garden
Finding a place to care for plants or harvest crops in an urban setting like Philadelphia may not be easy. However, throughout the city there are more than 60 community gardens at the public’s disposal. If none of the established gardens are close enough to home, or the waiting list to join is too long, there’s […]
Squirrel Hill: Paradise In Progress Contributes To The Urban Farming Movement
Peggy Nowak has a house in West Philadelphia that sits next to the lot her old home used to be situated on. Since being torn down, Nowak reclaimed that land to create her idea of a lavish garden filled with everything from milkweed to fig trees. The garden is called Paradise in Progress and is one of […]
Point Breeze: Community Garden President Looks to Leave Lasting Impact
Ian Kiesel is just a few weeks into his term as president of the community garden at Ralph Brooks Park on 20th and Tasker streets, but he brings years of experience to the role. Kiesel grew up in Ardmore, where his mom was a big gardener. That influence was present when he chose to attend Bennington College […]
Strawberry Mansion: Five Public Resources
Since the late 1880s, Strawberry Mansion has been a residential neighborhood. There are many row homes and people sitting and talking to one another on their front steps. In addition to residential spaces, Strawberry Mansion is home to public places that serve as helpful and beneficial resources for the community. Mander Recreation Center The children […]
Olney: United Methodist Plants Roots in Community
In line with its dedication to combat city hunger and promote nutrition, Solid Rock United Methodist Church will host its Harvest Festival on Oct. 25. The event, from 4:30 to 7 p.m., will feature free food, pumpkin “picking” and painting, story time and plenty of fall-appropriate treats for all ages. There, Reverend Margaret Powell will announce […]
Nicetown: Community Center Working Towards a Better Neighborhood
Nicetown Community Development Center President Zakariyya Abdur-Rahman first saw a strong need for a center that would provide a variety of social services to the people of Nicetown in 1999. It was after owning a business and consistently receiving inquires about job openings that Abdur-Rahman said she felt it was time for a change. The […]
Kensington: Garden Brings Camaraderie Back to Community
When Elizabeth VanUmesseren recollected her views about a vacant lot on the corner of Master and Lawrence Streets many years ago, she said plans for cultivating the lot into a community garden didn’t look promising. VanUmesseren said the Catholic Worker house, located a few blocks away on 430 W. Jefferson St., played a big part […]
Kensington: Somerset Neighbors’ Plan ‘Clean and Green’ for Vacant Lots
Since last September, the Somerset Neighbors for Better Living has tackled the topic of what to do with vacant lots during its monthly meetings. This civic association in Kensington is now ready to roll of Clean and Green Projects to transform selected vacant lots in the boundaries of Lehigh Avenue to Cambria Street and Kensington […]
West Poplar: Teens Harvest Fresh Produce for the Community
In a city where pools are open for only a few weeks out of the summer and recreation centers aren’t providing adequate activity for kids, there is a sense of dread and uneasiness. Over the past two summers, bored and frustrated teens have expressed themselves in the form of flash mobs, descending on the Center […]