Food: Spring Gardens Volunteer Coordinator Reveals the Human Side of Nature
The Spring Gardens Community Garden is a hidden gem in an urban jungle.
Chestnut Hill: Four Things That Make This Community Special
Chestnut Hill is a neighborhood in Philadelphia that houses a unique community. It’s historical significance and abundance of green life makes it a great place to live and visit. Within the town are shops such as boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and antique shops. There are countless things to see and do, so here are five attractions […]
Waterfront: Five Outdoor Activities to Experience
When William Penn first laid out his plan for Philadelphia, the famous founder realized the importance of parks to not only flee to in case of emergency, but also to escape from the rigors of city life – even for just an afternoon. Today, the waterfronts along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers boast some of the […]
Waterfront: Find Refuge From Concrete at Tinicum Marsh
Visitors to the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum Marsh are greeted by significantly more green than one can expect to see almost anywhere else within city limits. Eschewing concrete and skyscrapers, the refuge boasts great swaths of tall grass, trees of every height and color and the continuous chirping of over 300 different […]
Chestnut Hill: Rooftop Agriculture Taking Root
Friends of the Wissahickon recently hosted a lecture on the expanding rooftop agriculture industry at the Valley Green Inn. The speaker, Philadelphia landscape architect Lauren Mandel, went through a detailed presentation and open discussion about rooftop agriculture to a group of about 30 attendees. During the lecture, Mandel’s book, “Eat Up,” was circulating around with […]
Spruce Hill: Bird Sanctuary Becomes an Urban Oasis
Bordered by rowhomes, a compact urban forest is accessed via a narrow hidden alley alongside 233 Melville St. This is the bird sanctuary, created and managed by Anne Froehling, Julie Bush and Richard Guffanti – three volunteers from the Spruce Hill Community Association. SHCA acquired the land in 1981. It was a popular trash dump […]
Chestnut Hill: Nature in Unexpected Places
A cool breeze caresses you as you walk through a tree-lined path. The sounds of birds, cicadas and the flow of water are the only sounds able to be heard. No one would ever imagine being enveloped by nature and only be 30 minutes outside of Center City Philadelphia. A hidden gem like the Wissahickon […]