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WELCOME!
In this November edition of Word on the Street: Learn more about new legislation that will benefit urban gardeners, The North Philly Peace Park, take a historic tour of the Mill Creek neighborhood and join us next month for VACANT LAND 201!! Please share this information with your neighbors and friends!
Announcements
We will keep you posted about City Council hearings on the land bank strategic plan process
Do you want to know how to get access to vacant land from Philly's new Land Bank? Or to know more about how to get permission to grow on city owned property? Do you want to purchase vacant land in your community? Maybe you started a garden and don't know how to get permission from an absentee owner?
Come to Vacant Land 201
Dec 2, 2014 5-7:30pm
at PHS
NEWS
On October 15, 2014, at the first public hearing for the strategic plan of the Philadelphia Land Bank, East Park Revitalization Alliance Director of Food Access Nicole Sugerman gave compelling testimony about the Land Bank we need in order to support food justice and equitable development in Philadelphia. Click here for a link to the written testimony submitted by the Mayor's Food Policy Advisory Council.
I find my work worthwhile not only because of the tangible benefits that growing or accessing local food brings to peoples' lives, including improved health, and money saved on grocery bills, but because of gardens' incredible ability to build community and bring people together. Read on
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Overbrook Environmental Education Center hoophouse
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Two new Acts signed into law by Governor Corbett on October 22nd have made it easier - and cheaper - to cultivate land in your community.
If you've ever built greenhouse, hoop house, or high tunnel to protect your produce, then you may know what a pain and cost it is to acquire signed and sealed plans by a "registered design professional" (engineer, architect, etc.) necessary to secure all the necessary zoning and building permits.
Act 159 makes the process of building protective structures simpler and more affordable. Under the old law, agricultural buildings were exempt from the requirements of the Uniform Construction Code and, thus, exempt from Philadelphia's building code. Act 159 expands the definition of agricultural buildings to include buildings used to "grow . . . agricultural or horticultural products, like greenhouses, hoop houses, and high tunnels. Thus, the Act lets you erect these protective structures without obtaining a building permit. Learn more
A HIDDEN GEM IN NORTH PHILLY
Through the years the North Philly Peace Park has been home to hundreds of volunteers, residents and visitors; help to create a thriving vegetable and perennial garden, earthship classroom (a sustainably-designed building created from reused materials), and small food forest. This past summer they hosted the first community-run Urban County Fair where over 300 people came to participate in workshops, listen to local musicians, lend their voices to the urban agricultural scene is Philadelphia and build relationships in the community. This is truly a community-driven project! From the intergenerational relationships being built to the collaboration of people from different cultural backgrounds, learning and growing is happening here. Read more...
On the Ground
The Garden Justice Legal Initiative presented at the "Black Urban Growers" conference in Detroit. MI and "Growing Power" conference in Milwaukee, WI
Interested in a night of local music, food, and drinks? Join us for our 8th Annual Grow Strong Benefit Party
Sunday, December 7, 2014 from 4:30-8:00 pm
The Coach House at Bartram's Garden (5400 Lindbergh Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19143).
The night will feature music from local musicians including Silverton, an uncompromisingly positive folk-rock band with a lot of heart based in West Philadelphia.
Refreshments will be crafted by Drew Gold, a local urban farmer, and feature produce from Mill Creek Farm, Teens4Good, and the Center for Environmental Transformation.
The silent auction features items from the following local businesses; John and Kira's Chocolates, Franklin Fountain, Fairmount Bicycles, Metropolitan Bakery, West Philly Tool Library, Philadelphia Orchard Project, AORTA Collective, Honest Tom's Taco Shop, Standard Tap, Wakeup Yoga, many local artists, and other local businesses. The silent auction has something for everyone on your holiday gift list!
Opportunities to help...
The Table Spread
Tuesday's 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
4700 Wyalusing Ave ( Corner of 47th and Wyalusing)
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Mill Creek Farm
Friday's 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. or Last Saturday of the month, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
49th and Brown Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19139
If your farm or garden needs volunteer help, there is a cool initiative called Philly Farm Crew where they coordinate volunteers for you. Check them out here!
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