Seed Starting Workshop

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Every year I faithfully start my home garden plants from seeds, and invariably, most of them die. I just don’t seem to be good at it. Maybe I need a workshop! Not only does starting plants from seeds save money, it allows you to save your favorite varieties and grown them year after year.

Alexis Kidd a Philadelphia Master Gardener will present the different seed starting methods, resources to get you started, and how to build a light stand. All for just $10!

Fairmount Park Horticultural Center
N. Horticultural and Montgomery Drive, Phila., Pa. 19130

Registration 9AM $10.00 admission fee
To pre-register call 215-471-2200 Ext 100

For more information go to:  http://philadelphia.extension.psu.edu

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

Keep Bees!

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Perhaps its all the local honey popping up in Philadelphia small grocers, an interest more beautiful flowers and vegetables in your raised beds, or even just a desire to help the urban bee population proliferate, but you’ve had a tickle to learn more about bee keeping. You’re in luck! Two different options to learn more about bees and bee keeping - choose the one that suits you best!

This one-shot local event in West Philadelphia, hosted by the Philadelphia Beekeepers, promises information, fun, and a tasty lunch from Milk and Honey. If you haven’t tried their local honey yet, pick up a jar of your favorite zip code!

The Philadelphia Beekeeper’s Guild presents:
Ross Conrad, author of ‘Natural Beekeeping’
for lunch and talks on
Organic Beekeeping and Apitherapy
followed by the film ‘Vanishing of the Bees’
Sunday, February 6th, 2011
$25 General, $20PBG members (incl. lunch)
10-12 Organic Beekeeping
12-1 Lunch from Milk & Honey Market
1-3 Apitherapy
3:30-6 Movie (free)

@ William Penn Charter School
3000 W. School House Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Register at
phillybeekeepers.org/ross_conrad_feb-2011

A Webinar allows you to learn from the comfort of your home or office computer. The Beekeeping for Beginners is a one year course that will include the following:

1. A seven part live webinar series (all sessions will be recorded and available until December 31,
2011)

2. Virtual Beekeeping Field Day

3. Accessibility to instructors through:

4. Virtual office hours

5. Discussion forums

The registration fee for the one year Beekeeping for Beginners is for $150. Registration and agenda
information can be found at: http://clinton.extension.psu.edu/Hort/webinar/11Beekeeping.htm.

Mariposa Expansion Fundraiser: Metamorphasis!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

LOCAL BEER + LOCAL GIFTS = LOCAL SUPPORT!

Mariposa Co-Op in West Philadelphia has finally closed the sale on their new, much larger building at 48th and Baltimore. The new building will allow for more products and produce, but also for the Co-Op to open itself up to full neighborhood shopping, providing much-needed food to a grocery-desolate neighborhood. Come out and support Mariposa’s expansion project this Saturday, November 20th at Metamorphosis for Mariposa.

Dock Street Brewery and http://www.vixemporium.com/)” title=“VIX Emporium”>VIX Emporium” title=“VIX Emporium”>VIX Emporium co-sponsor this fundraiser and raffle to benefit the Mariposa expansion. Eat, drink and shop at both of these businesses and these Baltimore Ave buddies will donate a portion of the day’s proceeds to Mariposa. Plus, enter the raffle to win one of dozens of prizes, all donated by local artists, shops, restaurants, schools and more. The raffle will be held at Dock Street, at 50th and Baltimore, starting at 3:30 and continuing throughout the evening.You can purchase raffle tickets on line HERE:

TheScience and Art of Colonial Brewing

Friday, November 05, 2010

Philadelphia has a long and lush brewing history. Come to the Kite and Key this Saturday, Nov. 6th from 2-5pm to learn about Ben Franklin’s colonial brewing methods from awesome Franklin Institute science folks, who are also bringing some Ben artifacts and info on our founding father’s drinking habits. A brewer from Yard’s will be on had to demonstrate the science of brewing, and Kite and Key will offer Yard’s pint specials.

Kite and Key Restaurant and Bar
1836 Callowhill St.
Philadelphia, PA 19130

Judy Wicks and delicious lunch!

Judy Wicks and a delicious lunch? Sign me up! In full disclosure, I organized this program, and will be making the lunch. I hope you can join us for what promises to be an intimate and engaging program. We’ll also have the White Dog cookbook available at a bargain price!

Founder of the famed and favorite local eatery the White Dog Café, JUDY WICKS will be at the Writers House next Thursday, November 11, at 12:00 PM, for this year’s Bernheimer Symposium. Although lunch will be served, this talk is not limited to locavores and foodies: Ms. WICKS, a farm-to-table advocate, will be touching on subjects from sustainability to community arts and social justice. Also the founder of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, she was named the James Beard Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year in 2005, and more recently in 2007, received the Philadelphia Sustainability Lifetime Achievement Award. Spots are limited so please rsvp to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to let us know you’re coming!

Best,
WH Staff
________________________________________________________________________

The Kelly Writers House and the Bernheimer Symposium present

JUDY WICKS
a local lunch conversation about food, politics, and activism

Thursday, November 11, at 12:00 PM in the Arts Café
Kelly Writers House | 3805 Locust Walk
Please rsvp to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call (215) 746-POEM

________________________________________________________________________

JUDY WICKS is owner and founder of Philadelphia’s 25-year-old White Dog Cafe, and is a national leader in the local, living economies movement. She is co-founder of the nationwide Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), and founder of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN). She is also president of White Dog Community Enterprises, a non-profit 501c3 dedicated to building a local living economy in the Philadelphia region.

Judy has won numerous awards, including the James Beard Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year in 2005, and the Philadelphia Sustainability Awards Life Time Achievement in 2007. Other accolades include Oprah Magazine’s “5 Amazingly Gifted and Giving Food Professionals,” and Inc. Magazine’s 25 favorite entrepreneurs. Judy co-authored The White Dog Cafe Cookbook: Multicultural Recipes and Tales of Adventure from Philadelphia’s Revolutionary Restaurant, and is currently working on a book about her business and the local living economy movement to be published by Chelsea Green.

With a four-part mission of serving customers, community, employees, and the natural environment, the White Dog Cafe has created numerous educational and community-building programs which focus on topics such as economic & social justice, environmental protection, peace & non-violence, drug policy reform and community arts. Through “Table for Six Billion, Please!” the international “sister restaurant” project Judy began in 1986, she has organized trips to Nicaragua, Cuba, Mexico, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Vietnam, and Israel / Palestine in order to understand the effects of US policy. A local sister restaurant program promotes minority-owned restaurants in Philadelphia and Camden. In 1992, Judy began the White Dog mentoring program, which introduces inner-city high school students to the restaurant business through internships at the Cafe. Her adjacent gift store, the Black Cat, founded in 1989, features local and fair trade crafts. White Dog Enterprises, which includes White Dog Cafe and Black Cat, employs over 100 people and grosses approximately $5 million annually, demonstrating the concept of “doing well by doing good.”

The Cafe sources all produce in season from local organic family farms. All meat and poultry is humanely raised, and fish and seafood are sourced from sustainable fisheries. One hundred percent of electricity is purchased from wind power sources, the first business in Pennsylvania to do so. Entry-level employees make a minimum “living wage” of $9/hour. Twenty percent of profits are contributed to White Dog Community Enterprises and other non-profits. Community Enterprise projects have included Fair Food, which connects local family farms with urban markets, and SBN, which was spun off in 2006.

Judy has appeared on Nightline, MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour, CNN, and numerous local TV and radio shows. She and the Cafe have been featured in Oprah Magazine, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Fortune Small Business, Washington Post, Whole Earth Magazine, Utne Reader, Yes Magazine, Fast Company, Healthy Living Magazine, Business Ethics Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Chronicle of Higher Education, Resurgence Magazine, Hope Magazine, Sojourner Magazine, In Business, Orion Magazine, The Other Side, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Magazine and the Philadelphia Business Journal. Judy’s business career is featured in several books including Making a Life, Making a Living: Reclaiming Your Purpose and Passion in Business and Life by Mark Albion, Good News for a Chance: How Everyday People Are Helping the Planet by David Suzuki and Holly Dressel, and Aiming Higher: 25 Stories of How Companies Prosper by Combining Sound Management and Social Vision by David Bollier.

Judy was co-founder of the Free People’s Store, now called Urban Outfitters, in 1970, and general manager and co-proprietor of Restaurant LaTerrasse from 1974 to 1984. She was also co-founder and President of Synapse, Inc. a non-profit publishing company, and editor and art director of its publications, the Whole City Catalog in 1972 and 1974, and the Philadelphia Resource Guide in 1982.

Established in the memory of Comparative Literature teacher and scholar Charles Bernheimer by Writers House Advisory Board member Kate Levin (GAS’96), the BERNHEIMER SYMPOSIUM is organized each year by the Writers House Program Coordinator, who takes the opportunity to think expansively about programming possibilities.

Fermentation Hoe Down!

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

The newly formed Fermentation Society of Philadelphia is having its first event this month!  Come to see workshops and to share your own recipes will fellow fermenters. 

FYI, an omission from the flyer:  Be prepared to give a little donation to compensate the church for the use of its space.

Winter Herbs and Wreaths

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Check out these workshops at Urban Jungle (1526 E. Passyunk Ave.) to wrap up your gardening season, and stay tuned for more coming up next spring!

November 4th, 6pm - Herb Gardens - REGISTER
Enhance your home-cooking experience by growing fresh herbs on your windowsill this winter!  Smell and taste a range of fresh herbs, learn about new varieties of herbs, and taste home-made herbal tea and snacks.  Cost includes instruction, herb seeds, recipes, wine, and snacks.  $20 per person.

November 18th, 6pm - Winter Wreaths - REGISTER
Celebrate the changing of the seasons with Doris Stahl, Penn State Philadelphia Urban Horticulture Educator, who has been making wreaths and other crafts from her gardens for many years.  The wreaths will be made with natural materials, if you have something special to include or a preferred ribbon please bring it to personalize your wreath.  Cost includes instruction, material, wine, and snacks. $35 per person.

Cold Frame Class: Rain Date Sunday 10/18

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Due to the rain forecasted for tomorrow, the cold frame class has been rescheduled.  See the corrected info below:

Here are the details:
What:  Build Your Own Coldframe workshop
When:  Sunday.  Oct 18, 10am to 1pm-ish
Where:  The Woodlands Community Garden,  4000 Woodland Ave 19104 (map)
Who:  For more information and to register, contact Erica Smith, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Other:  $15 covers supplies (including a window!) and seeds

Calling All Teachers!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Green City Teachers training starts soon - sign up to learn how to integrate horticulture and environmental education into your classroom, and to get up to 16 Act 48 credits!

What:  Green City Teachers Basic Training
When:  Thursdays, October 21 & 28, November 4 & 11. 5:30 - 8:30 pm and Saturday, October 23. 10 am - 2 pm (bus tour)
Where:  Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 100 N. 20th St.  5th Fl., Philadelphia, PA 19103
Why:  This five-session course will encourage Philadelphia educators to integrate horticulture and environmental education into their classrooms as they participate in a forum for sharing ideas. Topics include Basic Horticulture, Food Gardening, Trees, Indoor Gardening, and Habitat Gardens.
How much:  Pre-Registration Fee: $20.00 . Walk-in Registration:$25.  To register online, visit http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/phlgreen/green-teacherPage2.html.  Online registration fee includes an additional $2.09 handling charge.

For more information:  http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/phlgreen/green-teacher.html.

And stay tuned for the summer session where you will learn to build a school garden!

West Philly Garden Day

Friday, September 17, 2010

West Philly Gardens Day
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Noon–3PM

For more information about West Philly Gardens Day and workshop registration, visit www.ucityoffthegrid.com.

West Philly Garden Tour Map

A Festival Weekend

Thursday, September 09, 2010

I’ve already mentioned the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival, but there all kinds of festivals happening this weekend for you local food-minded, outdoorsy, green folks. Initially, I was going to write an entry for all of them, but they stacked up! Instead, I’ve compiled a linked list of all the fun events this weekend.

SATURDAY
Safe Routes Philly Family Phest - 8am-1pm
Elkins Oval, on Ben Franklin Parkway between 23rd and 24th Sts., in front of the Art Museum.
Learn bicycle skills and safety during this youth oriented lead-up to Sunday’s Bike Philly

PHS Fall Garden Festival 11am-4pm
Naval Yard
This year this festival is open to everyone - member or not! Demonstrations, children’s activities, annual plant sale, and more.

SUNDAY
Bike Philly - 8am
The Bicycle Coalition has organized this family-friendly bike though the car-free streets of Philadelphia. 10, 20 and 35 mile courses are available. Get out there and enjoy our beautiful city!

Greenfest Philly -  11am-6pm
2nd & South Streets
Philadelphia, PA

Over 200 vendors with green eats, clothing, construction materials, and house supplies, this fun outdoor festival features a clothing swap and eco-poetics competition.

Kennett Square Mushroom Festival

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

I’m a mushroom lover - maybe even a little obsessed. For years I’ve been meaning to attend the Kennett Square (mushroom capital off the world!) Mushroom Festival to participate in the mushroom-themes carnival, try some tasty dishes, and celebrate the growth of fungus so close to home! This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the festival, so pop over this weekend and enjoy the events, food and scenery.

I’ll also be competing in the Aetna Healthy Food Fight with my recipe for Morrocan Tagine on Sunday afternoon. Stop by and say hi!

Fall Vegetable Gardening

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

It’s Fall!  Okay, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but I just can’t wait to get to my favorite season (and the weather these past two days has been such a tease).  But even though we’re still in the thick of the summer crop harvest, it’s not too early to start thinking about cool weather crops again.  If you want to get a jump on your fall garden, come to this fun workshop taught by Sally McCabe at the new South Philly garden store Urban Jungle!

When:  September 9th, 6pm
Where:  Urban Jungle, 1526 E. Passyunk Ave. (at Tasker)
What:  Fall Vegetable Gardening - Join community gardening guru Sally McCabe of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to learn how you can grow vegetables in the cooler weather of fall.  Find out what kinds of vegetables can be grown, how to extend your harvest of vegetables into the winter, and how to do it all in a small space!  Cost includes instruction, wine, and snacks.  $20 per person.

Click here to register!

Bike Workshop in the Garden

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The Mariposa Food Co-op Community Education Series has partnered with the Bicycle Ambassador Program of Greater Philadelphia to host a FREE workshop next week that will take place in the beautiful Woodlands Community Garden!  There are only a few spaces left, so act now to reserve your spot.  Here’s the info:

Have you ever actually cleaned your bicycle?  All participants are encouraged to bring their bicycles and learn how to clean all of the nooks and crannies.  A clean bike is a happy bike.  Workshop is limited to 10 participants with bicycles.  Questions? Comments? Contact Kara at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

What:  Bicycle Ambassador Workshop 3—Bicycle Cleaning 101
When:  Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 6PM-7PM
Where: The Woodlands Community Garden (please meet at Mariposa Co-op, 4726 Baltimore Ave., we will ride over to the garden together)