Grid Magazine April 2017 [#96]

ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FILM ENVIRONMENTAL FEST DEBUTS DEBUTS IN IN PHILLY PHILLY FEST

SIMPLE RECIPES RECIPES FOR FOR SIMPLE SPRING VEGGIES VEGGIES SPRING

CAN WE WE CAN ‘REWILD’ CITIES? CITIES? ‘REWILD’

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IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON

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CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS 08

To-Do List Spring is really here, and so are spring festivals. Hit the streets and dig into your garden

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Comings & Goings Find out which doors are opening and closing, and who deserves kudos

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Opinion Greensgrow Farms’ new executive director looks at the next 20 years

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The Big Picture Landscape architect Claudia West examines our post-wild world and explores the infinite, soul-soothing possibilities of planned cityscapes

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The Right Question If we want a clean energy future, we have to stop confusing energy and electricity

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Shop Local It’s back to the farmers market this month, and alongside fresh produce we’re highlighting artisan offerings from around the region

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Food Spring veggies such as green onion and asparagus star in these delightfully simple recipes

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Events What to see and where to go

64

Dispatch A festival organizer reflects on the meaning of community

An iris blooms in the South Philadelphia sidewalk garden of Bob Nuse.

See Page 20.

April 2017

FEATURED SECTIONS 19

Gardens Alive Hear how three different gardeners approach their personal oases, find out what plants will work best on that shady patio and more

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Spring Festivals Philadelphia gets its own environmental film festival, we explore two great celebrations to get plants for your garden, and we take a look at the chilling effect of changes to immigration policy on Philadelphia’s Carnaval de Puebla

HAND CRAFTED FERMENTATION WORKSHOP SATURDAY, APRIL 22ND, 2017 1:00PM – 3:00PM $30 members/$35 non-members

Join Amanda Feifer, author of Ferment Your Vegetables and the blog Phickle, for a snack-filled workshop on vegetable fermentation. Amanda will cover the basics of both salted and brined fermented vegetables, discussing their health benefits and the inherent safety of the process while sharing some tips and tricks.

All participants will go home with handmade pickle weights by ceramic artist Amy Shindo, and ready-to-ferment jars of pickled and brined vegetables.

Purchase tickets at www.theclaystudio.org/ events or call 215-925-3453.

Funding for the Hand Crafted series is provided by the Barra Foundation.

Photograph by Courtney Apple, courtesy of Fair Winds Press

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EDITOR’S NOTES

by

HEATHER SHAYNE BLAKESLEE

ICE STORM Spring should be a time of celebration and hope, not fear

I

n 1912, Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo made a gift of 3,000 cherry trees to Washington, D.C., as a sign of the close relationship between Japan and the United States. For centuries, the Japanese have revered the fleeting beauty of the cherry blossoms, which bloom in early spring and then fall away in two weeks’ time.

With the gift of those immigrant trees, our nation’s capital also adopted the tradition of celebrating the cherry blossoms, a stand-in for the ephemeral nature of our own short, and sometimes beautiful, lives.

The peace with Japan was also ephemeral.

A little over 30 years after that original gift, our countries were at war. Now, we count them again as a close ally. Regardless, every year, whether we saw Japan as friend or foe, the cherry trees bloomed. It is a sign of spring and a symbol of a permanent mingling of cultures and traditions that endures today in the seat of our democracy. An average of 1.5 million people travel from all over the country and world to see the incredible spectacle of those 3,000 Japanese trees in bloom.

Philadelphia also celebrates those little pink flowers in its own Fairmount Park, but a late-March ice storm this year did its damage.

The weather whiplash of early warm days in February followed by an icy snowstorm at the end of March means many fewer blossoms joining this year’s spring celebrations of renewal, hope and community.

Another sort of ice storm, one that won’t melt so easily or quickly, is also casting a pall over spring celebrations in Philadelphia, dampening the crowds of people who would normally be out celebrating in the streets.

For a decade, the Carnaval de Puebla celebrated Mexican culture, bringing the community together to take pride in its history and traditions, as well as the contributions that Mexico’s people—many of them now Americans themselves—have made to our city and country.

publisher Alex Mulcahy

Thousands of people usually travel to Philadelphia from all around the country, and from Mexico, to attend Carnaval de Puebla.

But not this year. The chill of the federal immigration crackdown has forced organizers to cancel the beloved event.

Philadelphia is a sanctuary city. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, also known as ICE, will not be called if police suspect someone they have stopped may be here without documentation. Mayor Jim Kenney has said we will continue to welcome refugees with open arms. This past year, the festival’s carnavaleros were invited for the first time to march with the Mummers during New Year’s celebrations, a heartening sign that Philadelphia’s signature parade may yet become as diverse as its people.

But for the organizers of Carnaval de Puebla, the risk is still too great for those traveling to attend the festival. It’s simply too dangerous for the community to come together to celebrate this spring. A mundane traffic stop or unexpected trip to the emergency room could end with upended lives and families torn apart. The mood this season among the Mexican-American community and among many hopeful immigrants, dreamers and refugees is not joyous or celebratory—it is fearful. For our country, that is shameful.

Just like the greatly diminished set of cherry blossoms this spring, the fragile and fleeting nature of community and of peace is on full display. Perhaps the cherry trees— immigrants themselves—are standing with fewer blossoms in solidarity. As a nation of immigrants, so should we all.

HEATHER SHAYNE BLAKE SLEE Editor-in-Chief

heather@gridphilly.com

editor-in-chief Heather Shayne Blakeslee heather@gridphilly.com 215.625.9850 ext. 107 copy editors Walter Foley Aaron Jollay art director Michael Wohlberg michael@redflagmedia.com 215.625.9850 ext. 113 designer Marika Mirren marika@gridphilly.com 215.625.9850 ext. 112 writers Peggy Paul Casella Nancy Chen Derek Dorsey Laura Everard Anna Herman Lauren Johnson Alex Jones Emily Kovach Ryan Kuck Christina Pirello Brian Ricci Brion Shreffler Jerry Silberman illustrators Corey Brickley Julia Tran Jameela Wahlgren ________ sales & marketing manager Allan Ash allan@gridphilly.com 215.625.9850 ext. 103 account executive Trevor Tivenan trevor@gridphilly.com 215.625.9850 ext. 100 distribution Alex Yarde alex.yarde@redflagmedia.com 215.625.9850 ext. 106 published by Red Flag Media 1032 Arch Street, 3rd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107 215.625.9850 G R I D P H I L LY. C O M

SPRING OPEN HOUSES April 18 • 4 pm • Middle & Upper Schools April 20 • 9 am • Lower School

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Visit friendscentral.org to register.

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TO-DO LIST 1. say hello

2. clean up

3. prep the

It’s that time of year again when the farm stands are back across the city. Get back in the habit of a weekly trip to your nearby market. See some of our picks on Page 43.

Mariposa Food Co-op, Philadelphia Water, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and United By Blue will sponsor a cleanup of Cobbs Creek on April 4. Sign up at the United

By Blue website.

March went out like a lion, but warmer weather is on its way. Take a half-hour to install screens back on your windows, and make sure that you reprogram your thermostat.

to your local farmers

4. hit the

food festivals Philly Food and Farm Fest is April 8 this year at the Philadelphia Convention Center, and Manayunk’s StrEAT Food Festival is April 9. April 25 to 28 is Caribbean Cuisine Week.

Participating restaurants are helping to raise funds that will allow hundreds of high school students from the Caribbean to participate in the annual Penn Relays, the largest track and field meet in the country.

the creek

5. get your craft and jazz on The spring edition of Go West! Craft Fest at West Philadelphia’s Woodlands will be held on April 29 (rain date April 30), the same day that Center City Jazz Fest returns.

house for warmer weather

6. take in

the beauty of cherry blossoms Japan’s national flower is celebrated every year to remind us of both the fleeting and enduring nature of life. To celebrate locally, visit Fairmount Park on April 1 through 9 for our own annual cherry blossom festival. Events will also celebrate Japanese music, art, food and culture. If you didn’t skip training over the winter, you can also run in the Cherry Blossom 5K.

7. say goodbye to frost

Near the end of April, we’ll have passed our average “last frost” date and can really get the garden going. But even before then, it’s okay to plant your beets and Swiss chard.

Other hardy vegetables you can plant early this month include carrots, cauliflower, kale, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

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8. brush up on your history

On April 19, the Museum of the American Revolution opens its doors. The history museum is looking toward a sustainable future: Learn about its green roof and LEED certification on Page 26.

9. wash your windows

Beautiful spring light is about to stream through your windows, so it’s time to clean up that dingy glass. Mix 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar for an easy cleaning solution.

10. kitchen

spring cleaning Shares in Grubhub stock will start going down as soon as CSA shares start spring delivery. Do a deep clean on the kitchen to get ready to cook all those healthful meals. Don’t forget to clean off the tops of fans, replace water filters and get inside fridges, stoves and microwaves.

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NEWS more sustainable practices when replacing roofs, windows, lighting and other systems.

CITY COUNCIL APPROVES LAND BANK STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2017 City Council has approved the Philadelphia Land Bank’s 2017 Strategic Plan, which analyzes market conditions and resident needs to identify opportunities where publicly owned land can support affordable and market rate housing, side yards and other green space, and business expansions. The plan includes a target for the acquisition of 1,650 privately owned tax-delinquent parcels over the next five years.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS SEE BLEAK OUTLOOK FOR CLEAN WATER A 16-state comparison and analysis by PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center gave Pennsylvania a grade of “F” when it comes to preventing lead in drinking water in the commonwealth’s schools. When 40 schools were recently tested in Philadelphia, 14 percent exceeded the EPA’s lead action level limit of 15 parts per billion.

Regionally, anti-fracking activists continue to organize, and on March 15, 183 organizations submitted a letter to the Delaware River Basin Commission calling for a permanent ban on fracking in the watershed. Almost 400 people demonstrated at the DRBC’s public meeting in reaction to news that the DRBC has been working with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to develop natural gas drilling regulations, which, if enacted, would lift the seven-year moratorium on drilling in the Delaware River Basin.

On the national front, commenting on federal-level water policy, PennEnvironment Deputy Director Adam Garber issued a statement in response to President Donald Trump’s late-February executive order instructing the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw its defense of the “clean water rule”—which clarifies implementation of the Clean Water Act—in federal court:

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“President Trump’s order turns the mission of the Environmental Protection Agency on its head,” Garber said. “Instead of protecting the drinking water sources for one in three Americans, he is telling the EPA to stop protecting these waters from polluters.”

PENNFUTURE PARTNERS TO ADVANCE SOLAR ENERGY, CITY ANNOUNCES ENERGY PLAN FOR SCHOOLS PennFuture, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Department of Energy began a 30-month analysis and modeling project in early March to advance clean renewable energy in the state. Less than 1 percent of Pennsylvania’s energy is derived from solar power, but stakeholders are investigating how to expand in-state solar generation to 10 percent of sales by 2030; analysis will be posted to the Finding Pennsylvania’s Solar Future website.

The School District of Philadelphia announced March 20 that it could save $600 million over the next 20 years by cutting energy bills as it phases in energy-efficient practices in city-owned buildings and public schools. Officials at the district have identified $4.5 billion in needed repairs, which they hope to fund by working with the city’s Energy Development Authority to follow

NEW DIRECTORS NAMED AT ENERGY, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND THEATER GROUPS The Energy Co-op, which provides clean energy options for Pennsylvania residents and businesses, has hired Damali Rhett as its new executive director. Rhett, an energy consultant, will lead the co-op in promoting sustainability and increasing membership for usage of its electricity, heating oil and renewable gas products.

New Kensington Community Development Corporation announced in March that Felix Torres-Colon is its next executive director. He previously served as director of program development at Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society in Camden and was executive director of Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore.

In January, Theatre Philadelphia announced a new executive director, Leigh Goldenberg, who has worked with the Arden, Lantern, PlayPENN and Tiny Dynamite theater companies.

GREENING AND NATURE PROJECTS GEARING UP The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced its commitment of $100 million toward a new waterfront park at Penn’s Landing—a “cap” over Interstate 95 from Chestnut to Walnut streets, Billy Penn reported. Mayor Jim Kenney said in Febru-

ary that the city would allocate $90 million for the estimated $225 million project.

“We have never met our potential when it comes to waterfront development,” said Mayor Kenney in an interview with PlanPhilly. “A lot of it has to do with a lot of the waterfront parcels being privately owned. But just concentrating on the central waterfront that we control, we’ve never maximized our potential. This will go a long way in doing that.”

Finally, the Schuylkill Center—in partnership with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Parks and Recreation, the Department of Public Health and USDA Forest Service—plans a June launch for a pilot program, NaturePHL, to prescribe outdoor activity time to children and provide public information on access to the area’s parks.

NaturePHL is now fully funded to hire “nature navigators” to assist kids from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in maintaining active lifestyles.

SMALL BUSINESSES SEEK CREATIVE APPLICANTS FOR NEW GRANT Small-business consultancy Elysian Fields has partnered with Little Baby’s Ice Cream to establish a small “creative project grant” for funding Philadelphia-based, community-engaged works. Applications for the $1,000 grant, called Shared Interest, go live on elysianfields.com April 10 and will be accepted through noon on April 23. “Local creatives, artists, organizers, and thinkers of all kinds and at all career stages are encouraged to apply,” according to a press release.

PHILLY AMONG 10 CITIES TO PILOT COMMUNITY-LED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT EVENT The Philadelphia Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation will launch On the Table Philly on May 23, a forum designed to engage residents in an open dialogue about civic solutions for community issues. Ten cities were selected to pilot this year’s national expansion of the event, which was started by the Chicago Community Trust in 2014. Residents who register at onthetablephl.org in April will receive training and support materials to host an event.

May 15 is the final deadline to register.

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EDITOR IAL

Keeping Our Connection to Sun and Seed The next 20 years of urban farming by ryan kuck

E

very year come tax time I have to pause for a long while when the 1040 asks for my occupation. At first the mild rebellion of writing “urban farmer” was alluring, imagining that someone in some deep office had to scratch their head to figure out what category that fits under. Then I imagined them looking at my paltry income for the year and giving a knowing chuckle. “Idealist,” “Young’un,” “Liberal,” “Fool.” But, hey, at least I could get my taxes done in 12 minutes.

This wasn’t supposed to be my path. I was well on my way toward being (or more likely interning for) the next Frank Lloyd Wright or Robert R. Taylor. But the ephemeral nature of Penn’s architecture program, with its abstract analysis through wooden models, lack of even basic computer training and—ugh—insistence on art history, didn’t grab hold. One day I saw a flyer on campus inviting anyone to “come plant carrots with kids,” and before I knew it I stopped going to class and had a new career.

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I just did my taxes last night. Now it takes 20 minutes (kids complicate everything), and that pause was longer this time around.

In 2017, as the new executive director of Greensgrow Farms, I sit at a desk most days, or rather, pace anxiously around my desk. Can I still write “urban farmer” if I haven’t touched soil in over a week? Aren’t there some rules around this? The last few years, for sure, I spent more time with a hammer in my hand than a shovel, but at least I was still getting my vitamin D from the sun instead of a bottle, and I still had to scrape my boots on the muck board outside my door.

Greensgrow celebrates its 20th anniversary this spring, and naturally we’re thinking about what the next 20 years will bring.

Sometimes it’s hard to look beyond, “Well, the cherry harvest is probably gonna suck this year after that cold snap.”

I am no more prescient than the next upstart know-it-all to say what the future holds. I am, though, encouraged to see new

models for food production emerging that further integrate agriculture in our cities.

Sometimes the cynic in me wins out when terms like “agrihood” are thrown around the interwebs as if someone invented the next tractor.

Agriculture has always been central to community, and places like Las Parcelas in Norris Square and Glenwood Green Acres in North Philly have been agrihoods for decades. So, yes, this is the future of urban agriculture, because it is also its past. The same can be said for “vertical farming” or “aeroponics” or the countless other inventions that promise to change how we feed our growing cities. Sometimes it’s easy to see these projects as false prophets, when there’s no math in the world that says we won’t still need Lancaster County and South Jersey and California to fill our bellies—you know, the folks who write just “farmer” on their taxes. I’m sorry, but we all can’t eat just lettuce. But these things, too, will play a role in farming’s evolution,

IL LUSTRATIO N BY JAM E E L A WA HLGREN

just as irrigation technology has always driven adaptation.

In many ways farming is always the same, no matter the context or the technology. Farming is also an innovation laboratory. And the farmer has always needed to be an inventor (and a plumber, vet, mechanic, huckster and geneticist). In my relatively short career, I’ve made biodiesel, built birdhouses, scrubbed algae, taught social studies, cozied up to politicians and put a pig on a diet all in the name of urban agriculture.

But you are always fighting invisible forces of climate, genetics, soil, sun, sweat—learning to give in to the biological imperative of the seed—becoming accustomed to failure and still somehow being surprised by success.

As cities grow and as we look to keep urban agriculture relevant, the farm has to keep adapting, keep incorporating new roles and, above all, prioritize accessibility.

We need city planners, musicians, chemists, math teachers—even architects—to all find a place on the farm so that it can continue to integrate with our built environment and so our cities don’t lose that connection to nature and to seed.

This all requires continued advocacy and action to ensure that green space remains available to farmers, and that farms find new collaborations. We must insist on our equal rights to land, on par with housing, hospitals and commerce. Or, to quote Greensgrow’s new vision statement, “ensure that urban agriculture is recognized as an essential element of how cities promote equitable economic opportunity, positive health outcomes and ecological stewardship for all.”

I can tell you what I hope the future of urban agriculture is. I hope that it is rooted in sun and soil. I hope we recognize that access to growing space is essential to the success of our neighborhoods. I hope we all can come to call ourselves urban farmers to some degree. And I hope that the suit in the IRS building nods in appreciation when my “urban farmer” tax form crosses her desk— and that it’s not the only one.

Ryan Kuck is an urban farmer and the executive director of Greensgrow Farms.

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the BIG PICTUR E

Goodbye to All That Landscape consultant Claudia West says we need beautiful and functional plant communities—not well-spaced and over-mulched arborvitae—to rewild and sustain our cities. interview by heather shayne blakeslee

A

ccording to landscape planners Claudia West and Thomas Rainer, we should all be saying “goodbye to the real estate industry, good taste, designers’ egos, eco-evangelism and the horticulture industry.” Their book, “Planting in a Post-Wild World,” is a joyous ode to the future of landscape and garden design. Grid spoke with Claudia West.

You mention in the book that you were in East Germany in the ’80s. You say it was a “gray and polluted world, and the rivers of my childhood had a different color every week, depending on the color of dye used in the textile factories.”

CW: [As the] East German regime was crumbling in the late ’80s and then finally in ’89, ’90 with the fall of the wall, the entire economy and society changed, and the huge cleanup effort started in that East German landscape, which resulted in massive tree planting—huge reclamation projects. I think the only thing that was able to heal this landscape was brought back—and that’s plants.

That changed my entire worldview really dramatically. There’s nothing more hopeful than seeing the craters of soft coal mining that eradicated an entire landscape turn into clean and clear lakes… and hearing the European wolf there at night. For me, this is the most powerful and positive message. It’s never too late. Nature is incredibly resilient.

When the colonists came to North America, what kind of a landscape would they have seen?

CW: I’m not an expert on that, but I think the first settlers here completely misunderstood this landscape. They saw it as wilderness, they saw it as threatening, because they didn’t understand it. They didn’t know that before they set foot on that land, there were people here who were managing

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this landscape in a very sophisticated way.

[The native peoples] founded huge gardens, they managed our woodlands and forests for nuts, they managed grasslands for better hunting grounds. [They had] a very intimate relationship to the land and created incredible, biodiverse, functioning, sustainable landscapes. The land loves people back.

We are just learning how to understand that and how to redesign and develop our own relationship with that land now. It’s a really fascinating process.

On the issue of wildness, what do you mean when you talk about the “legibility” of a landscape?

CW: “Legibility” is of course a term that comes from the world of landscape architecture, and it basically means that a landscape is easy to navigate. It’s easy to understand, it is designed, it resonates with people, it has emotional content—either dramatic color or some kind of feature that inherently feels comfortable to us people based on this evolutionary connection with land, these archetypal landscapes that we gravitate toward. So, “legibility” means that it’s not overpowering, not a wildness, but the eye travels clear through it, and people associate with it and feel comfortable with the landscape. In the forest, it could mean walking through the woods and there are brambles everywhere and thicket, and you almost feel intimidated by it and claustrophobic, you

can’t see far—that is not legible, that’s the opposite. But what if you have your canopy trees, they’re spaced farther apart, and maybe instead of this big thick shrub layer you only have a few shrubs in there, maybe in clusters, but the rest is fairly open, and you can see, it feels comfortable, you have this beautiful, lush mix of herbaceous species covering the forest floor—that’s legibility, that’s what feels good to people.

Can you talk a little about “archetypal landscapes” that we are programmed to be drawn to by evolution?

CW: When you look to this science called ecopsychology that analyzes our human connection with landscapes, you will find out that there are certain archetypal or ideal landscapes that resonate extremely deeply within us—and that goes across cultures. These archetypal landscapes that feel inherently comfortable to us… used to support us in the past—meaning, providing secure shelter and secure and consistent sources of food: pure forests, woodlands, savannah-type landscapes and grassland-type landscapes. This is an incredible opportunity for us to reconnect with nature by using these archetypal landscapes as design inspiration.

You write that we should be envisioning “meadows growing on skyscrapers, elevated roads covered with connected forests, and vast constructed wetlands that purify our drinking water.”

CW: I think that our cities are the next new frontier. They are the places where we have a nature deficit—where many people live—and people need nature. Greenness: the most powerful color on earth. It’s not the flowers, it’s the color green that people connect to, and we need this green around us every day for our own psychological and

IL LUSTRATIO N BY CO RE Y BRI C KLEY

physical health. We desperately need more natural landscapes that keep us healthy and at the same time soak up the rain and provide habitat in cities. Quite honestly, we’ve paved over the planet, and we need to bring nature back into our cities, because that’s probably where a huge chunk of nature will live in the future. All of these “wild” places outside of cities? They’re gone.

One of the pictures in the book shows a green roof on top of an Exxon gas station in the middle of a city. You could write a book just on the ironies and possibilities of that one image. Why did you include it?

CW: Maybe it’s because it shows that the opportunities are everywhere now. Like we said, it’s the meadows on top of skyscrapers or the one rain garden surrounded by an acre of paved garage or the parking lot of a big mall. We need to think outside the box and use the spaces we have available to bring as much green and functioning nature back into our cities, right on top of buildings, wherever we have an opportunity. And it is possible. This is the future of what cities will have to look like if we, as a species, want to survive.

One of the sentences that stood out to me was, “The question is not what grew there in the past but what will grow there in the future.”

CW: There’s really no going back. Even what grew there in the past, considering the new environmental conditions that we have created here on the planet, what grew in the past may not be the best solution anymore. I think that the level of environmental disturbance—pollution, climate change—and how people now use this land requires different planting scenarios so they can coexist with us in the future.

Let’s talk about home gardening. Mulch is ubiquitous, but it’s not really necessary.

CW: Right. Plants are really the best mulch on earth. Don’t get me wrong, we’re not against using mulch at all, but mulch should only be temporary in your garden, to fill gaps between plants until they are more established… [to] suppress maybe an early wave of sun-loving weed species. But then we really want plants to grow in as they can and cover that soil on their own. So really

THIS INT ERVIEW H AS B EE N E D I TE D FO R CLA R I TY

the best and most sustainable way of gardening is letting plants be the mulch that they’re designed to be. This is how nature works, this is how plants want to grow— that’s how they evolved to grow—and it definitely works way better.

At one point you mention that “a gardener should act less like a prison guard and more like a referee.” I love that.

CW: Yes, exactly—asking people to relax and enjoy this process of gardening, instead of putting plants in solitary confinement and saying, “This is the spot that you will grow forever from now on.” Most of the really showy species people buy in garden centers don’t get any older than four or five years… by nature they’re not designed to get any older. So if they can’t reseed in your garden, you will lose them, and you will always have to replant more and more, and that is not sustainable, because every plant that comes from a nursery has an enormous carbon footprint—potted in peat moss from Siberia or Northern Canada, and then shipped

from Las Vegas. The more sustainable way of gardening is letting what you have in your garden reseed and then being that referee that kind of massages where the seedlings come up and designs with that, editing to still make it look beautiful. Allowing that wildness to happen in the garden is an incredibly enjoyable way of reconnecting with nature, doing what people have done for thousands of years.

What other advice would you give to home gardeners?

CW: It’s very simple, I usually say: Plant more of the right kinds of plants. Replace the mulch with more ecological plants— meaning native and beneficial exotic species—that will dramatically help in creating better cities.

Plant more plants!

Claudia West is a consultant for North Creek Nurseries and is co-author of the book “Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes.”

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the RIGH T QUE STION

Stop Confusing Energy with Electricity It’s time for a little physics 101 by jerry silberman

Q

uestion: Can we run our entire society on solar energy?

The Right Question: Which kind of solar energy would you like?

Right now, more than 90 percent of all of our energy needs are powered by the sun, so we can answer the first question “yes” and stop worrying about whether our lifestyle is sustainable, right?

Maybe not.

Before we discuss the different kinds of solar energy, we need to have some basic definitions. The way the word “energy” is used in the media, mainstream and otherwise, suggests that it is not well understood. In fact it’s quite simple. Energy is an abstract concept, not an object. Energy is the capacity to do work. You can’t hold energy in your hand.

Work, in turn, is defined in physics as simply causing something to move. So the work of rolling your bowling ball down the lane requires a certain amount of energy.

Depending on your skill, some of that energy used to move the ball will do additional work at a distance: knocking down pins.

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What’s left of the energy in the ball, after some is absorbed by friction on the lane and impact with pins, will be transferred to the bumper at the end, which will move slightly (and heat up slightly) as the energy is dissipated. In the course of doing work, energy is dissipated into the surrounding environment, mainly as heat. It is then too diffuse to do any more work, and it will keep diffusing out into the universe.

We need concentrated energy to do work.

Fuels are concentrated sources of energy, substances in which a great deal of energy has been stored in chemical form—and is stable over time. That stored energy is usually released by burning it to heat air or water, whose motion, in turn, we use to run complicated systems, such as automobile engines, or fairly simple ones such as fireplaces. Each time we change the form of energy, a portion of it is dissipated as heat: A smaller part is literally burnt off, and a larger portion actually does the useful work we seek.

Electricity is not the same thing as energy. Electricity is a very versatile form that

energy can take to do work for us, and the generation of electricity is a transformation that loses power along the way, like any other. Usually, references to renewable energy mean “electricity derived from renewable sources.” Since most of our energy use is not in the form of electricity, this reference is often misleading.

One way to look at the trajectory of human civilization is to look at how efficiently we have been able to find and use various forms of concentrated energy to work for us.

We’ll come back to this, but first let’s look at the flavors of solar energy that power our society today. Each kind of solar energy is a variation on the theme of capturing the energy in photons from the sun and transforming it so that it can work for us: Photosynthesis. All of the energy in every molecule of food we eat was originally stored by a plant that can store the energy of photons in its own tissue through biochemical reactions.

Fossilized sunlight. Oil, coal and gas began as photosynthetically produced tissues, iso-

IL LUSTRATIO N BY JAM E E L A WAHLGREN

lated by geological processes from the cycle of life, and further concentrated by the force of gravity.

Biomass. This is mainly firewood, on a global basis.

Hydropower. Incoming solar energy turned to heat in our atmosphere allows us to have weather. Temperature gradients give us the movements of the atmosphere and the hydrologic cycle, by which water is evaporated and returns to the ground as rain. Dams store energy mechanically, rather than chemically.

Wind power. Solar energy creates temperature differences in the atmosphere, which result in air currents. Windmills convert this kinetic energy directly into electricity.

Photovoltaic electricity. Electric charge is captured directly from photons and converted by chemical processes to electricity in a form we can use directly.

What’s left? Nuclear electricity accounts for 3 to 4 percent of our total energy use. Uranium, the fuel for nuclear energy generation, is a nonrenewable resource, and its production is past its peak.

Over the last 200 years, the flow of energy through human society, both as a whole and per capita, has increased by several magnitudes, a situation that is overwhelmingly due to the consumption of fuels from category two above: fossilized sunlight. This, in turn, has resulted in an increasingly unstable climate, along with pollution that threatens to overwhelm public health.

The quantity of energy flowing through our (American) society is staggering. We know that it has to be reduced and restructured substantially to have a sustainable society for the next seven generations. Two “right questions” are: Where is substitution or reduction possible? What choices make sense for individuals, and which must be made at a societal level?

Before we can answer these, there is much more to understand about how energy works now in our society. Which sources of energy are used for what tasks? What are the costs of using energy (environmental and economic) as we do now? Over the next several columns, we will cover some background information needed to discuss the right questions above.

A Leader in Sustainability.

Philadelphia University is a national leader in sustainability education. Students in undergraduate and graduate programs are uniquely prepared for careers addressing the sustainability needs of today’s world.

“Our programs are producing the next generation of sustainability leaders. Environmental problemsolving skills are in demand across every industry, and our graduates bring hands-on training in the latest sustainability practices.”

– Rob Fleming, Professor and Director, M.S. in Sustainable Design Program, Philadelphia University

Learn more about the B.S. in Environmental Sustainability and M.S. in Sustainable Design at www.PhilaU.edu/sustainableEd

Jerry Silberman is a retired union organizer who now devotes his time to negotiating a resilient future for all of us.

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From sidewalk pots to green public infrastructure, there are signs that spring has sprung in Philadelphia

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gardening

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Sidewalks. Rooftops. Raised beds. Give a city gardener an inch, they’ll take a mile. by brion shreffler

T

urning the corner of South 10th and Christian streets in Philadelphia, heading north into the Bella Vista neighborhood, a newcomer out on a jog might be caught off guard by the fiercely squawking green parrot taking umbrage at their swift passage.

Stopping to note the parrot ensconced in his tree, said jogger might register the equally out-of-place headdress of elephant ears in a planter adjacent to the tree. As their eyes quickly shift right toward the façade of South Philly row homes, they’d find three massive aquatic pots holding blooming water lilies before jumping over potted miniature evergreens, a koi fish and turtle pond with a blooming water hyacinth, a window box full of assorted flowers, and more potted plants and evergreens—next to even more tropical plants.

These plants and trees decorate the exterior of the home of Robert Nuse—that’s his parrot—as well as the homes of his immediate next door neighbors, for whom he also does sidewalk gardening. He’s a contractor and property manager who studied agriculture, and he goes all out with planters and pots, just like many other row home dwellers.

As of early March, he’s getting ready for spring, just like many other Philadelphia gardeners who make the most of their green thumbs while having little to no green space.

Mathew Davis, a landscape and general architect who lives a bit further south, saw the potential in a former garage that he renovated for his new home. While he has a few sidewalk planters and a window box made from a wooden pallet, the 1,500-square-foot space

atop the roof he repaired is where he tends to a roughly 50/50 blend of edible plants (vegetables and herbs) and ornamentals.

And on the other side of the city, Jenna Brown, who studied environmental science, is making the most out of a small North Philly backyard that doesn’t have soil conducive to planting—it’s situated within a commercial/industrial zone. She’s utilizing raised beds and a variety of planters and pots accumulated by the building she lives in.

A purpose for every pot “It’s just pure hobby,” Nuse says, referring to the abundance of green that adorns the sidewalk here, including the tropicals he puts out once summer hits. You’ll want to see the two banana trees, but perhaps skip the Japanese devil’s tongue during the week and a

Bob Nuse at his house in South Philly

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P HOTOS BY M ARIKA MI RREN

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half that it’s in bloom—its flower brings the charming aroma of decaying human flesh.

“I enjoy the shock value of it, to be honest with you,” he says. “People aren’t expecting to come across this in the city.”

He’s had the window planter that overlooks his do-it-yourself koi and turtle pond for 30 years. Prior to moving to his current address 23 years ago, that planter was bolted to the railing of a fire escape that held pots of various flowers on each step leading up to his apartment.

He started slowly once he moved to South 10th Street. By his fifth or sixth year, he was managing planters for neighbors on both sides of his property. Six-foot-tall topiaries frame his door and that of his neighbor to the left, who also has the three aquatic lily pots in front of their façade.

Brown takes a different tact, and only grows vegetables and herbs.

“You know exactly where your food is coming from, and knowing all of the energy you put into it makes you appreciate it more,” Brown says. “You have a strong bond and relationship to it.”

No ornamentals?

“I can’t keep a houseplant alive,” she admits.

Having just moved in, she’s looking forward to having a garden once again. Her most recent experience was running a garden plot tied to a yoga studio where she’s employed as an instructor.

Davis says his rooftop experiment goes beyond growing food for himself and raising starter ornamentals for clients. He intends to try his hand at building solar panels to power the pumps for the hydroponic systems he’s currently toying with.

While Nuse’s gardening is all about fun and engendering stunning visuals, and Brown’s is about self-reliance, Davis goes even one step further. “It’s about creating autonomous, localized economies as potential major stressors loom,” Davis says, “instead of relying on massive multinational corporations to provide us with energy and food.”

Start of the spring season As of early March, Davis and Brown have planted seedpods for crops such as cucumbers, beans, peas, chives, broccoli and tomatoes. Once the warm weather sets in, the plants will be hearty and ready to thrive outdoors. Davis has grown salad greens and

Mathew Davis, a landscape and general architect, outside his home in South Philly

kale inside his greenhouse over the winter.

Brown is planting those same greens as soon as her order from Bennett Compost arrives to mix with the organic soil she put in her newly constructed raised beds. Both also have cold-weather-hardy herbs such as rosemary and thyme planted outside.

While Davis plans to scale back the amount of ornamentals he tends—“too much work”—he’s looking forward to his perennial wildflowers and ornamental grasses popping up once again.

“I try to plant exclusively native species,” he says. “These things are designed to be in this part of the world.”

Nuse, on the other hand, loves trying new exotics. “I always want to do something different,” he says. “I’ve tried pitcher plants and they died both times. I’m not sure what I’m doing right or wrong. I had an Australian tree fern that grew up to about 20 feet before it died on me. I got another one but it’s struggling.”

While Davis has his many consultations to draw upon—he previously served as lead designer at Longwood Gardens—and

Brown keeps a gardening journal, Nuse says that decades of mental notes inform his trial-and-error process as he explores growing new plants.

One thing he stresses—particularly to clients as a property manager—is year-round care, and not having dead pots.

So, besides planting winter blooming pansies, he has pots holding daffodil, crocus and tulip bulbs planted in the fall, which should be in bloom by the time you’re reading this article.

Choosing plants to fit the changing environment Growing on any given location presents its own unique problems—and Nuse’s situation proves that those can change over time.

“Those pin oaks,” he says, referring to the massive trees opposite his property on the west side of the street, “weren’t there when I first moved in.” So while he’s trimmed back the smaller tree on his slice of sidewalk, he’s had to either find sunny spots for certain plants or call upon more shade-tolerant

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Jenna Brown with her backyard raised garden beds in North Philly

plants—something Davis frequently recommends for clients in South Philly with small swaths of backyards with varying amounts of sunlight.

Ferns, coral bells, hostas—plants Davis grows himself on the shadier parts of his roof—are what he recommends for shadeheavy backyards. He stresses that it comes down to balancing the direction from which your plants receive sunlight along with how much sun they need. For instance, the afternoon sun is perfect for tomatoes, but could be too much for other plants.

To shelter his ferns and other shade-loving plants from the afternoon sun, Davis’ greenhouse is lined along the top with repurposed polycarbonate panels from The Resource Exchange in Kensington.

“I try to use all reclaimed materials. I trash-pick a lot of stuff,” Davis says. Many of his “planters” happen to be 5-gallon “juice” buckets discarded by South Philly amateur winemakers.

He’s found a way to prevent his plants’ extra water needs from adding to his

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chores by constructing a passive drip-irrigation system that emanates from two rain barrels.

Brown found that the compact ground of her backyard was full of rocks and chunks of cement; her property was also apparently part of a cemetery. So she built her two, 2-by-4 raised beds from cheap lumber. “It took me three hours, including the trip to Home Depot,” she says.

And then there’s the likely toxicity of the soil.

“You shouldn’t put anything in the ground pretty much anywhere north or south of Center City,” Davis advises.

“When I lived in Northern Liberties at 5th and Girard, I had my soil tested and it came out at over five times the permissible levels of lead and cadmium.”

For his part, Nuse states that he has found that certain plants can’t take the wind exposure of being on the sidewalk.

For some of his tropical plants, he recently installed large windows in his attic to help keep them warm during winter.

With barren dirt on her property, which should make for fewer weeds, and ample sunlight from the south, east and west, Brown doesn’t expect much difficulty in growing her vegetables. That is, unless a particularly bad pest sets in.

Nuse says he thankfully doesn’t have to guard against as many human pests as when he first moved in.

“I would take wire and wrap it around the plant and tie it to the barrels,” he says.

He’d then weigh them down with cinder blocks, a tactic he still uses.

“The fact that the neighbors enjoy this so much—they look out after things,” he says.

While Brown looks forward to community dinners using her produce, Davis echoes sentiment shared by Brown and Nuse while speaking of the aesthetic his garden creates: “In mid-summer, it’s beautiful to have five different types of bees flying around while providing a habitat for other native species. It’s a beautiful place once it gets growing.”

P HOTO BY M ARIKA MI RREN

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gardening

Made in the Shade Perfect plant picks for that tricky backyard patio by laura everard

“I can’t grow anything because my garden is too shady.” If I had a dollar for the number of times people told me this, I would have enough money to buy all of the plants they would need to revamp their shade garden! Just because you aren’t living in the blinding sun doesn’t mean you can’t grow a wide variety of interesting, beautiful plants that have a positive impact on your ecosystem.

Native plants can benefit your garden in several ways: They attract pollinators, pre-

serve the local ecosystem and promote biodiversity. Also, native plants will already be well adapted to the area so they will usually be easier to care for in the long term than many exotics. You can find natives at many local nurseries, and the staff are usually happy to help you select your plants.

Do your research before you buy, because there can be multiple plants with similar names that are not the native varieties. Never collect plants from the wild. It can negatively impact the ecosystem in the

area—although removing plants from the wild can change the look of the landscape, the biggest concern is that 90 percent of native insects feed on three or fewer species of plant, so removing specimens from the wild can directly affect the microecosystem. You can also bring pests and diseases that you may not have seen in the wild into your garden.

Here are a few of my favorite native shade perennials, which are surprisingly easy to grow and propagate.

Mertensia virginica/ Virginia bluebells

Asarum canadense/ wild ginger

Despite its name, wild ginger has no relation to the ginger we eat. It picked up its name from the strong scent that the rhizomes emit when crushed. Early settlers used this plant as a ginger substitute, and it is sometimes still used today in herbal mixtures. This plant is a low-lying ground cover with large, green leaves that make it a fantastic shade specimen. Sometime between April and May, when you lift up the leaves, you will find funky maroon flowers that look like something out of a fairytale. They grow best in moderately damp—but well-drained— soil and succumb to very few pests. Wild ginger is a perennial that spreads through rhizomes, so digging and transplanting can both spread and control it. The flowers can attract butterflies, and the plants act as a host for pipevine swallowtail caterpillars. It is sold at many garden centers, and you only need one to get the party started, since they spread on their own. Propagating through division in the spring is best once you have established plants.

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Emerging in the early spring, Virginia bluebells put on a gorgeous display from April to June before dying back to the ground for the year. The incredible flowers start off as pink buds that open up to reveal trumpet-shaped blue flowers. Virginia bluebells should be planted with other, longer-lasting plants, since they go dormant halfway through the year. The show they give you in the spring makes them worthy shade plants that brighten up any dark area. They do best in well-drained soil with a high organic content. These perennials are easily propagated via seed, but you can always buy them at a local nursery. They attract bees, butterflies and moths, so if you are interested in hosting pollinators in your garden, check this plant out!

Polygonatum biflorum/ Solomon’s seal

This hardy rhizomatous woodland perennial is an excellent filler for any shade garden. Although they are great ornamental plants, they can be used as an edible starch.

In May, small green and white, pendulous flowers appear along the stalk and last through June. In the fall, the flowers are replaced with beautiful dark-blue berries (which are not edible), and the foliage turns a striking yellow, making it a plant that will bring interest to your garden most of the year. Although they do best in areas with a lot of moisture, they are highly versatile and can tolerate a variety of conditions once established. This is a common landscaping plant and can be found in most garden centers that sell perennials. Since they are rhizomatous, they spread well and can be easily propagated and controlled through division.

IL LUSTRATIO N S BY M ARIKA MI RREN

gardening

Heuchera Americana/

Aster divaricatus/

Heuchera is a low-lying, clumping perennial with fascinating foliage. It is well known for having leaves that come in every color of the rainbow, but this specific variety is the one native to this region. They have silver and green leaves, and the intensity of color varies depending on the amount of light they are exposed to. Tiny cream flowers emerge on tall stalks in May and last until June. These stalks should be clipped once they are finished blooming to encourage more flowering. This plant’s foliage is evergreen, so you will have color in your garden year-round. All they require as far as spring cleanup goes is a basic trim around the base to remove the old leaves. They grow in a variety of soil conditions and can be divided once they have a couple of years to establish. You can find heuchera in any garden center that sells perennials.

White wood asters are fall-blooming natives that are easy to grow and generally pest-free. Tiny but plentiful daisylike flowers start showing up in August and last throughout the fall. These blooms will bring butterflies from all corners of the city into your garden. As the flowers fade, the center darkens from a vibrant yellow to a lovely burgundy, which perfectly coincides with the fall season. The flower stalks are black, which provides a lovely contrast against the brilliant white flowers. The foliage is also pleasing, with its heart-shaped, highly segmented leaves, offering interest for the majority of the growing season.

Generally found in woodland settings, this plant can tolerate many soil and moisture conditions. These plants are easily purchased at garden centers that sell woodland natives, and they can later be divided once they have established in your garden.

alumroot

white wood aster

Geranium maculatum/

wild geranium or cranesbill Wild geraniums are surprisingly versatile perennials that can tolerate a variety of light, soil and moisture conditions. Dainty pink flowers emerge on stalks in April and can last until August. Although you will get more blooms if you can provide some sunlight as well as rich, well-drained soil, this rock star will bloom in shade and poor soil conditions. Unlike the ornamental geraniums that we all know, deadheading them is not necessary; in fact, the maintenance level for these guys is surprisingly low. Wild geraniums are also known as cranesbill because of the distinctive seed heads that form after flowering. These plants can be propagated through rhizome division or by seed. If you collect the seedpods, wait until they darken in color, carefully cut them from the plant, and store them in a bag until you are ready to sow them. The pods will burst open in the bag, making it easy to separate the seeds. The seedpods can attract a variety of birds including mourning doves.

Try Some, Buy Some This is just a small sample of native plants, shrubs and trees that do well in shade gardens. Make sure you research other options so that you can have a garden that fits all of your specifications.

Happy planting!

Some Pennsylvania nurseries that specialize in native plants: • Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery • Redbud Native Plant Nursery • Octoraro Native Plant Nursery • ArcheWild Native Nurseries

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Garden Tour

Greening projects are popping up all over the city—here are three you won’t want to miss by alex jones

Gardeners all over Philadelphia are eagerly digging and planting in tiny plots and pots.

But greening our larger public spaces takes a lot more time and planning. These three exciting projects will add to Philadelphia’s growing green infrastructure acreage, from green roofs to our own version of New York City’s incredibly popular High Line.

Museum of the American Revolution showcases history while keeping it green The long-awaited Museum of the American Revolution, opening April 19 at 3rd and Chestnut streets, boasts an impressive list of exhibits.

Immersive theaters featuring life-sized, cast-resin figures in historical garb will place visitors on the frontlines of battle and in close quarters where pivotal decisions were made. Galleries include key artworks, books and letters from the Revolutionary era, as well as the first newspaper printing of the Declaration of Independence. And its collection of several thousand artifacts contains historic pieces like a 1773 poetry volume from Phillis Wheatley, the nation’s first published African-American female author; the coat of a Continental Army soldier from Lower Merion; and the field tent in which Gen. George Washington slept and devised battle strategy throughout the war.

But the museum isn’t just showcasing the past—it’s working to safeguard the future by incorporating cutting-edge innovations in green building technology into its design.

The building’s green roof—covered with soil and plantings of sedums, waxy-leaved and drought-tolerant plants that love full sun and grow close to the soil—will collect stormwater, naturally cool the structure and provide a habitat for plants, birds, insects and small animals in the middle of our urban landscape.

“With a 29,000-square-foot green roof that covers 90 percent of the building, the Museum of the American Revolution fea-

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A rendering of the Museum of the American Revolution’s green roof by architect Robert A.M. Stern. Project partners include Alexander P. Lamis and Kevin M. Smith.

tures one of the largest meadows in Old City,” said Michael Quinn, the museum’s president and CEO. The building also qualifies for LEED certification, the standard for sustainable building design—no small feat for a museum, considering the specific climate requirements needed to preserve centuries-old artifacts.

In fact, the building’s stormwater collection system will feed into the museum’s cli-

mate control system, the first time in which a system like this has been implemented in Philadelphia.

While the green roof will not be open to the public, visitors can enjoy the museum’s outdoor plaza, paved with brick and Pennsylvania bluestone and shaded

by Valley Forge elm trees. The plantings were enriched with soil from Revolutionary sites around the country at the museum’s groundbreaking event in 2014.

IM AG E COURTESY O F RO B E RT A.M. STERN

gardening

The first phase of Philadelphia’s Rail Park is underway It’s been a long road for the Rail Park.

An overgrown, three-mile section of disused elevated and underground train track known as the Reading Viaduct runs east from 11th and Vine streets to 8th and Fairmount, and west to 13th and Noble, then into a tunnel that continues parallel to the Schuylkill River and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to end at 31st and Girard.

In October 2016, construction crews broke ground on a project that will transform the Reading Viaduct, section by section, into a leafy, green, public space. Phase One, as project partners are calling it, is a segment that extends from Broad Street just south of Spring Garden to Callowhill between 11th and 12th streets. This first step is on track to be finished and open to the public early next year.

“One advantage of global warming is that we’ve gotten through this winter without any weather delays. Usually, when you start a project in the fall, you expect [that],” said Paul Levy, president and CEO of Center City District, which, along with Friends of the Rail Park, the Commerce Department, and Parks and Recreation, serves as a project partner.

“Crews have been working five days a week straight through the winter,” he said.

“We’re very much on course to be finished very early in 2018.”

The tracks, which span the length of 50 city blocks and run through 10 neighborhoods, were built by the Reading Railroad in the 1890s to carry passenger and cargo trains into Center City; by 1984, this section of the railroad fell into disuse and was left to the weeds, standing as a symbol of a city abandoned by the industrial activity that once drove its economy and way of life. SEPTA purchased a quarter-milelong segment of the track it in 1995, but it wasn’t until 2010 that Philadelphians saw the Reading Viaduct as anything other than a sign of urban blight.

Inspired by New York’s successful High Line project, which revitalized a similar section of elevated track as a bustling public park, the community-based advocacy group Friends of the Rail Park drummed up support for something similar to hapIMAGE COU RT ESY O F ST U D I O BRYA N H A N ES

pen here. Joining up with CCD and city departments to raise initial funding for a feasibility study, the group found that the cost to transform an initial section of the track into safe, public green space (just under $10 million) would cost much less than demolishing and remediating the site, then disposing of hazardous waste (around $50 million).

The project partners have been spreading the word about the project and raising funds to complete it, piece by piece; they were awarded a grant of $3.5 million by the state in October 2016 that put them over the top and allowed construction to begin late last year.

Since then, the project has raised an additional $700,000 toward the completion of Phase One. While the partners still need to come up with another $400,000 to $500,000

to finish the project, Levy is optimistic that they’ll reach their goal on schedule.

“There have been multiple fundraising efforts—major donors have stepped forward, but also smaller, grassroots things, like at the Trestle Inn, where they’re doing monthly [happy hour] events and donating the proceeds,” he said. “It’s a major project that everyone believes in. That doesn’t often happen in life.”

While Phase One of the Rail Park comprises only a small portion of the three miles of Reading Viaduct track, to Levy, that taste of what the whole park could one day be will help drive support further.

When they see Phase One complete, “Everyone’s going to say, ‘Is this all?’ And that’s the motivation,” Levy said. “We want everyone to get to the end of the first phase and help start to raise money for Phase Two.”

A rendering of Phase One of the Rail Park, by Studio Bryan Hanes

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A rendering of the Newkirk Monument at Bartram’s Mile

by Adropogon Associates

Bartram’s Mile gets Southwest Philadelphia one step closer to connecting with the Schuylkill River Trail A newly completed section of the ever-growing Schuylkill River Trail will be unveiled on April 22: Bartram’s Mile, which will run along a stretch of the river’s west bank that hasn’t been publicly accessible for decades.

The mile-long trail is intended for pedestrians and cyclists, with public benches and lawn areas throughout. It will extend from Grays Ferry Avenue to 58th Street along the west bank of the river.

“The trail is an opportunity for Southwest Philadelphians to connect to the river and our city’s amazing park system for the first time in generations and [will] anchor Bartram’s Garden as our community’s outdoor living room,“ said Maitreyi Roy, executive director at Bartram’s Garden.

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Bartram’s Mile, a project of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and the Schuylkill River Development Corp., was funded by a $250,000 grant from the Civic Commons Initiative through the Fairmount Park Conservancy’s Reimagining the Civic Commons project. The trail initiative dovetails well with construction improvements and renovation to the garden’s buildings and visitor areas in recent years, as well as the Bartram’s Community Boathouse, which provides free canoeing and kayaking on Saturdays to community members during the warm seasons.

The 46-acre botanic garden is the oldest in the country and has served as a farm, garden or green space since the acreage was purchased by John Bartram from Swedish colonizers in 1728. Today, it’s surrounded by in-

dustrial processing firms and lower-income neighborhoods home to longtime residents and recent African immigrants. While Bartram’s is easily accessible by foot or bike for Southwest Philadelphians and the 36 trolley for others, only for the past few years has the organization focused its outreach on its neighboring communities rather than regional fans of colonial-era gardens.

This project is part of that new focus on its neighbors: When Bartram’s Mile is completed, only one more piece—a refurbished industrial swing bridge—must be in place to connect Bartram’s Garden with the Schuylkill River Trail. The bridge portion of the project is scheduled to be completed in 2018.

That won’t just increase traffic to Bartram’s from other parts of the city—it will enable Southwest Philly residents to walk, run or bike the full length of the trail and access the rest of the city like never before.

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gardening

Tiny Farm to Tiny Table Healthy eating in the lunchroom at Friends’ Central School by grid staff

Lower School Principal Kelly Bird Pierre explores the organic garden harvesting vegetables with students Nora Thorne, Gemma Kent, Maria Morsa and Solomon Murphy

S

chool cafeterias of old are notorious for mushy veggies and fried mystery meats, but students at Friends’ Central School in Wynnewood hope to promote healthful lunch hours with a new yearround food-growing program.

Students from nursery school through fifth grade are taught the significance of healthy eating by cultivating the Lower School organic garden—the foundation for Friends’ Central’s farm-to-table program— beginning with planting fruits, vegetables and herbs.

This fall, Friends’ Central launched a school lunch program called Lettuce Feed You. It features healthful meals, including vegetarian options, prepared in-house

by Chef Wadiya Gooden for the school’s youngest eaters. The lunch table at the Lower School is supplied overwhelmingly by local farms, including its own expansive organic garden.

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“Students are not just learning about making an impact, they’re actually living it and able to see it,” said Assistant Lower School Principal Ginger Fifer. “Last month, all the roasted potatoes on the cafeteria menu were from our garden, as well as the vegetables in the salad, the herbs in the dressing and the butternut squash.”

From enjoying food that connects to the curriculum—for example, Indian food during the first-graders’ study of India—to participating in food preparation, Lower School students use their knowledge of food to create a foundation for healthful eating.

Now in its fourth year, the Lower School garden is an integral part of the academic program. In addition to growing a number of cafeteria items on campus, the garden serves as a pumpkin patch and a butterfly garden, which both provide regular opportunities for outdoor, experiential science classes.

The new Ulmer Family Light Lab and the Natural Sciences Studio—one of four distinct makerspace studios within the Light Lab—have added depth to the students’ knowledge of how the farm-to-table program functions at the Lower School.

A group of fifth-graders recently measured pH levels and plant growth and added water with nutrients to the aeroponic towers in the solarium. They then harvested kale, arugula and leaf lettuce from the aeroponic towers to enjoy at lunch.

The new equipment has provided students an opportunity to learn the science of year-round gardening, said Brie Daley, director of the Light Lab. “What’s nice also is that the learning is not in isolation. There’s a context as to why they’re learning aeroponics and hydroponics,” Daley said. “They’re coming in and owning these spaces and helping them to develop.

It’s been a really great community project.”

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Flowers are blooming and festivals are booming... including Philly's first environmental film fest

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Reel to Real

Environmental film festival launches in Philadelphia by nancy chen

L

ast year was, again, the hottest year on record.

And yet, at a moment when environmental concerns at home and around the world seem to be mounting, President Donald Trump is following up on his campaign promises to repeal environmental regulations and dismantle Obama-era legislation that mitigates climate change and enforces clean water standards. We are also poised to have the most anti-regulatory Environmental Protection Agency since it was founded in 1970.

Individual citizens are questioning our fundamental relationship to government— what can we (or should we) rely on the government to provide? Is there any other choice but for individual citizens to step up our environmental stewardship?

Enter Philadelphia’s inaugural Environmental Film Festival, set to debut on Earth Day weekend, April 21 through 23 at the Prince Theater. Its founders are dedicated to creating a festival that entertains, educates and—most importantly—inspires action.

Debra Wolf Goldstein, executive director of the Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival

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“Environmental issues lend themselves to visual images and film, which celebrate the beauty of nature while conveying its fragility,” said PHEFF Executive Director Debra Wolf Goldstein, a native Pennsylvanian who is a land conservation lawyer and consultant for environmental organizations, government agencies and landowners. “There’s still time to make a difference in all environmental areas—for example, climate change. Some of the problems are human made, some of them aren’t. As a society, we can change regulations. If enough people are outraged it leads to change, when individuals organize, put pressure on their lawmakers and make conscientious decisions about what they buy and consume.”

Goldstein and PHEFF Artistic Director Alexandra Drobac Diagne stress that they don’t want audiences to walk away discouraged or depressed, feeling as though the Earth has been irrevocably ruined.

They want the festival to motivate and catalyze Philadelphians into taking personal action toward the specific environmental issues they care about.

Hosted at the Prince Theater in Center City, the festival will offer programs that explore environmental challenges of all kinds, while seeking to provide examples of how individuals or organizations have proactively taken action to mitigate environmental harm and address the problems.

During its open submissions period, PHEFF received more than 200 film submissions from 34 countries. At the time of writing, the festival jury (which includes longtime Philadelphia Inquirer film critic Carrie Rickey) is finalizing film selections, aiming to balance the exploration of serious environmental issues with artful appreciation of nature’s beauty—and sense of humor. Over the course of three days, PHEFF will present a selection of 25 international and regional shorts and feature-length films. Each evening will highlight a feature-length film, which in the festival world

“There’s hope and there’s answers out there—some of these films capture that very poignantly.”

Debra Wolf Goldstein, Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival

is defined as 50 minutes or longer. One of these features is “Killing the Colorado,” the 2016 documentary exploring the water shortage that threatens the American West: Its causes are man-made, which hopefully leaves room for man-made solutions. Susan and Alan Raymond, two of the award-winning filmmakers involved, will attend and participate in a post-screening question-and-answer session.

“Before the Flood,” directed by Fisher Stevens, shows narrator Leonardo DiCaprio—who has been an environmental activist for over 20 years and currently serves as the United Nations’ messenger for peace with a focus on climate change— traveling around the world from Miami to the Arctic Circle to speak with scholars and activists about the catastrophic effects of climate change that are starting to be felt across the globe.

A youth-centric block of films on Saturday afternoon is anchored by the feature “Saving My Tomorrow,” which shows young people singing about and discussing

P HOTOS COURTESY O F P HIL AD E L P HIA E N V IRO N M E N TAL F IL M FESTI VA L

festivals

the importance of protecting the earth. It’s narrated by Upper Darby native Tina Fey and includes appearances by a dozen other celebrities and musicians.

Among the selected short films is “One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts,” Peter Byck’s short documentary about Will Harris, a fourth-generation cattle farmer who runs White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Georgia. Harris narrates how he took great financial risk—going $7.5 million into debt—to totally transform the operations of White Oak Pastures from a typical monocultural industrial cattle farm to a humane, grass-fed operation where sustaining biodiversity and improving quality of life for the animals are top priorities.

On the more artistically experimental end of the spectrum is “Nine Fires,” an excerpt from a feature-length film about New Jersey’s Pine Barrens directed by David Kessler. “Nine Fires” offers a poetic glimpse of what life is like in a remote forest that countless people drive past en route to the Jersey Shore.

“I’ve seen many films lately that are breaking the mold of what is typically considered an ‘environmental film,’” said Kessler, a New Jersey native who studied at the University of the Arts in the 1990s and received a Pew fellowship in 2015.

“Like these films, what I have been trying to do—and what I feel that the festival is focused on doing—is presenting work that finds different avenues to engage the viewer with their own environment and the environment at large. I think art can be the strongest way to promote awareness and advocacy, often without the viewer knowing that is its goal before they are absorbed in it and find themselves caring. The environment as a topic for film is only going to get progressively more important, especially as the people in political power seem to have nothing but contempt for it. These films and these discussions around them couldn’t be more vital.”

Goldstein first brought up the idea to launch an environmental film festival in Philadelphia in early 2016. The women did a quick Google search and found that many cities large and small host their own such festivals. Goldstein added, “My sister-inlaw lives in the Midwest in a town called Molene, on the border between Iowa and

Alexandra Drobac Diagne, artistic director of the Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival

Illinois. It’s the home of the John Deere tractor. When she told me that Molene had an environmental film festival, that was it!

I said, ‘If Molene has one, Philly needs to have one!’ There are pressing critical issues concerning our environment and great films being made all over the world that are not being shown in the Philadelphia area.”

Together, Goldstein and Diagne went from thinking, “Someone should really start this in Philly” to realizing that, between the two of them, they had the connections and expertise to launch it themselves.

Goldstein has been working in the environmental field for the last 25 years. She’s helped build trail networks, preserve farms and create nature preserves. She served as vice president of the Fairmount Park Commission and chaired the land use committee of the Philadelphia Commission on Parks and Recreation, where she drafted the city’s ordinance on parkland protection. She and Diagne met because they each have sons who attend the Germantown Friends School.

Diagne brings curatorial art and film industry experience. Originally from Wisconsin, she worked as a curator at Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. She went on to work in Los Angeles for 15 years, first on arthouse and then blockbuster films. Diagne also helped filmmaker James Camer-

on build his entertainment company. She started on “The Abyss” (1989); worked on “Terminator II” from when the first word was written to the red carpet three years later; and did research for “Titanic” and “Avatar” (2009). Diagne added that “Avatar” is now considered one of the top environmental films of all time for its depiction of the beauty of the natural world. For those who missed the film during its blockbuster run or those who want to experience it again, “Avatar” will cap off the festival as the Sunday night finale screening.

For research and for inspiration, the two women attended Washington, D.C.’s Environmental Film Festival last March.

“D.C. is the grandma of all environmental film festivals,” said Goldstein.

“It’s celebrating its 25th anniversary. It’s attended by thousands annually and it’s become a year-round program.” The D.C. festival spans two weeks and is organized around issues such as food security or pesticide use. From hearing Goldstein and Diagne speak of the energy of DCEFF, it’s clear that being part of such a convening provides tremendous inspiration—to be surrounded by fellow citizens who are passionately committed to saving and conserving our environment.

Among the Philadelphia festival’s concerns is the need for greater reach and diversity among people who feel the environment is relevant to them. “We have a commitment to reaching audiences who aren’t already tuned in,” said Diagne. As part of PHEFF’s educational outreach, they are pursuing partnerships with Philadelphia community organizations—especially those that work with youth across the city—offering free or discounted tickets and weekend passes to groups that are outside the stereotypical demographics for environmentalists (think white and middle-aged). “We are making sure that the ticket price [$11 general admission/$5 student] isn’t a barrier for anyone who’s interested to come.”

Despite the challenges that exist today, including a presidential administration that appears at best unsympathetic and at worst antagonistic to environmental concerns, Goldstein reiterated, “There’s hope and there’s answers out there—some of these films capture that very poignantly.”

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Herb Heaven

Pennsylvania Herb and Garden Festival is a one-stop shop for plants and education by lauren johnson

Previous vendors’ plantings from the 2016 Pennsylvania Herb and Garden Festival

W

hen it comes to gardening, herbs do so much more than add culinary flair. Not only do they add kick to a dish, they offer health benefits for us and our environment, as well.

The Pennsylvania Herb and Garden Festival, held in York, Pennsylvania, kicks off its 19th year this spring. While it continues to focus on growing and using herbs, the festival has since expanded to include all aspects of gardening as a way to promote environmental stewardship—such as organic gardening and choosing plants that encourage pollinators and wildlife.

“I wanted to encompass every aspect of gardening that can help our environment,” says Sue Eggleston, president of the Herb and Garden Festival. “The festival is not only an opportunity to teach people about growing herbs, it’s also a chance to learn how to use them to take better care of yourself.”

The festival began as a one-day event but has expanded as interest has grown. The two-day event is now held at York Expo 36

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Center and includes nearly 140 vendors and participants, including nurseries, and also features cooking demonstrations, display gardens, workshops, artists, guest speakers and more.

“We are getting more and more people interested in herbs and container gardening from urban areas like Philadelphia, because they want to learn how to garden with limited space,” Eggleston says. “Container gardening is easy—anyone can do it, and they are easy to maintain.”

Last year, the event attracted more than 3,500 visitors from Pennsylvania and surrounding states, ranging from novice gardeners to horticulturists to industry professionals.

Another highlight of the festival is that the International Herb Association chooses an “herb of the year” to highlight and teach the public about. This year’s herb, cilantro, is a bit of a double feature as its leaves are used as an herb, and its seeds, known to cooks as coriander, are used as a spice.

Aside from the variety of herb and garden vendors, the workshops and speakers encourage learning and participation.

Workshop topics this year range from learning how to plant your own container herb garden to how to blend your own herbal tisanes. Lectures vary from using aromatherapy for health to incorporating herbs to enhance your favorite meals.

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Chestnut Hill Looks to Next 20 Years as Philadelphia’s Garden District Annual Home and Garden Festival continues to grow by lauren johnson

I

n an area teeming with natural, architectural and cultural attractions, the Chestnut Hill Home and Garden Festival, held this year on May 7, offers a unique chance for visitors to experience it all in full bloom. Not only does this oneday event feature local garden vendors, artisans and demonstrations, it is hosted by a community whose commitment to the environment is sure to inspire.

“The festival began as a way to celebrate our dedication to green spaces and Chestnut Hill being Philadelphia’s Garden District,” says Martha Sharkey, executive director at the Chestnut Hill Business District. “The goal of the event is to introduce people to the wonderful urban village we have here in Northwest Philadelphia—we truly are the suburb in the city.”

Since 1996, Chestnut Hill has officially been designated as Philadelphia’s Garden District in recognition of its attention to sustainable urban planning, greenways and horticultural assets. This year’s Home and Garden Festival celebrates the 21st anniversary, and special events will be held throughout the area during the spring and summer months.

The area presents a perfect backdrop for the event, with easy access to the 1,800 acres along Wissahickon Valley Park, as well as more than 15 parks and green spaces throughout the community and business district, including the Woodmere Art Museum’s burgeoning outdoor sculpture garden and the picturesque Morris Arboretum.

In addition, private homes with gardens that are exquisitely maintained are peppered throughout, although they are not offered for tours during the festival.

“Amidst enjoying the surrounding natural beauty, we want to encourage people

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The crowd at 2016’s Chestnut Hill Home and Garden Festival, which returns May 7

to walk around and experience the many diverse shops and restaurants along Germantown Avenue,” Sharkey says. “The garden festival is a wonderful opportunity to take it all in and has since become one of our signature events, attracting close to 30,000 visitors each year.”

During the festival, Germantown Avenue is closed down for foot traffic only, and guests are treated to a full-scale open air market celebrating all things garden-related.

The 150 participating vendors include local nurseries selling plants, pottery, terrariums, birdhouses and more. Demonstrations introduce visitors to beekeeping, worm composting, aquaponics and candlemaking.

There will be plenty of music and food as well as activities for children of all ages.

Attendees can also ask their most burning gardening questions at the “ask the expert” booths stationed by volunteers from Morris Arboretum.

festivals

Spring Festivals APRIL 1–9

APRIL 21–23

APRIL 29

Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival

Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival

Go West! Craft Fest

Enjoy this weeklong exploration of Japanese music, art, food and culture, produced by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia. Activities include a sushi contest, 10K and 5K runs, a harajuku fashion show, dancing, and arts and crafts. subarucherryblossom.org When: Various times Cost: Adults $10 to $15; free for children Where: Various locations.

The main celebration is at the Horticulture Center in Fairmount Park on April 9.

The first Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival includes dozens of new short films and feature-length productions covering a spectrum of environmental topics. Several of the screenings will include moderated discussions with opportunities to meet the filmmakers. philaenvirofilmfest.org When: Check website for showtimes Cost: $5 to $30 Where: Prince Theater, 1412 Chestnut St.

APRIL 7 & 8

Food Truck and Wine Festival

Pa. Herb and Garden Festival Enjoy two days of educational speeches and demonstrations accompanied by gardening, cooking and craft vendors. Celtic-American folk group Seasons will perform live. paherbfest.com When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday Cost: $7; free for children 12 and under Where: York Expo Center, 334 Carlisle Ave., York, Pa.

Discover cuisine from the area’s food trucks, live music by the Bob Lanza Blues Band and wine tastings. Bring a lawn chair, blanket or beach umbrella. No pets, outside food or drinks, canopies or shelters permitted. albavineyard.com When: Noon to 5 p.m. Cost: Adults $10; ages 13 to 20 $5; free for children 12 and under Where: Alba Vineyard, 269 Riegelsville Warren Glen Road, Milford, N.J.

APRIL 8

APRIL 22

Philly Farm and Food Fest

Uhuru Health Festival and Flea Market

This annual festival returns with food artisans, distributors and retailers focused on sustainable food systems, as well as nonprofits dedicated to strengthening the local food shed. Meet your makers! phillyfarmfest.org When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $18 to $45; free for children under 12 Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th and Arch streets

APRIL 9 Manayunk Fall StrEAT Food Festival Main Street will be closed to cars, and pedestrians will rule the streets as dozens of food trucks offer gourmet treats, and you’ll be serenaded by live music. The Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival kicks off the neighborhood’s Restaurant Week, which runs through April 21. manayunk.com When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Pay as you go Where: Main Street, downtown Manayunk

This fest returns to West Philly’s Clark Park with local health practitioners, fitness workshops, vendors, live entertainment and a children’s circle. Facebook: Uhuru Health Festival When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Free Where: Clark Park, 4300 Chester Ave.

APRIL 23 Annual Wildflower Celebration Enjoy a magnificent display of spring ephemerals as you stroll through native plant gardens at the peak of their blooms, enjoy live music, attend gardening demonstrations and more. Family friendly events are also offered at this annual celebration of the season, and the first 1,000 families to attend will receive a free native plant. mtcubacenter.org When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Cost: Free Where: Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, Del.

More than 100 local makers will sell unique and creative products. Enjoy food vendors, live local music, activities for kids and even acrobatic performances! gowestcraftfest.com When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Free Where: The Woodlands, 4000 Woodland Ave.

Center City Jazz Fest Acts at this year’s multi-venue festival include Eric Wortham, George “Spanky” McCurdy, the Landham Brothers, Monnette Sudler, Odean Pope, Josh Lawrence & Color Theory, Adison Evans Quintet and James Santangelo Trio. See website for full schedule. ccjazzfest.com When: 1 to 7 p.m. Cost: $20 Where: Various venues

MAY 7 Chestnut Hill Home and Garden Festival Germantown Avenue will turn into an outdoor marketplace for more than 150 home and garden vendors. The 21st installment of this annual celebration will include landscape and garden displays, flowers, terrariums, birdhouses, fountains, and “ask the experts” booths. There will also be live music, vendor demonstrations and lots of good food. Rain date: May 21. chestnuthillpa.com When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Pay as you go Where: Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill, between Rex and Willow Grove Avenues

MAY 21 ArtWell Festival At this interactive street festival, young community members will share their visions with festival-goers and engage in activities such as collaborative mosaic and crafting masks and instruments. Local artisans and food trucks will sell their goods, and music, dance and educational workshops will take place throughout the afternoon. theartwell.org When: 1 to 5 p.m. Cost: Free Where: Oxford Mills, 100 W. Oxford St.

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Carnaval de Puebla Canceled Concerns about immigration crackdown upend a decade-old celebration by nancy chen

T

he Carnaval de Puebla, among the most prominent public celebrations of Mexican culture in Philadelphia, will be canceled this year. Organizers stated via the Carnaval de Puebla Facebook page that they took action because of the climate of uncertainty for members of Mexican-American communities: They didn’t want to expose participants—especially those traveling from out of state or from Mexico—to unnecessary risks in the face of recent immigration crackdowns.

Philadelphia’s 10-year-old Carnaval stems from a 150-year-old Mexican tradition that originated in the Puebla region of Central Mexico. The carnavaleros in the parade wear elaborate costumes that represent different battalions in the historic Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, in which the Mexican army defeated the invading French. Most people have heard of Cinco de Mayo, but not many know that the holiday honors this historic victory for Mexico.

Many of the intricate costumes are handmade and shipped from Mexico. The elaborately detailed and hand-stitched garments, masks and headgear include three-dimensional sculptural components such as fruits and taxidermied animals draped across the backs of the carnavaleros.

According to Edgar Ramirez, a member of Carnaval’s organizing committee who also runs the Philatinos internet radio station, the majority of participants in the Carnaval de Puebla come from the Region de los Volcanes in Puebla, which includes the city of Huejotzingo. For the Philadelphia parade, there are around 400 carnavaleros, more than half of whom come from outside Philadelphia—from the cities in that region and from around the U.S. Many local participants are workers in the restaurant industry in Philly, ranging from busboys to head chefs such as David Piña of Tamalex and Dionicio Jimenez of El Rey. The public statement announcing the cancellation explained: “Carnaval is so important because it signifies the representation of our community [in Philadelphia], the mixing of cultures and knowledge that con40

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tributes to the development of this city... For the past 10 years, through great challenges and with pride, we have shared our traditions with our neighbors. But under these sad circumstances, there does not seem to be an environment conducive to joyful celebration. Our community is focused on other priorities, and we do not want to increase risk to safety or well-being.”

According to the Migration Policy Institute, out of an estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S., 6.2 million are estimated to come from Mexico. Within the total unauthorized population, 60 percent have been here for at least a decade.

The Trump administration’s focus on de-

porting unauthorized immigrants has left many uneasy about doing anything that might draw the attention of Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities, including simply going out in public—or even seeking medical attention.

In the absence of the parade, organizers will dedicate their time and energy to joining community activities that advocate for the rights of Mexican immigrants. Ramirez told Grid, “On this occasion, our organization will join the efforts of other groups and organizations so that our community’s rights are respected. Our work, culture and ideas, and our contributions to the economy must be taken into account.”

P HOTO COURTESY O F CARN AVAL D E PUE B L A/P HIL ATIN OS RA DI O

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A Few of Our Favorite

( farm stand ) Things

Sitting alongside the stellar produce at the city’s farmers markets, you’ll find some of the best artisan food in the Philadelphia region by emily kovach

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SHOP L OCAL

Farm Stand to Table Grid 's picks for artisan offerings at your neighborhood market by emily kovach

Headhouse Square 2nd & Lombard

Weighing in at over 40 vendors, this bustling Sunday market is one of the largest in Philadelphia. Located under the historic Shambles in Society Hill, the Headhouse Square market is a quintessential locavore food shopping experience. In addition to the staggering amount of beautiful produce, there are a wide variety of food artisans selling their tasty wares.

Strawberries and cream between sugar cookies from Zsa’s Ice Cream

What to try:

Ric's Bread

Zsa's Ice Cream

Talula's Table

Based in Lancaster, Ric’s is a staple at the Headhouse market, usually staying on through the whole season right up until the holidays. If a simple whole-wheat loaf is all you seek, Ric’s table will serve you well, but his offerings don’t stop there.

A range of creative baked goods awaits, including salted basque (phenomenal pretzel bread), baguettes, muffins, pepperoni bread, sweet potato walnut bread and focaccia. But the stars of the show are Ric’s English muffins; “decadent English muffin” may sound oxymoronic, but the walnut and dried fruit variety, slathered with cultured butter or farmer’s cheese, sidles up very close to cake territory.

What could be better than cruising the see-and-be-seen stalls of Headhouse on a warm spring morning, eating ice cream for breakfast? Thanks to Zsa’s staff, this can be your new Sunday morning tradition. They’ll be set up at Headhouse this season with their pints, single-serve cups and ice cream sandwiches. The flavors will rotate throughout the season, and the classic standards such as vanilla ice cream between chocolate chip oatmeal cookies will be on hand. But keep an eye out for limited-edition and seasonal varieties that will be popping on and off the menu. Think: pints of lemon buttermilk, chocolate-flecked imperial stout ice cream or cream cheese ice cream between cookie dough brownie sandwiches.

This little restaurant in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, is best known for coveted reservations at its Farm Table and Chef’s Table prix fixe dinners (at times, staff is booking almost a year in advance!). Talula’s is also a market that sells dry goods, prepared foods, snacks and sweets, and it’s a selection of these items that are brought to Headhouse Square each week. You’re liable to find whatever you need to turn your market produce into a meal at the Talula’s stall. They carry a selection of spreads such as white bean hummus and smoked salmon and herb dip, housemade charcuterie and sausages, including duck confit, chorizo and smoky kielbasa. For dessert, bring home some salted-caramel or vegan coconut chia pudding.

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SH OP L OCAL

Clark Park

Fermented veggies from the Cottage Kitchen

43rd & Baltimore

This year-round Saturday morning market is where West Philly gathers to shop, sip coffee, walk dogs, stroll babies, picnic on rumpled sheets, sunbathe in actual grass and generally revel in the neighborhood splendor that is Clark Park. Produce, meat and flowers are on offer, as well as treats from artisans.

Brie from Valley Milkhouse

What to try:

The Cottage Kitchen

Slow Rise Bakery

Valley Milkhouse

This family business was founded in 2015

by Wendy Gollwitzer in Oley, Pennsylvania. She sets up a stand at Clark Park each week to sell jars of fermented veggies and bottles of beet kvass. Probiotic pros will recognize the usual suspects, like kimchi and kraut, as well as some less familiar stuff, such as curtido, a Salvadoran sauerkraut commonly used as a condiment for Central American pupusas, thick corn tortillas. All of the Cottage Kitchen’s products are made from raw, organic, fermented vegetables sourced from Lancaster-area farmers.

This small-batch bakery’s table is spread with many of the goods you’d expect: crusty loaves of sourdough bread, bags of amber-hued granola and thin, crispy crackers sprinkled with sesame seeds.

But if you only purchase one thing from Lancaster-based Slow Rise Bakery, try the Four Seed Cookies. Landing somewhere between a typical, commercially made cookie and a too-healthy-to-be-good granola bar, this crumbly, biscuit-y, oatmeal cookie is studded with chocolate chips, raisins, and sesame, flax and pumpkin seeds.

If that doesn’t solve your cookie cravings, Slow Rise also has a special cookie of the week each Saturday. Past flavors include spice cookies, snickerdoodles, chaidoodles, vegan chocolate and lemon caraway.

Out in Berks County, Stefanie Angstadt makes handcrafted, small-batch, artisanal cheeses, running the gamut from fresh and soft-ripened styles to cave-aged varieties.

She sources her organic milk from nearby Spring Creek Farm and Dutch Meadows Organic Dairy, which lend incredible flavor compounds to her varieties such as Thistle (a white, mold-ripened cheese aged four to six months) or Witchgrass (a bloomy, ash-dusted cheese). In addition to Valley Milkhouse’s usual offerings, market shoppers can scoop up wedges of its more experimental cheeses and give feedback or ask questions of the passionate, knowledgeable cheesemongers who operate the stand.

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SH OP L OCAL Canelés from Market Day Canelé

Chestnut Hill Farmers Market 7673 Germantown Ave.

Much like the Clark Park farmers market, Chestnut Hill’s Saturday market is open all year long and acts as a communal meeting place for the surrounding neighborhoods. Food trucks line up for breakfast and lunch options, but there are also plenty of food artisans in attendance, selling the delicious extras that can help turn that bounty of produce into a meal.

What to try:

Market Day Canelé The name of this French-inspired bakery gives a clue to what its specialty is (and the canelés—a traditional rum-and-vanilla-flavored pastry with a custard center and caramelized crust—are, indeed, fantastic), but Chef Gil Ortale puts up so much more, and he is dedicated to cooking seasonal recipes using locally grown ingredients. Some of his signature items include the seasonal sweet and savory tarts (gougères), veal stew, egg and gruyere sliders—and of course the famous canelés. Jon Glyn, Farm to City’s farmers market program manager, says, “Gil was one of the very first food artisans to join the markets, standing side by side with the farmers under all types of weather.

And you’ll see him shopping at the market just like the customers.”

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Wonderful Good Market Wonderful Good, part of Stoudts Brewing Co., uses the grains from the beer-making process in its German-style, slow-rise, natural fermented breads. The “heritage bakers” focus on ancestral recipes, which they have been selling for more than 23 years.

Their sauerkraut rye bread and their sunshine bread (packed with whole grains and seeds) are customer favorites. Wonderful Good also makes cheese from local dairy, and its aging rooms host 11 styles of cow’s milk cheese, such as the semi-firm and subtle Tulpehocken Tomme and the sharp, salty Nettie’s Feta.

Primordia Farm This family owned and operated mushroom farm is in Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania. According to proprietor Matthew Sicher, they do their best to “provide wild, weird and whimsical foods to the good residents of the hill and their friends and families!” Among its consistent line of cultivated mushrooms, Primordia Farm offers chemical-free varieties you may have heard of (shiitake) and some that are less familiar (pink oyster). Primordia is also looking to expand to include even more varieties, such as chanterelles and puffballs, and the farm is in conversation with the owner of a food processing facility, in the hopes of bringing a line of value-added products to market this year. Get excited for more gourmet specialties, such as edible flowers and wild berries.

SH OP L OCAL

Bryn Mawr Farmers Market Lancaster & Morris Avenues

This market, one of the largest in the suburbs, transforms an Amtrak parking lot into a bustling community space on the first, third and fifth Saturdays from 10 a.m. until noon through April.

Between May and December the market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Maple syrup from Whiskey Hollow

What to try:

Flour & Oats Artisan Cookies Based in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, Flour & Oats is a small-batch bakery, focusing primarily on high quality cookies in a diverse range of flavors. Made from natural ingredients (no artificial coloring or added preservatives), the cookies are scooped by hand, baked and then individually packed fresh daily. The mouthwatering seasonally inspired varieties, such as salted caramel snickerdoodles, cayenne cookie bark and honey lavender shortbread, are made with local honey, fruits, vegetables and herbs. A customer favorite is the Hiker, a kind of mashup between a cookie and a granola bar, with lots of dried fruit, nuts, oats and honey.

Whiskey Hollow

MoJo’s Pop Co.

Whiskey Hollow’s farmers live in southern Chester County, and their maple trees are on a parcel of land in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. At the market, they sell their pure Pennsylvania maple syrup and creative variations like the popular whiskey-barrel-aged maple syrup. In this flavor, Whiskey Hollow slow ages maple syrup in used barrels from Philadelphia-based New Liberty Distillery, encouraging the syrup to absorb the wood and whiskey flavors from the barrel. Whiskey Hollow also has a vanilla-infused, cinnamon-infused and regular maple syrup, as well as regular and spicy maple mustard. This spring, the company is rolling out a new product: granulated maple sugar, a white sugar alternative for cooking and baking.

From their factory store in South Philly’s Pennsport neighborhood, mother-and-daughter team Maureen Nami­otka and Maigan Lennon make delicious toffee popcorn using non-GMO corn kernels sourced from Lancaster County. Their toffee corn is a gourmet evolution that goes way beyond the usual sticky, overly sweet stuff. Not only is it made with skill (Lennon is a trained pastry chef), but the flavor combos are thoughtful and inventive: The sweet, smoky bourbon bacon, tropical cinnamon coconut, and white chocolate with gluten-free pretzels are just a few of the addictive varieties they bring to market.

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SH OP L OCAL

Fitler Square Farmers Market 23rd & Pine

Though much smaller than the market a few blocks away in Rittenhouse Square, this year-round Saturday morning market serves the surrounding neighborhood well with produce, grass-fed meats and dairy, and many other offerings.

A bottle of barrel-strength whiskey from Red Brick Craft Distillery

Apple cider doughnuts from Highland Orchards

What to try:

Philly Fair Trade Roasters

Red Brick Craft Distillery

What better to serve with a breakfast of local eggs, veggies and toast than a cup of locally roasted coffee? Philly Fair Trade Roasters sources beans from fair trade certified coffee cooperatives in South and Central America and the Pacific Islands, and the team roasts them at their facility in North Philadelphia. In addition to sourcing ethically sound beans, they also adhere to strict sustainability practices, including composting chaff (a byproduct of roasting coffee) and using compostable and recyclable packaging. At the market, they serve cups of hot coffee, whole bean coffee and hot chocolate mixes made with organic and fair trade cocoa, sugar and vanilla bean— free from fillers and additives.

You just bought a fragrant bunch of fresh mint and now you’ve got mint juleps on the brain. No need to make an extra stop at the wine and spirits shop; just stop by the Red Brick Craft Distillery table to pick up a bottle of locally produced, small-batch whiskey. From its location in Kensington, Red Brick handcrafts spirits with 85 percent Pennsylvania-grown barley. Its flagship whiskey is aged in new, full char, American white oak barrels, and it boasts warm, chocolatey notes, ideal for a sipping on the rocks or shaking up in a cocktail.

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Highland Orchards This family business from West Chester, which started in 1832, brings a haul of fresh, seasonal produce to the market each week.

As a means of supplementing those items, it also has a wide variety of baked goods and prepared foods to offer customers. Several years ago, the Highland Orchard folks completed the build-out of a commercial kitchen, and from there they make baked goods such as apple cider doughnuts, cookies, fruit breads, pies and muffins. Of note are the creative fruit bread recipes; in addition to the more typical zucchini or apple breads, shoppers might see apple-caramel-walnut, pear-zucchini or raspberry varieties. Top those loaves with some of Highland Orchards’ preserves, which come in unique flavors such as watermelon pickle, persimmon jam and cranberry hot pepper jelly.

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FOOD

Spring’s First Stalks Asparagus, prosciutto and the humble egg make a simple and delicious spring meal by brian ricci

O

h, April! Named for Aphrodite—the goddess of love— how I’ve missed you. With April’s return we mark the re-emergence of foodstuffs green, delicate and delicious.

I’m thinking of the first cuttings of fragrant chervil, peppery watercress and chlorophyllic fiddlehead ferns—but at the top of my list stands the first cutting of tender asparagus. Cultivated for millennia (asparagus was popular in ancient Rome, and a recipe even exists in the world’s oldest surviving cookbook, “Apicius: de re Coquinaria”), asparagus heralds the coming local harvest as it gathers momentum. Its young, delicate flesh tells us that we can, and should, do “less” with it.

When looking for asparagus, find thin, unblemished spears— thickness denotes age and, invariably, thicker spears will be quite

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firm and fibrous. The flower on top should be intact and not bruised. You may see asparagus with purple tops—these tend to have a higher sugar content and are therefore sweeter when eaten soon after harvest. After purchasing, be sure to wash the asparagus in cold water, as it is often grown in sandy soil and may have an unpleasant, grainy texture if left unwashed. Local farmers markets—such as Headhouse Square on Sundays—are an ideal resource for finding the first cuttings. To keep from eating the more fibrous, stalky roots, hold a spear with a hand on each end and gently bend it until it snaps, then add the root end to your vegetable-stock scrap collection.

Brian Ricci is a chef living and working in Philadelphia.

FOOD

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus with Egg Serves 4

ingredients :

directions :

yy yy yy

yy yy

1. Place a medium-size nonstick pan on medium heat and add a few tablespoons of

1 pound local asparagus, cleaned 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 5 to 6 thin slices prosciutto—a domestic product by La Quercia is highly regarded 4 local cage-free eggs Salt and black pepper to taste

extra virgin olive oil.

2. Add 2 eggs to the pan and fry until the whites are set but the yolk is runny.

Repeat this step with the other 2 eggs.

3. Set a cast iron or heavy gauge sauté pan on medium high heat. Wait for a minute

4.

5.

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7.

and then add enough extra virgin olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Look for it to shimmer, then add asparagus—cook in batches if you have to. This will cook quickly, as all you are looking to do is blister the spears. Turn them after 30 seconds of cooking and make sure to season with salt and fresh pepper.

After about 2 to 3 minutes of cooking, remove the pan from the heat.

Gently drape the slices of prosciutto over the asparagus while still in the pan— this will begin to melt some of the fat from the cured meat over the asparagus.

Remove to a large serving plate—or split into 4 individual plates, each garnished with asparagus, prosciutto and topped with a fried egg.

Invite your dining companions to break the yolk and allow it to run onto the plate—then dive in and enjoy a wonderful hallmark of spring.

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FOOD

All About the Eggs Fresh spring eggs, hearty potatoes and the season’s first greens are all you need for the perfect frittata by anna herman

T

hese longer days bring a promise of renewal and warmth—the promise of plenty—and have been cause for celebration in most cultures throughout history. As a sure sign of rebirth, the egg—a natural wonder—became an important symbol of this happiness and joy and fertility that heralds spring’s arrival. Eggs have been colored, blessed, exchanged and eaten as part of the rites of spring for countless centuries.

Greens are a gardener’s first harbingers of spring—tender lettuce, spinach, kale, chard and pea shoots are all planted in late winter and ready for harvest after only a few weeks.

Every spring, in between starting hundreds of seedlings, I hatch a batch of fertile eggs for a classroom or backyard homestead project. When those chicks grow up and themselves start

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to lay, I make a frittata with some fresh spring greens to celebrate.

Frittatas belong in every cook’s repertoire. Quick to assemble for an impromptu dinner or brunch, leftover wedges can be eaten with a salad or as a sandwich for lunch. A few eggs can bind any number of seasonal ingredients, and the resulting dish is always greater than the sum of its parts.

The only rule: Less is more. Almost any vegetable, herb, cheese and many meats are great in a frittata, but select just a few ingredients for any given one. Don’t overbeat or the frittata will be puffy.

Don’t overcook or the frittata will be dry.

Anna Herman is a garden educator who raises chickens, ducks and bees and grows fruits and veggies in her Mount Airy backyard.

FOOD

Potato and Spring Green Frittata Serves 6 to

ingredients :

directions :

yy yy yy

yy

yy yy yy

yy

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. In a 10- to 12-inch sautĂŠ pan with an ovenproof handle

3 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, minced 2 large Yukon gold (or other wax) potatoes, cooked, cut in half and sliced thinly 1 large handful pea greens or baby spinach, chopped coarsely (or 1/2 cup thinly sliced blanched asparagus) Coarse salt Fresh black pepper 1/4 to 1/2 cup grated cheese (sharp cheddar, Gouda, fontina, Parmesan—or some combination) 8 to 12 eggs, lightly beaten, with 3 table- spoons of milk or cream

(a well-seasoned cast iron pan works well here) heat the oil till shimmering.

2. Add the onions and cook until just browning.

3. On medium heat, add the potatoes and heat until warmed through, then add

the pea greens or spinach and remove from the heat.

4. Season with salt and fresh pepper and spread the mixture neatly in the pan.

5. Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the vegetables.

6. Season the egg and milk mixture with salt and black pepper, stir to incorporate,

and pour the egg mixture to cover the vegetables in the pan.

7. Return the pan to a burner over medium heat and cook gently for 4 to 6 minutes

until the sides just start to come away from the pan.

8. Put in the center of the preheated oven and cook until just barely set in the

center, about 12 to 15 minutes.

9. Remove and let sit another 5 to 10 minutes. Serve wedges directly from the pan

or turn onto a plate. The dish can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature for brunch, lunch or supper with a salad, toast or both.

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FOOD

Sweet Spring Onions A crunchy polenta tart uses spring onions as the star ingredient by christina pirello

W

hile many of us can’t imagine anything more alluring than the taste of sautéed onions, sometimes we want something less intense—but that still hints at onion flavor. In this case, scallions, green onions and spring onions are often our alliums of choice.

But what are spring onions—and are they the same thing as scallions?

(Scallions and green onions are simply different names for the same veggie.)

Spring onions resemble scallions with long, graceful green stalks, but you’ll notice that they have small onion bulbs at the base. They’re like the mature versions of scallions. They are planted as seedlings in the late fall and then harvested the following spring, hence the name.

Spring onions are sweeter and more delicate than regular onions with purplish or snow-white bulbs, depending on the variety, and can be used in exactly the same way as onions or scallions, but they will yield a milder flavor in the resulting dish.

And while the flavors and textures of scallions and spring onions can be similar, the intensity in flavor of the glorious green stalks differs, especially when used raw. I wouldn’t use raw spring onions in place of raw scallions in a dish, as they can easily overwhelm the other flavors in an unpleasant way.

I love spring onions. They are a sure sign of the warm days to come. If you plan to cook with them (and I do hope you will!), their mellow flavor will add a depth to your spring cooking that makes the season even sweeter.

Christina Pirello is a Philadelphia-based chef and educator and author of the book “Changing the World One Meal at a Time.”

Polenta Tart with Spring Onions Makes one 9-by-12-inch tart ingredients :

yy

yy

yy yy yy yy yy yy

yy

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5 to 6 large red and/or white spring onions 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (plus extra for oiling the tart pan) 1/4 teaspoon local honey Sea salt 2 cloves finely minced fresh garlic 3 cups spring or filtered water 1 cup fine yellow cornmeal 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup unsweetened almond or soy milk

GR IDPH I L LY.CO M A P R IL 20 17

directions :

Separate the dark green stalks from the bulbs and rinse well.

Set the greens aside and slice the bulbs vertically in half and cut into half-moon pieces.

In a medium-sized skillet, place the oil and spring onions over medium heat.

When the onions begin to sizzle, stir until they turn translucent—about 2 minutes.

Add honey, a generous pinch of salt and cook, stirring frequently until the onion pieces caramelize to a deep brown—about 15 to 17 minutes.

6. Stir in garlic and season lightly with salt. Cook for 1 minute more.

Set aside to cool.

7. In a medium pot, bring water and cornmeal to a gentle boil, with a pinch of salt and black pepper, stirring constantly.

8. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking, stirring frequently until polenta is thick and the center heaves—about 10 to 15 minutes.

9. Take polenta off of heat and stir in “milk” and sautéed spring onion bulbs and garlic.

10. Cool polenta for about 10 minutes and lightly oil your tart pan.

Preheat oven to 450 F. 11. Spread polenta evenly, (about 1/2 inch thick) over the bottom of the tart pan. Chill for 10 to 15 minutes before proceeding.

12. Slice the reserved green stalks into long, thin, diagonal pieces and sprinkle over the top of the chilled polenta. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the polenta is firm and the edges are browned.

13. Slice and serve hot.

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EVENT S

Flowering cherry trees in the Fairmount neighborhood. The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival returns to Fairmount Park on April 1 through 9. See event listing on Page 39.

For a list of spring festivals, visit page 39

A pril 1 Co-Up: A Community Teach-In for Cultivating Economic Justice Learn, connect, network and share ideas at this cross-class, multiracial, intergenerational gathering designed to cultivate economic justice in the Philadelphia area. philadelphia.coop WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

COST: $5 to $65 sliding scale WHERE: Universal Audenried Charter High School, 3301 Tasker St.

Morris Arboretum in Motion: The Kinetic Sculptures of Lyman Whitaker Meet the artist who created more than 50 wind sculptures for this exhibit, and watch as he creates a piece on-site. A live performance of eight musical compositions by

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composer and musician Nicholas Escobar will kick off the event. morrisarboretum.org

A pril 1 & 2

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

COST: Adults $17; seniors $15; children $9 WHERE: Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 100 E. Northwestern Ave.

Animal Superhero Weekend

Creature Comforts: A Collaborative Art Exhibition Students at Arcadia University have created habitats and homes incorporating art made by students of Wissahickon Charter School.

Meet the artists, watch a presentation by the Delaware Museum of Natural History and take the opportunity to explore the grounds. awbury.org WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Awbury Arboretum, 1 Awbury Road

PASA FARMDATA Training FARMDATA is an internet database system customized to individual farms and compatible with smartphones and computers.

Participants will launch their own custom accounts with coaching from experienced users. pasafarming.org WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Dickinson College, Kaufman Hall, Room 186, 400 W. North St., Carlisle, Pa.

How much do the superheroes of the animal kingdom inspire the superheroes (and supervillains) of comic books and movies?

Find out at the Academy of Natural Sciences’ Animal Superhero Weekend. ansp.org WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. COST: $13.95 and up WHERE: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Night in the Museum Experience the Academy of Natural Sciences’ towering dinosaurs after dark during this overnight stay at the museum. ansp.org WHEN: 6:30 p.m. to 9 a.m.

COST: Members $50; nonmembers $55; VIP $80 WHERE: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

A pril 2 South Philly Yard Tree Giveaway This year, TreePhilly has a selection of large and medium shade trees, small flowering trees and fruit trees to choose from. Register for your own yard tree at the website. treephilly.org WHEN: Noon to 2 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: South Philadelphia High School, 2010 Broad St.

EVENT S

A pril 3 Tiny Tot Explorers Kids ages 3 through 5 can explore nature through songs, games, hands-on activities and museum adventures with their parents or guardians. ansp.org WHEN: 11 a.m. to noon COST: $20 per pair for members; $25 per pair for nonmembers WHERE: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

A pril 6 Lunch & Learn: Dealing with Life Through Art Collector and curator Hope Proper will talk about how photography helped her deal with life’s challenges. perkinsarts.org WHEN: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Perkins Center for the Arts, 395 Kings Highway, Moorestown, N.J.

Evenings with an Expert: Entomologist Greg Cowper See Wagner Free Institute of Science’s collections in a new light through intimate, scholar-led tours. For the first in this series, entomologist Greg Cowper will share stories and information about Wagner’s insect collection. Tickets include a wine and cheese reception before the tour begins. wagnerfreeinstitute.org WHEN: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. COST: Members $20; nonmembers $30 WHERE: Wagner Free Institute of Science, 1700 W. Montgomery Ave.

Conversations @ Moore: Planning for the Future How do we make plans for the kind of city we want? One place to start is by asking how plans currently get made. Another way is to ask each other what our visions are. This event will explore how artists and designers are working within—and independent of— conventional urban planning processes. moore.edu WHEN: 6:30 to 8 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Moore College of Art & Design, 1916 Race St.

A pril 6–10 Art Unleashed Opening Night Party Celebrate the opening of this exhibition and sale showcasing the work of students, faculty and alumni—the University of the Arts’ largest fundraiser for student scholarships. artunleashed.uarts.edu WHEN: Times vary by day COST: Free, but opening night party admission is $100 to $200 WHERE: University of the Arts, 320 S. Broad St.

The Quiet Circus: River Charrette 2 Philadelphia Contemporary and Headlong host a silent walking tour and interactive performance dialogue at RAIR (Recycled Artist In Residency), where participants can explore the grounds of a construction waste recycling facility in Northeast Philly that processes 350 tons of material a day.

The second River Charrette will address sustainability issues against a backdrop of the gritty urban industry near the banks of the Delaware River. Bus transportation is offered to and from RAIR for this event, but bus seat reservations must be made at info@philadelphiacontemporary.org no later than April 2. philadelphiacontemporary.org WHEN: 4 p.m. COST: Free, but reservations encouraged WHERE: RAIR Philly, 7333 Milnor St.

Roxborough Yard Tree Giveaway This year, TreePhilly has a selection of large and medium shade trees, small flowering trees and fruit trees to choose from. Register for your own yard tree at the website. treephilly.org WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon COST: Free WHERE: Roxborough TD Bank Store, 5501 Ridge Ave.

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PASA Mushroom Cultivation Intensive

Tree Tenders Basic Training

Discover the key concepts of growing, harvesting, preserving and cooking with shiitake and oyster mushrooms.

Learn tree biology, identification, planting and proper care during Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s hands-on training for residents of the Philadelphia region.

This is a nine-hour, single-day intensive class. Coffee and lunch included. phsonline.org

pasafarming.org WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. COST: Members $45; nonmembers $60 WHERE: Quiet Creek Herb Farm, 93 Quiet Creek Lane, Brookville, Pa.

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. COST: $25 WHERE: Temple Ambler, Bright Hall Lounge, 580 Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, Pa.

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Hikers at Mt. Cuba Center, which is hosting a stroll along to Ashland Nature Center on April 19

Vegetable Garden Planning Workshop This workshop will focus on how to best use the space in your backyard or community plot for a healthy and productive vegetable garden through the season. Participants will take a tour of the Greensgrow high tunnel to see these methods at work on the farm and receive a handout with a planting schedule and seasonal garden ideas. Registration required. greensgrow.org WHEN: Noon to 2 p.m. COST: $15 WHERE: Greensgrow Farms, 2501 E. Cumberland St.

A pril 8 & 15 Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival This all-ages event celebrates the art, culture and gardens inspired by the more than 35 varieties of cherry trees that blossom in Morris Arboretum each spring. morrisarboretum.org WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

COST: Adults $17; seniors $15; children $9 WHERE: Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 100 E. Northwestern Ave.

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Healthy Trails 5K

Spring Break Camp

Discover Tacony Creek Park during this run/walk on a fully paved, stroller-friendly trail, which begins and ends on the Friends Hospital campus. runtheday.com

Each day at this camp—for kids ages 5 through 12—includes a live presentation by one of the Academy of Natural Sciences’ teacher-naturalists, an exploration of the exhibits, games, crafts and activities.

WHEN: 8 to 11 a.m. COST: $0 to $50 depending on tier WHERE: Friends Hospital, 4641 Roosevelt Blvd.

Tacony Yard Tree Giveaway This year, TreePhilly has a selection of large and medium shade trees, small flowering trees and fruit trees to choose from. Register for your own yard tree at the website. treephilly.org WHEN: Noon to 2 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Frankford Avenue TD Bank Store, 6635 Frankford Ave.

Run for Clean Air This annual run along the banks of the Schuylkill River creates a celebratory atmosphere to learn more about companies committed to the environment and health.

Attendees of the 10k, 5k, 3k and kids’ runs can enjoy a free post-race drink and ecosnacks donated from the event’s partners.

The Run Kids’ Corner includes eco-friendly crafts, education and a rock-climbing wall. cleanair.org WHEN: 7:30 a.m. COST: $10 to $45 to participate WHERE: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

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ansp.org WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. COST: $55 per day for members; $60 per day for nonmembers WHERE: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

A pril 11 Year-Round Succulent Gardening Horticultural Society of South Jersey presents Jessie Keith—a horticulturist, writer, garden photographer and educator—discussing hardy succulents, which act as water-saving ornamentals and can provide “garden insurance” for periods of seasonal heat and drought. hssj.org WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Carmen Tilelli Hall, 820 Mercer St., Cherry Hill, N.J.

EVENT S

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glasses, corkscrews and more. One egg per person. Ages 21 and up. albavineyard.com

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Bee Aware

WHEN: Noon to 5 p.m. COST: $10 per person WHERE: Alba Vineyard, 269 Riegelsville Warren Glen Road, Milford, N.J.

Alice in Wonderland GayBINGO

Pollinators are crucial to the proper functioning of the natural world and agricultural system. This presentation will discuss the plight of insect pollinators, with a special focus on honeybees, detailing their decline and what it means for the food supply, economy and environment.

Facebook: Mount Laurel Township Green Team WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Mount Laurel Library, 100 Walt Whitman Ave., Mount Laurel, N.J.

April Seed Circle Library Open The South Jersey Seed Circle Library will be open and available. Please stop by to pick up some seeds for your garden. There will be knowledgeable people on hand to answer questions relating to care of your seeds.

Facebook: South Jersey Seed Circle Library

A pril 18 PASA History and Development of High Tunnels High tunnels are a versatile tool that can improve your farm’s profitability by extending the season and increasing your control over the growing environment. With the increase in the number and availability of high tunnels, it can be hard to know where to start and what is worthwhile. Find out how to make it work for you. pasafarming.org

GayBINGO raises funds for HIV/AIDS services in the Greater Philadelphia region.

This event is open to anyone who enjoys campy humor, and cash prizes will be awarded. aidsfundphilly.org WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m. COST: Balcony $25; floor seats $30 WHERE: The Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St.

Hidden Gems Tour In this new tour, Morris Arboretum guides will showcase little-known spots in the garden—a combination of structures, sculptures, trees and vistas. Many are off the beaten path or considered “hidden in plain view.” morrisarboretum.org

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. COST: Members $10; nonmembers $15 WHERE: Harvest Valley Farm, 125 Ida Lane, Valencia, Pa.

WHEN: 11 a.m. to noon COST: Adults $17; seniors $15; children $9 WHERE: Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 100 E. Northwestern Ave.

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Hike the Mt. Cuba Center to Ashland Loop

Neighborhood Tree Plantings

WHEN: 7 to 8 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, N.J.

April in Paris Dinner Join Awbury Arboretum in the Cope House veranda for food, wine and cocktails inspired

by Paris. The menu includes fresh spring pea soup, coq au vin and a signature French cocktail, prepared by Chef Gail Hinson. awbury.org WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m. COST: $30 WHERE: Awbury Arboretum, 1 Awbury Road

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Take a behind-the-scenes trek from Mt. Cuba Center, through Red Clay Reservation, to Ashland Nature Center and back. Enjoy the spring ephemerals of the unique piedmont landscape while passing a chestnut plantation, walking through meadows and forested habitats, and visiting a reforestation experiment along the way. mtcubacenter.org

Home Baking and Sourdough with Philly Bread Philly Bread’s dough wizard, Pete Merzbacher, will teach the basics of sourdough fermentation and how to set up an organized home kitchen. Everyone will leave with sourdough starter and fresh bread, as well as instructions, recipes, contact info and resources. greensgrow.org WHEN: Noon to 2 p.m. COST: $35 WHERE: Greensgrow Community Kitchen at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, 2139 E. Cumberland St.

Adult Easter Egg Hunt and Wine Tasting in the Vineyard Each egg contains a special surprise ranging from discounts on wine purchases, wine

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. COST: $20 WHERE: Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, Del.

A pril 20 Film and Farmer Green Event A screening of “Truck Farm” will be followed by advice for gardeners of any experience level from local farmer Julie Pierre of Our Yards Farm. There will also be organic seedlings for sale for your garden. gmofreenj.com WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, N.J.

Join Tree Tenders in planting more than 800 street and yard trees. Instruction and tools are provided, but you must register with a group near you. phsonline.org WHEN: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Various locations

A pril 23 Repair Fair at Metal Incorporated Bring any of your damaged, broken, disassembled or confounding possessions. This includes things like clothing, dull knives, lawnmowers, toasters and jewelry. Talented fixers will help you learn to repair your own stuff. phillyfixersguild.org WHEN: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Metal Incorporated, 2609 E. Cambria St.

Be a Marine Biologist Temple biologist Erik Cordes and others will reveal the wonders of deep sea coral reef ecosystems. Activities will take place throughout the afternoon and are geared toward children ages 6 through 12, but the museum and building will be open for exploration by all. wagnerfreeinstitute.org WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Wagner Free Institute of Science, 1700 W. Montgomery Ave.

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EVENT S

Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center will be the site of the third annual Biophilic Cities Conference on May 10

A pril 26 PASA Propagation Practices for the Diversified Vegetable Farm Take a tour of Pennypack Farm’s propagation operation, including its greenhouses and crop planning process in preparation for its summer CSA. Guides will discuss made-on-site soil mix and seedling germination. pasafarming.org WHEN: 3 to 6 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Pennypack Farm and Education Center, 685 Mann Road, Horsham, Pa.

Homeowner Series Talk: Tomatoes Join the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Camden County to learn about varieties of tomatoes, differences in taste and how they are grown. Master gardener Nelson Valentine, class of 2013, will be the speaker.

Preregistration is strongly suggested.

plants into a display that lasts throughout the season. Bring pruners, gardening gloves and your own container (15 inches wide and at least 10 inches deep). Hosts will supply the rest. mtcubacenter.org WHEN: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. COST: $45 WHERE: Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, Del.

Poetry Slam at Eviama Throw your name in a hat for National Poetry Month. Each reader will have a three -minute time limit and a 15 second grace period. Come prepared for second-round drawings. Wine, beer and snacks will be provided. eviama.com WHEN: 5:30 to 8 p.m. COST: Readers $2; nonreaders $5 WHERE: Eviama Life Spa, 109 S. 13th St., #2N

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Morris Arboretum Celebrates Arbor Day Morris Arboretum scientists will present the four whorls of a flower, introduce some plant families, and consider how humans use flowers and fruits. At stations throughout the garden, guests will be able to craft their own bandana using flowers and create a personal card. morrisarboretum.org WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. COST: Adults $17; seniors $15; children $9 WHERE: Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 100 E. Northwestern Ave.

Annual Awbury Spring Flea Market and White Elephant Sale Funds raised through this flea market support the care of Awbury Arboretum’s historic landscape and the continuation and development of its programming. awbury.org WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. COST: Pay as you go WHERE: Awbury Arboretum, 1 Awbury Road

camden.njaes.rutgers.edu WHEN: 6:30 to 8 p.m. COST: $10 per household WHERE: 1301 Park Blvd., Cherry Hill, N.J.

Spring Photography Stroll

Container Gardening

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An early morning opportunity to capture the beauty of spring in the gardens of Mt. Cuba Center. Photographer Chris Starr will provide professional guidance for all experience levels on the technical and aesthetic elements of photography. mtcubacenter.org

Greensgrow Farms’ container expert Maureen will provide step-by-step guidelines on how to design a container with herbs and annual flowers. The workshop will talk about soil, light, position, care and maintenance for particular containers and conditions. greensgrow.org

Shady Spring Container Add a bit of springtime flair to your patio, deck or entryway with a container of shade-loving perennials. Combine native

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WHEN: 7 to 11 a.m. COST: Free WHERE: Mt. Cuba Center 3120, Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, Del.

WHEN: Noon to 2 p.m. COST: $45 WHERE: Greensgrow Farms, 2501 E. Cumberland St.

P HOTO COURTESY O F FAIRM OUN T WATE R WORKS

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dishes, learn about foraging and its positive imprint on the environment. BYOB. Seating is limited. riverbendeec.org

Community Garden Days

WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. COST: $60 per plate WHERE: Riverbend Environmental Education Center, 1950 Spring Mill Road, Gladwyne, Pa.

Come out to Greensgrow Farms or Greensgrow West and pick up some goods for your community garden. Community garden purchases will receive 10 percent off. greensgrow.org

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WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Greensgrow Farms (2501 E. Cumberland St.) or Greensgrow West (5123 Baltimore Ave.)

DVGBC Sustainability Symposium

A pril 30 Penn State Extension Philadelphia Master Gardeners: Garden Day and Plant Sale Free garden workshops and soil testing, talks and tours of three award-winning demonstration gardens and a huge variety of seedlings for sale including herbs, vegetables, fruits and native pollinator flowers.

Rain or shine. extension.psu.edu

Join the Delaware Valley Green Building Council for its seventh annual symposium.

Don’t miss a day of educational sessions covering cutting-edge sustainability and green building information. Regional and national speakers will discuss their current work and opportunities for social, environmental and economic impact. dvgbc.org WHEN: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. COST: Members $50; nonmembers $100; students $25; government/nonprofit $75 WHERE: Penn State at the Navy Yard, 4960 S. 12th St.

M ay 10 Third Annual Biophilic Cities Conference: Healthy City - Urban Habitat Focused on the connection between biophilia and health, this event features a networking reception followed by short presentations and a panel discussion.

Speakers include: Tim Beatley of Biophilic Cities and Julia Africa of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. dvgbc.org WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. COST: Members $25; nonmembers $35; students $10 WHERE: Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Waterworks Drive

Right to Breathe Workshop Physicians for Social Responsibility presents a public health workshop about air pollution, planned with community members and air pollution experts, hosted

by Philly Thrive and PSR Philadelphia.

Child care and light snacks will be provided during the event. psrphila.org WHEN: 12:30 to 5 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: Health and Literacy Center, 1700 S. Broad St.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. COST: Free WHERE: 100 N. Horticultural Drive, behind the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center

M ay 2 Flower Arranging with CHICORY Floral Join the Schuylkill Center for a special floral design workshop, where participants will create lush spring arrangements with the best and first flowers of the season. schuylkillcenter.org WHEN: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. COST: $70 WHERE: Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road

M ay 4 Supper Series: May the Forest Be With You Riverbend Environmental Education Center welcomes Chef Alex Garfinkel back for his creative take on dishes created with foraged food. Between courses of fresh, seasonal

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DIS PATCH

The Everyday Activist A music industry promoter gets back to his social-worker roots essay by derek dorsey

I

work in the music industry. I’ve booked thousands of shows and promoted scores of festivals—and have spent an untold number of late nights watching everything from folk to hiphop. Outside my home in Kensington, the sound of children playing down the street has been an alarm clock of sorts, alerting me that it’s time to get my day going.

I live about 300 yards from Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, where, two years ago, a pig’s head was thrown at the building where those kids play and my neighbors pray. As I watched the news polarize the community after this particularly deplorable hate crime, I decided that I had to do something. Instead of watching the news, I wanted to change the narrative.

I walked over to the mosque, thinking that I might be able to speak with the cleric. There, a Fox 29 reporter from New York asked me what I was doing, and, after chatting with him for a bit, he asked if I’d like to be interviewed as a community activist. I didn’t realize that’s what I was, but I agreed. Eventually I was called in to speak with the mosque’s leader, a wonderfully spiritual man whose community held him in the highest regard.

He treated his position with great humility and responsibility, and he listened as I explained how sincerely I believe that we are all one community, and that we should stand together. After many meetings with the neighborhood’s community groups, we held a “Picnic of Solidarity.” It remains in my memory a proud moment, watching so many people of diverse backgrounds and faiths come together.

A strange news correction was printed soon after the event. “Derek Dorsey is not a Muslim,” it read. I hadn’t thought before about the significance of that, and I pondered my identity as an organizer of the event. I am a Philadelphian. I am a man.

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I am black. But I am not a Muslim. Before that correction, I had simply thought of myself as a neighbor.

More recently, as I rode back from a planning meeting for International Women’s Day (riding my bike, alone with my thoughts, is normally where ideas for event planning occur), I thought about being the only man in the room planning an event for women, organized by women. I was prepared this time for people questioning why I was there.

I realized I was doing it because it’s another opportunity to say to the world that, as a community, nation and world, we stand together as one. It’s imperative to draw attention to the inequality that women face every day. At the March 8 concert, I wanted to amplify the voices of many women I’ve worked with before

who are loud, artistic and brilliant—who are equal.

This year, as I plan the fifth annual Sundrop Music and Arts Festival—another community-centered event—it will feature a big change: It will be a fundraiser for brain cancer, to honor and support a musician I know who is a survivor. The shift in the event feels very natural.

Sixteen years ago, I made a life decision to leave social services and pursue a career in the music industry, but the social worker in me never left—when someone needs help, I do my best. Maybe, to some people, that makes me a community activist. To me, it just makes me your neighbor.

Derek Dorsey is a former social worker, a professional road bike racer, and a talent buyer and event promoter in Philadelphia.

IL LUSTRATIO N BY M ARIKA MI RREN

P R ESEN T S

APRIL 22-23, 2017 THE FILLMORE PHILADELPHIA

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Urban agriculture gets schooled One Penn alumna tackles food justice with urban farming

Katera Moore Master of Environmental Studies ’06, University of Pennsylvania To learn more about Katera’s projects in urban farming, visit www.upenn.edu/grid

“The environment is the gateway to full civic participation,” shares Katera Moore (Master of Environmental Studies ’06), “Studying at Penn allowed me to merge my passion for cities, the environment and people.”

VIRTUAL CAFÉ Join the MES Program Director

While earning her Master of Environmental Studies (MES) degree, Katera focused her research on environmental education, city planning and using communities as learning laboratories. Today, she is the Director of the Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative at the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania. The organization’s operations range from teaching young people about hydration and healthy cooking to growing indoor hydroponic gardens. “We are looking to change the food landscape in the neighborhoods we service. Everything we teach is hands-on and that empowers our kids to own their work.”

on the first Tuesday of every month from 12-1 p.m. for an online chat about your interests and questions.

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With the resources of an anchor institution like Penn and support from SNAP-ed, Katera and her team want to bring urban agriculture to a higher profile. “Our students aren’t just learning to grow their own vegetables; they’re also becoming entrepreneurs.”

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