Grid Magazine September [#077]

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CONTENTS

D E PA RT M E N TS

11

“Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day. ” — POPE FRANCIS

Market Watch Your guide to the weird and wild at the farmers market

13 Guest Column Peter Frank of the Greater Philadelphia Co-op Association reminds us that we’re stronger together

14 The Big Picture Our movement’s Puritan roots, and the ’60s schism between evangelicals and environmentalists

20 Made in Philly R.E.Load Bags says au revoir to planned obsolescence

O N T H E COVER

16 Around Town Forget seeing the Pope. Read (and heed) his explosive environmental encyclical instead.

ABOV E IL LUST RAT IO N & COV E R BY CH E LS EA M A N H E I M

INSIDE THE ISSUE

22 Co-op America They electrified rural America and put out fires in Colonial Philly. Now they’re waiting for you to help remake the American economy.

26 W/N W/N A co-op café and bar serves up community on Spring Garden

28 Drinking and Riding New co-ops for beer makers and taxi drivers

31 The Energy Co-op Local power from windmills and landfills

38 Power to the People Profiles of 10 advocates who believe that Philadelphia’s people are renewable energy

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EDITOR’S NOTES

by

HEATHER SHAYNE BLAKESLEE

REVIVAL We’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden

B

lind faith in markets and technology.

Contempt for the poor, loss of biodiversity, global inequality, animal testing, throwaway culture and the big bank bailout. Fracking, factory farms, GMOs and greenwashing. Cynical politicians and profiteering companies. Climate change. Modern slavery. Societal breakdown.

Pope Francis left no stone unturned in “On Care for Our Common Home,” his open letter to the world about the state of our environment and society. Even if you knew what was hiding in the muck, what comes skittering out can be shocking. Sometimes our fears are just as big and scary as we imagined.

But reading the Pope’s encyclical, despite its unflinching assessment, many in the environmental and social justice movements have felt validation, recognition, solidarity and hope. After many decades of work and—as he notes—too little progress, many advocates are tired, but he reminds us that we have made progress, and tells us, “all is not lost.” We can still decide on a different vision and work toward it together. He believes in humanity, even on those tough days that we don’t.

But Pope Francis hasn’t just picked up the rock, lightened our load and lifted our spirits.

He’s thrown the rock through the window of our collective illusion that the same thinking that got us here will somehow lead us out. He told us where we are, named the road, and then gently explained that we need to choose a different path in order to achieve our vision of a healthy, thriving planet where all life is respected and valued.

One alternative route specifically called out in his encyclical is to take advantage of the time-tested model of cooperatively-owned businesses. We have been sold a particular brand of capitalism that doesn’t fit our purpose very well, if our purpose is to thrive into the future. It’s a brand that says that companies must be run by the few, for the monetary profit of a few, at the expense of our common home and of our common values.

It’s not the only model on the market. It’s invigorating that someone with such vast and deep power to influence is willing to point out the flaws of our current system—to say aloud that the Emperor has no clothes—and to place himself on other side of the barricades.

It’s rare that someone in so much power will criticize an equally powerful system—in this case, capitalism. But Pope Francis is clearly more at home at an anarchist bookstore than a well-appointed suite at a corporate retreat.

That’s not just refreshing, it’s radical.

Another related path that Pope Francis illuminates is one in we which we no longer look at everything and everyone around us as a resource to be exploited for our immediate gain. He referred to “the disposable” of society, and reminded us that we are still throwing away our fellow human beings. He implores that we see each person’s dignity, humanity and talents. Luckily, there are already people around us who are empowering others. Their work creates an exponential mass of talent and creative resources that will help create a more just and civil society. That’s great cause for celebration.

Finally, in reading the encyclical, one feels the sense of possibility that the sustainability movement, as it did for most of our country’s history, will again have many more millions of allies in the religious followers who will heed its teachings, a cavalry that will help us carry on. Pope Francis addressed his letter to each person on the planet—Catholics, non-Catholics, believers and nonbelievers. The gift of his words is that he reminds us of our individual potential, and he believes that if we work together, we may live in a world that looks less like a hell on earth, and a lot more like Eden.

editor-in-chief

Alex Mulcahy alex@gridphilly.com 215.625.9850 ext. 102 managing editor

Heather Shayne Blakeslee heather@gridphilly.com 215.625.9850 ext. 107 Sales & Marketing Manager

Claire Margheim claire@gridphilly.com 215.625.9850 ext. 103 designer

Kathleen White kathleen@gridphilly.com 215.625.9850 ext. 112 ad sales

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Megan Matuzak megan@gridphilly.com 215.625.9850 ext. 106 copy editor

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Marilyn Anthony Katie Bohri Peter Frank Alex Jones Justin Klugh Peggy Paul Casella Patricia McBee photographers

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Corey Brickley Chelsea Manheim 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

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MARKET WATCH

by

PEGGY PAUL CASELLA

as cooler weather sets in, seek out these treats of early fall

Fennel This herb grows up to 10 feet tall, with finger-like stems that stretch upward from its bulb amidst feathery fronds. As it reaches maturity, the plant produces a canopy of yellow flowers. Like the fronds, stems and bulb, these flowers are entirely edible, boasting a sweet, licorice-like flavor. The two most commonly eaten parts of the fennel plant are the bulb, which is used as a vegetable in savory and sweet dishes, and the seeds, which are used in teas and spice blends. Look for fennel bulbs with stems and fronds in tact, and use the whole thing!

USES: Slice the bulb and stems, and roast or sauté with other vegetables, or bake them into savory tarts. Serve it raw in a salad with orange segments and green olives; it also pairs extremely well with crisp apples. Crush the seeds and churn them into ice cream, or cook them into custards and other desserts that would benefit from anise-like flavor. Use chopped fronds as a garnish or in place of other herbs like parsley.

Asian Pears

Paw Paws

(a.k.a. Japanese Pear, Chinese Pear & apple pear) Native to China and Japan, where they have been cultivated for thousands of years, Asian pears are plump and round and have a rough skin that can range from yellow to brownish green. As for taste, my husband compares them to those plastic-sheathed freeze pops of childhood: crunchy, juicy and syrupy sweet.

They are picked ripe and do not soften like conventional pears, but they are just as susceptible to bruising. And because of their firm texture, they can be subbed in for apples in many different recipes. Look for unblemished fruit that feels heavy for its size. They will keep at room temperature for one week and in the fridge for up to three months.

(a.k.a. Hoosier banana, Indian banana, custard apple & Quaker delight) Don’t be fooled by the tropical flavor of these greenish black tree fruits— paw paws are actually native to North America. Break into a ripe one and you’ll find custardy yellow flesh that tastes like a mash-up of banana, mango and unfiltered (yeasty) beer. Paw paws are best eaten straight off the tree, and their short shelf life and season makes it difficult for farmers to cultivate and sell them to grocery stores.

Thankfully, since these elusive treats grow wild all over the area, you can find foraged paw paws at the farmers market, or you can hunt for them yourself in your local forest.

USES: Chop or slice them for use in salads and stuffings, grate them into slaws and use them to flavor, and add moisture to cakes, pies and muffins. You can also stuff and roast them as you would apples, cook them down into chutneys and butters, or sauté them to serve with pork chops.

USES: You can eat paw paws as is, or squeeze ripe fruit over a colander to make purée, and use it in cakes, cookies and quick breads; over yogurt or vanilla ice cream; or in smoothies, puddings and ice creams.

Peggy Paul Casella is a cookbook editor, writer, urban vegetable gardener, produce peddler and author of the blog Thursday Night Pizza.

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GUEST COLUMN

by

PETER FRANK

DISRUPTING BUSINESS AS USUAL The case for a cooperative economy

I

rely every day on cooperative businesses owned and controlled by my neighbors and friends. I buy groceries from Kensington Community Food Co-op, source my energy from the Energy Co-op, bank with Philadelphia Federal Credit Union and Sun Federal Credit Union, and drink coffee and dine at W/N W/N Coffee Bar, a worker-owned co-op. In the near future, I’ll likely join or use other coops for web hosting, brewing craft beer, taking a taxi, sending my son to a preschool and even investing my money: There is an investment club that invests in co-ops. I go out of my way to patronize co-ops because they directly benefit our communities.

Philly has a vibrant co-op scene that is on the verge of becoming a significant driving force in our local economy. Our region already has more than 175 co-ops and credit unions, with several new co-ops in development. These are businesses that are owned and controlled by their members on a democratic “one member, one vote” basis. Co-ops exist to serve the needs of their local member-owners, which is radically different than businesses that exist to maximize profit. Co-ops certainly need to make a profit to survive, but they typically aim to make enough money to cover their costs, which gives co-ops the freedom to value the rights of workers, support their communities, treat their suppliers fairly and invest in environmental sustainability. This is a radically different approach to the corporations that boost profits for distant shareholders by choosing to harm the environment, slash wages and eliminate jobs.

If you think about it, co-ops are the original form of social enterprise: they’re viable businesses with community-driven missions.

Co-ops aren’t a new concept by any means. For hundreds of years, people have formed cooperatives to combat social, economic and environmental injustices. The massive economic problems we face today are inspiring people to form co-ops to fight poverty, income inequality, racial inequality and threats from climate change. The resurgence is a direct response to the corporate malfeasance that caused the Great Recession.

Our region’s cooperative economy is growing steadily, due in large part to cooperatives working together. The sixth international cooperative principle—cooperation among cooperatives—encourages co-ops to do business with each other, provide support when a co-op struggles, invest in each other and collaborate on projects. To that end, co-ops in the area came together in 2011 to form the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA), a network of cooperatives dedicated to growing the cooperative economy. PACA unites cooperatives of all kinds to strengthen our collective impact on the people and communities in our region that need the unique benefit that cooperatives offer. Every day, locally owned cooperative businesses make our our economy more fair, just and democratic.

Peter Frank is the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance, and also serves on the board of the Energy Co-op and the Kensington Community Food Co-op.

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Author Mark Stoll

GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Author Mark Stoll explains how America's environmental movement was built on the bedrock of Puritan theology, before a seismic shift in the ’60s made rubble of the relationship interview by heather shayne blakeslee

A

merica’s early European settlers brought with them definitive ideas on relating to the new land—including that it was theirs for the taking. While they created the colonies and started congregations, author Mark Stoll argues that they also built the beginnings of our country’s environmental movement.

In your book Inherit the Holy Mountain, you talk about three main areas of focus when it came to the early religious settlers’ relationship to the land: forests, parks and farms.

MS: Conservation in the 19th century—conservation, forestry, parks, mines—was all dominated by these new England Congregationalists... We think of Puritans as hanging witches, persecuting Quakers; they got really bad press. Their purpose when they came over here was to create this kind of godly community where nobody was poor, nobody was suppressed, everybody was this community that worked together.

We usually don't think of parks as very

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spiritual, right? We think of them an opportunity for the individual and go out there and exploit nature in an Emersonian way. But they had this social purpose from the very beginning to be for the community... for poor people as well as wealthy people so that wealthy people didn't end up with the best places to go and relax while poor people ended up stuck in the cities, the grime and the dirt.

The farms were tied to not only the community, to make sure that you and your land was useful to the community and that you were taking care of your land… You take care of your land in such a way that you can hand it off to different generations in as good or better condition.

The “forest” came out of that. Originally, forestry was how you, as a farm, took care of your wood plot; and, again, you wanted to keep it in a condition where future generations would have wood, and not cut it down for profit.

All of this had a religious component, but at the same time it had a social justice angle that we don't usually think of when we think conservation, parks and farms... We don't usually think of contemporary environmentalism as part of a broader social assessment.

That, of course, connects to the Pope and his encyclical... how interesting [it is] to bring us back to forgotten roots of environmentalism [and] this vision of a better society.

THIS EXCE RPTE D IN TE RV IE W HAS B E E N E D ITE D FO R C LA RI TY

/ the big PICTURE Thinking about how the Puritans approached farming, in trying to make things as efficient as possible, has that influenced the current pandemic of factory farming in some way?

MS: Absolutely... you could trace a direct line.

These people would probably be horrified by factory farms, but their goal was production.

They were thinking “We are going to help our farmer” by helping him increase production and “We are helping society” by making food more plentiful. So, it's all idealistic, but... you just follow it to its logical conclusion to get what we have today. There is nothing that bothers a Puritan more than waste.

The study of natural history—biology, botany and the like—was an outgrowth of Puritan ideals and interests. Philadelphia was part of a nexus of scientific inquiry.

MS: Most of it lives in the idea that God gave mankind two ways to know him. One was... knowledge of religion and divine attitudes in the Bible. But the problem with that was, especially before the Bible was translated and widely available, it was only for people who could read foreign languages. Christians didn’t think that God would only put knowledge of religion in something that the vast majority of people could have no access to.

The idea was that God also, directly from his hand, created nature so that if you went to study nature you could then find acts of God—his wisdom, his power, his glory—in the natural world.

[Philadelphia] was the biggest city in America at the time of the revolution, by far the biggest city that had this vibrant community there and its mix of interesting people—a lot of Calvinists and a lot of the Quakers. Both of them looking for God's glory, to study God and his works.

You wrote, “In the 1930s, industrialization, urbanization and immigration made the Puritan heartland nearly unrecognizable. The once powerful authority of congregational ministers dwindled dramatically. Rising mass media, commercialism, and consumerism overwhelmed the power of the pulpits and parents’ ability to perpetuate Puritan values of self-control, selflessness, becoming good, living lives useful to society and leaving the world unimpaired for future generations.”

Sounds like the world we are still living in.

“Selfishness, self-centeredness, selfregard—selfies. Does it make us better people? And do we even worry about becoming better people?”

— Mark Stoll

MS: That's one of the real problems of the modern era. Two hundred years ago, what were your sources of values and information?

Your family, perhaps. Maybe your school.

Certainly your church, which was a center of any community. Probably the most educated person of your community was the minister of the church. Your values tended to come through these conduits. Today, maybe you go to church an hour or two. What you are exposed to constantly is advertisement. Advertising is really propaganda. It's propaganda for very different ideals.

It's not those traditional, Puritan values of self-sacrifice and so on—industriousness and being useful to society. All of that stuff doesn't make anybody money. If you are a consumer, focused on yourself or your own pleasures, you buy stuff. Selfishness, self-centeredness, self-regard—selfies. ... Does it make us better people? And do we even worry about becoming better people? ... What are you going to do for society? What are you going to do for the world?

In the ’60s and the ’70s, religious institutions began to be seen in opposition to the environmental movement. How did something that was so central to religion become anathema?

MS: You could point to an essay from the 1960s

by Lynn White, Jr. … In 1967, the only industrialized countries were in Europe or America, basically the Western world. What he was wondering was why did the Western world— only—develop? At the time, in the 1960s, this was way before China or India or the Third World would get to industrialize… [The West was] flooded with pollution and water pollution, and it seemed like the West was destroying the earth—and nobody else was.

So, what was different about the West? He said Christianity. In the first chapter of Genesis, God gives the world to us, to have dominion over and basically conquer it. Christianity went and replaced paganism; it took all the

spirits and the Naiads, the dryads—various gods and goddesses—out of the natural world, and they made it a dead thing … He did see one little glimmer of hope in Christianity in St. Francis. Pope Francis was named for him. [He] suggested that Saint Francis be made the patron said of ecology, which, interestingly enough, is exactly what happened to him about 10 years later.

[The essay] created this idea that Christianity was intrinsically hostile. It sort of shocked the churches. The churches were wondering, “Is this true?” There was a lot of soul searching. It also created amongst many environmentalists—or maybe reinforced what they were thinking already—that they needed to look elsewhere for some sort of environmentally friendly spirituality. They had to go become Buddhist, Taoist or Hindu, or more native than the Native Americans.

This is really when you can take the beginning of this flip. The Evangelical churches... if you looked at what they were saying in 1970s around Earth Day, they seem to be all on board. The ’70s go on, they began to go back and—really pretty quickly around the time—there was Roe vs. Wade and all these other things that really upset the Evangelicals. They began to withdraw from favorable environmental comment and started accusing environmentalism [of] worshipping the earth and being pagan. There is enough truth to that to make it stick.

You mention to many Evangelicals today about environmentalism and they are going to have a negative reaction. If you mention religion to an environmentalist, you are going to have a negative reaction. One of the things I wanted to do with this book was to say, “Look at your roots. This is coming out of you.” They were entangled from the very beginning.

Dr. Mark Stoll is the author of several books, and is the Director of Environmental Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

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THE ENCYCLICAL

We’ve created a hell on earth. Pope Francis believes we can do better

P

ope Francis, who took his name from St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment, will visit Philadelphia in September of 2015. Long after he has left the City of Brotherly Love, the words from his encyclical letter “On Care for Our Common Home” will be with us.

The full document is a sweeping indictment of unchecked capitalism and consumption, blind faith in technocracy, cynical politics, and contempt for our poor, disenfranchised and other species. It’s also a entreaty for all of us to shake off the shackles of our current system and get right with our fellow passengers on spaceship Earth.

“Now, faced as we are with global environmental deterioration, I wish to address every person living on this planet … In this Encyclical, I would like to enter into dialogue with all people about our common home.

THE APPEAL 14.

I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which

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includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all. The worldwide ecological movement has already made considerable progress and led to the establishment of numerous organizations committed to raising awareness of these challenges. Regrettably, many efforts to seek concrete solutions to the environmental crisis have proved ineffective, not only because of powerful opposition, but also because of a more general lack of interest. Obstructionist attitudes, even on the part of believers, can range from denial of the problem to indifference, nonchalant resignation or blind confidence in technical solutions.

We require a new and universal solidarity. ...

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR COMMON HOME 17. Theological and philosophical reflections on the situation of humanity and the world can sound tiresome and abstract, unless they are grounded in a fresh analysis of our present situation, which is in many ways unprecedented in the history of humanity. So, before considering how faith brings new incentives and requirements with regard to the world of which we are a part, I will briefly turn to what is happening to our common home.

18.

The continued acceleration of changes affecting humanity and the planet is coupled today with a more intensified pace of life and

THE F UL L TEXT O F THIS EXCE RPT CAN B E FOUN D AT PAP E L E N CYCL ICA LS.NET

/ the big PICTURE work which might be called “rapidification.”

Although change is part of the working of complex systems, the speed with which human activity has developed contrasts with the naturally slow pace of biological evolution.

Moreover, the goals of this rapid and constant change are not necessarily geared to the common good or to integral and sustainable human development. Change is something desirable, yet it becomes a source of anxiety when it causes harm to the world and to the quality of life of much of humanity.

19.

Following a period of irrational confidence in progress and human abilities, some sectors of society are now adopting a more critical approach. We see increasing sensitivity to the environment and the need to protect nature, along with a growing concern, both genuine and distressing, for what is happening to our planet. Let us review, however cursorily, those questions which are troubling us today and which we can no longer sweep under the carpet. Our goal is not to amass information or to satisfy curiosity, but rather to become painfully aware, to dare to turn what is happening to the world into our own personal suffering, and thus to discover what each of us can do about it.

POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE 25. Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day. Its worst impact will probably be felt by developing countries in coming decades. Many of the poor live in areas particularly affected by phenomena related to warming, and their means of subsistence are largely dependent on natural reserves and ecosystemic services such as agriculture, fishing and forestry. They have no other financial activities or resources which can enable them to adapt to climate change or to face natural disasters, and their access to social services and protection is very limited. For example, changes in climate, to which animals and plants cannot adapt, lead them to migrate; this in turn affects the livelihood of the poor, who are then forced to leave their homes, with great uncertainty for their future and that of their children. There has

“Frequently, we find beautiful and carefully manicured green spaces in so-called ‘safer’ areas of cities, but not in the more hidden areas where the disposable of society live.”

— Pope Francis

been a tragic rise in the number of migrants seeking to flee from the growing poverty caused by environmental degradation. They are not recognized by international conventions as refugees; they bear the loss of the lives they have left behind, without enjoying any legal protection whatsoever. Sadly, there is widespread indifference to such suffering, which is even now taking place throughout our world. Our lack of response to these tragedies involving our brothers and sisters points to the loss of that sense of responsibility for our fellow men and women upon which all civil society is founded.

26.

Many of those who possess more resources and economic or political power seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their symptoms, simply making efforts to reduce some of the negative impacts of climate change. However, many of these symptoms indicate that such effects will continue to worsen if we continue with current models of production and consumption. There is an urgent need to develop policies so that, in the next few years, the emission of carbon dioxide and other highly polluting gases can be drastically reduced; for example, substituting for fossil fuels and developing sources of renewable energy.

Worldwide, there is minimal access to clean and renewable energy. There is still a need to develop adequate storage technologies. Some countries have made considerable progress, although it is far from constituting a significant proportion. Investments have also been made in means of production and transportation which consume less energy and require fewer raw materials, as well as in methods of construction and renovating buildings which improve their energy efficiency. But these good practices are still far from widespread.

DECLINE IN THE QUALITY OF HUMAN LIFE AND THE BREAKDOWN OF SOCIETY 43. Human beings, too, are creatures of this world, enjoying a right to life and happiness, and endowed with unique dignity. So, we cannot fail to consider the effects on people’s lives of environmental deterioration, current models of development and the throwaway culture.

44. Nowadays, for example, we are conscious of the disproportionate and unruly growth of many cities, which have become unhealthy to live in, not only because of pollution caused by toxic emissions, but also as a result of urban chaos, poor transportation, and visual pollution and noise. Many cities are huge, inefficient structures, excessively wasteful of energy and water. Neighborhoods, even those recently built, are congested, chaotic and lacking in sufficient green space. We were not meant to be inundated by cement, asphalt, glass and metal, and deprived of physical contact with nature.

45. In some places, rural and urban alike, the privatization of certain spaces has restricted people’s access to places of particular beauty.

In others, “ecological” neighborhoods have been created which are closed to outsiders in order to ensure an artificial tranquility. Frequently, we find beautiful and carefully manicured green spaces in so-called “safer” areas of cities, but not in the more hidden areas where the disposable of society live.

46.

The social dimensions of global change include the effects of technological innovations on employment, social exclusion, an inequitable distribution and consumption of energy and other services, social breakdown,

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A “ ll is not lost. Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start, despite their mental and social conditioning.”

— Pope Francis

increased violence and a rise in new forms of social aggression, drug trafficking, growing drug use by young people, and the loss of identity. These are signs that the growth of the past two centuries has not always led to an integral development and an improvement in the quality of life. Some of these signs are also symptomatic of real social decline, the silent rupture of the bonds of integration and social cohesion.

47. Furthermore, when media and the digital world become omnipresent, their influence can stop people from learning how to live wisely, to think deeply and to love generously.

In this context, the great sages of the past run the risk of going unheard amid the noise and distractions of an information overload. Efforts need to be made to help these media become sources of new cultural progress for humanity and not a threat to our deepest riches.

True wisdom, as the fruit of self-examination, dialogue and generous encounter between persons, is not acquired by a mere accumulation of data which eventually leads to overload and confusion, a sort of mental pollution. Real relationships with others, with all the challenges they entail, now tend to be replaced by a type of internet communication which enables us to choose or eliminate relationships at whim, thus giving rise to a new type of contrived emotion which has more to do with devices and displays than with other people and with nature. Today’s media do enable us to communicate and to share our knowledge and affections. Yet, at times, they also shield us from direct contact with the pain, the fears and the joys of others and the complexity of their personal experiences. For this reason, we should be concerned that, alongside the exciting possibilities offered by these media, a deep and melancholic dissatisfaction with interpersonal relations, or a harmful sense of isolation, can also arise.

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GLOBAL INEQUALITY 49. It needs to be said that, generally speaking, there is little in the way of clear awareness of problems which especially affect the excluded. Yet they are the majority of the planet’s population, billions of people. These days, they are mentioned in international political and economic discussions, but one often has the impression that their problems are brought up as an afterthought, a question which gets added almost out of duty or in a tangential way, if not treated merely as collateral damage. Indeed, when all is said and done, they frequently remain at the bottom of the pile. This is due partly to the fact that many professionals, opinion makers, communications media and centers of power, being located in affluent urban areas, are far removed from the poor, with little direct contact with their problems. They live and reason from the comfortable position of a high level of development and a quality of life well beyond the reach of the majority of the world’s population. This lack of physical contact and encounter, encouraged at times by the disintegration of our cities, can lead to a numbing of conscience and to tendentious analyses which neglect parts of reality. At times, this attitude exists side by side with a “green” rhetoric.

Today, however, we have to realize that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.

JUSTICE BETWEEN THE GENERATIONS 161. Doomsday predictions can no longer be met with irony or disdain. We may well be leaving to coming generations debris, desolation and filth. The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet’s capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes, such as those which even now periodically occur in different areas of the world. The effects of the present imbalance can only be reduced by our decisive action, here and now. We need to reflect on our accountability before those who will have to endure the dire consequences.

ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION AND SPIRITUALITY 205. Yet all is not lost. Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good and making a new start, despite their mental and social conditioning. We are able to take an honest look at ourselves, to acknowledge our deep dissatisfaction, and to embark on new paths to authentic freedom. No system can completely suppress our openness to what is good, true and beautiful, or our God-given ability to respond to his grace at work deep in our hearts. I appeal to everyone throughout the world not to forget this dignity which is ours. No one has the right to take it from us."

JOIN THE DISCUSSION 9/21/2015  CLIMATE CHANGE: A NEW DIALOGUE In response to Pope Francis’ call for a “new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet,” the Academy of Natural Sciences will host a special public forum on climate change and the future.

Featured Keynote speaker Jeffrey D. Sachs is a leading advisor to the Vatican on climate change and sustainable development. Register at: www.ansp.org

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made in

PHILLY /

Gerik Forston and Roland Burns working in the R.E.Load Bags shop

BUILT TO LAST R.E.Load Bags aims to make customers happy over the long haul by alex jones

S

ince 1988, R.E.Load Bags has produced ultra-sturdy, infinitely customizable messenger bags, cycling accessories and other gear. But the company’s real strategy for sales and sustainability is playing matchmaker: Listening to what customers want, then bringing the bag of their dreams to life—and creating a product that’s meant to last that long.

“We don’t believe in ‘planned obsolescence,’” co-founder Ellie Lum writes in an email. Lum is based out of Portland, Oregon, while her counterpart, Roland Burns, works from the company’s shop in Philadelphia; together, they’re the R.E. in R.E.Load. “[Rather],” says Lum, “we believe in using an object for years and years, and when a part on it wears out, we encourage repair to extend the life of the object. We want people to build relationships with the bags that we hand-make.”

Sustainability through durability has been R.E.Load’s ethos for nearly two decades. The company website encourages people to challenge a system that “pushes the mindless impulse to buy unnecessary and disposable goods,” and they believe that incorporating art and sustainability into their work makes people happier—and the world a better place.

The shop built its business around offering one-of-a-kind, custom pieces—from size and style of straps to thread color and bespoke graphics—for their shoulder bags, backpacks, and now accessories like cell phone holders and chain lock covers. And the company builds

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their goods to last decades: through the long life of a product, customers can contact R.E.Load or stop by the Philly shop to replace a broken buckle or get fresh stitching on a well-loved bag.

While it’s now easy to find shops that will let you build your own gear, Burns and Lum were one of the first brands to make that happen. Working in bike shops and as bike messengers themselves, the pair started out making improvements to existing bags, then moved to making their own from scratch. R.E.Load’s reputation for quality and a high level of personalization spread from the bike messenger community to the mainstream. The founders have always strived for a connection that’s more than a transaction as they do business.

“It’s rare when you purchase something that you actually interact with the people that are making it for you, so that [is] really important to us,” Burns says. While the shop offers online sales to customers all over the world, Philly-based customers can walk into the R.E.Load shop in Northern Liberties and see Burns stitching away on one of two industrial sewing machines located at the back of the showroom while they browse sturdy shop aprons and colorful wallets.

The potential for deeper producer-consumer connection runs both ways: “We really just like to get an idea of the story that’s coming behind what we’re making,” Burns says. “It’s a really kind of personal and intimate setup that we’re in, which is really important to us.”

It turns out that collaborating with customers to bring an idea into reality is more fun for the makers, too.

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CO-OPS ARE READY FOR THEIR CLOSE-U P It's time for cooperatively-owned businesses to remake the face of capitalism by marilyn anthony illustrations by grid staff There are 30,000 cooperatives in the United States with over 120 million members, nearly one in three Americans, yet most of us don’t understand the basics of this business model, even if we’re buying from them. Anyone who has ever picked up a jar of Ocean Spray juice or went camping with gear bought

by REI has supported a co-op, with little or no thought about the fact the the model has direct ties to Benjamin Franklin and Philadelphia, and that it’s rooted in 18th and 19th century economic and social justice movements.

Peter Frank, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA) offers a succinct, myth-dispelling definition for the co-op model: “It’s not socialism,” he says. “It’s just businesses being run fairly, by and for people.”

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A

cooperative is a legally defined business entity, buying and selling products or services to generate profit. But unlike the corporations we think of today, profit is not a co-op’s primary reason for existence. Members, not shareholder investors, make the business decisions in a “one member, one vote” democracy.

Typically, profits are reinvested in the co-op or distributed to its members in an annual dividend proportionate to the amount a member buys from or sells to the co-op.

Today, co-op formation is hot in Philly, New York and the Pacific Northwest.

So, what’s fueling the growth?

PACA’s Frank cites an increasing belief that “business[es] and corporations

while making money. “Co-ops offer a legal structure where the highest profit is not your end result, and providing direct member and community benefit is baked into the business,” says Hill. In his experience, a well-run co-op will be a more effective organization over the long term, better able to balance the interests of profitability, democracy, mission and community.

Experts generally agree that access to capital is a major challenge in the startup phase. A recent article in Locavesting, an online news site dedicated to the idea that impact investing is going local, notes that—while cooperatives were essentially an early form of crowdfunding—there’s a need to develop capital in new ways, like COOPRINCIPAL Invest-

have been part of a lot of the problems that we see today: environmental problems, social justice problems and income inequality.” Kate Smith, from the Keystone Development Corporation (KDC), thinks that behind the sudden surge in grocery co-ops there is “a subconscious reaction to the understanding that our current food system is very fragile.”

Alex Moss, principal in Praxis, a national consulting group based in Mount Airy, states it more baldly. “There are all kinds of things you expect a for-profit business to do, including screwing you,” he says. “If you’re doing business with a cooperative, you have a higher expectation of both how you’re going to be treated and of the products you’re going to buy.”

On the national scene, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is touting co-ops, there’s lots happening in the Bay Area, and everybody is talking about PACA and Philly, where the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) is investing in PACA as their touchstone for urban co-op development.

There is, however, little that is easy about starting a co-op, and running them can be challenging. But more and more people are trying to understand how they can make money, and still keep their values.

T.L. Hill, a professor at Temple University’s Fox School of Business, says that aspiring entrepreneurs ask this central question: “If you create new value in a capitalist structure, who gets that value?” Hill regularly encounters business students who want to change the world

ment Club, whose purpose is to spur the formation of local co-op investment clubs nationally.

Financial challenges to co-ops may be exceeded by the complexity of governance. Hill worries that there has not been enough learning about how to structure co-ops so that they work. As Glenn Bergman, former general manager of Weavers Way Co-op, can attest, “We tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth,” and that can be difficult for some people to hear. Genuine democratic governance must reconcile two deeply ingrained American traits: “I’m in it for myself,” vs. “I will subsume myself to the group.” Entrepreneurs have to resolve these tensions in a society that definitely rewards the former over the latter.

PACA’s Frank links new co-op formation to a desire for business to serve all people. Moss adds that co-op activists may be operating out of concern that economic forces like globalization and income inequality are “screwing everything up.” Co-ops may seem radical, but they are deeply conservative in the sense that they want to protect community equity. Co-ops offer a return to established, trusted economic models that add to community value, rather than fattening the coffers of the wealthiest one percent.

Historically, co-ops offered a solution to a market failure, where the needs of a community were unmet by conventional businesses. Early Philadelphia residents frequently lost their homes to fires. In 1752, Ben Franklin created the Phila-

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HOWARD CARSON US SERVER NET- Founding Member

Howard Carson is one of the founding members of US Server Net, LLC, a managed web services cooperative that has been providing web design and hosting since 1997. US Server Net is made up of two main member groups: designers, developers, writers, editors, photographers and videographers; and small business owners seeking web services. “Members, including our staff, volunteers and interns, pool their talents and resources to deliver fast, reliable and secure sites,” Carson says.

Carson enjoys working with a team of professionals that share a common goal. “We strongly support the Seven Cooperative Principles upon which all co-ops are based,” he explains, “and plan our services and programs to further those principles.” He also believes that cooperatives’ participation in the global economy is crItical. “Cooperatives embody an entrepreneurial spirit,” Carson says. They “promote the fullest possible participation in the economic and social development of all people.”  US Server Net, LLC usservernet.com 1150 First Ave., Suite 501 King of Prussia, PA 19406 215-780-1993

delphia Contributionship Company, a member-owned insurance company offering homeowners protection against fire loss, and it is still in operation today.

The largest and oldest worker cooperative in the world, Mondragon, grew out of a rural community’s devastation by the Spanish Civil War. “Co-ops seem to thrive really well in times of economic downturn, when people want to be protected from economic shocks in their communities,” observes John Torres, Communications Director for NCBA. All American co-ops can trace their origins to the Rochdale Society, established by textile workers in England in 1844 to provide quality household staples—like flour and candles—at affordable prices. The International Co-operative Alliance formed to foster co-ops globally, and in 1937 adopted the “Seven Principles of Cooperation” still used to govern co-ops today.

Co-ops assume a variety of forms depending on their industry and mission. The most common are consumer, producer, worker or marketing co-ops.

American co-ops are usually consumer co-ops such as grocery stores; rural electric or alternate energy providers; or credit unions. REI, purveyor of outdoor gear, is a consumer co-op. Philly boasts a number of well-established consumer co-op groceries such as Mariposa and Weavers Way, whose name honors the Rochdale weavers.

Producer co-ops tend to be larger scale, like Land O' Lakes, Cabot Cheese and Ocean Spray—a dynamic local example is Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op CSA. These co-ops serve farmers by providing economies of scale for purchasing, processing, distribution, and sales and marketing.

Worker co-ops are smaller in number and scale, perhaps limited by the difficulty of managing businesses as true democracies. Philly is home to two nationally recognized worker co-ops, HomeCare Associates and ChildSpace, and some ambitious start-ups like W/N W/N, a café and bar.

Marketing co-ops are often national in scope, enabling individually owned businesses such as hardware stores to buy and sell under a brand like Ace/

True Value Hardware. Equal Exchange, Sunkist and ShopRite are additional examples of large co-ops practicing capitalism with a conscience.

Co-ops are incorporated different ly from Benefit Corporations (B-Corps), although they share triple bottom line values. A B-Corp is a legal entity owned by shareholders whose articles of incorporation permit the board of directors to

take into account social impact for decision-making, but unlike co-ops, they can still be owned by just one person.

According to Praxis’ Moss, “Philly has been an enormous [co-op] incubator and even people in the co-op world don’t talk about that. We don’t take ourselves very seriously when, in fact, we invented half of what makes this country work, including the first co-ops.”

COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES 1. Volunteer

5. Education

Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all people able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious

Cooperatives provide education and training for members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperative. Members also inform the general public about the nature and

discrimination.

2. Democratic Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members—those who buy the goods or use the services of the cooperative—who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions.

3. Economic Members contribute equally to—and democratically control—the capital of the cooperative. This benefits members in proportion to the business they conduct with the cooperative rather than on the

benefits of cooperatives.

6. Cooperation Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

7. Community While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of communities through policies and programs accepted by the members.

capital invested.

4. Independence Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If the co-op enters into agreements with other organizations or raises capital from external sources, it is done so based on terms that ensure democratic control by the members and maintain the cooperative's autonomy.

 For additional information on co-ops and help on how to spot “Co-opycats” www.cooperateusa.coop

 The Citizen's Share is a new book on the history of co-ops and employee ownership. prezi.com/rsvyyl6c7jgx/co-ops-101/

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WINNERS TAKE ALL A cooperative coffee bar’s worker-owners share the stress, and the profits

by KATIE BOHRI

R

estaurants create a lot of waste. There’s food waste, and the wasted fossil fuels that go into keeping a full menu available year-round. But there’s also a waste of human energy: the energy that workers must spend to manage the stress imposed by an industry that pits employees against each other for better shifts and better tips. Tips are how restaurant workers survive: in Pennsylvania, they make $2.83 an hour.

“In our experience, everything has been obviously structured around the restaurant making money, and not anything about the real impacts of it as a place. It’s like turning on a faucet and walking away for a day. It’s crazy,” says Will Darwall, a worker-owner barista and bartender at the cooperatively owned W/N W/N Coffee Bar on Spring Garden Street.

The egalitarian structure of the business is evident in its name. W/N W/N stands for “waste not, want not” and its pronunciation, “win-win,” is a nod toward what you can expect the result to be when people work together toward a sincerely held common goal.

W/N W/N has been open for just seven months, and the bar is now home to a wide range of customers who believe in cooperative ownership, usually called a “co-op.” At a co-op, workers own and self-manage the business, making decisions democratically rather than receiving marching orders from a single manager or set of owners.

On any given day, you’ll find concert-going crowds spilling into the bar after a show at Union Transfer, or philosophy discussion groups. They host art shows and DJ nights, and have turned a tiny space on a part of Spring Garden that doesn’t get much foot traffic into a humming storefront. They also host a monthly Farm Dinner, a prix fixe meal that features a talk from the farmers, as well as cocktail pairings.

Part of the co-op business model is that they must have a

positive social impact, and for W/N W/N, that means mitigating environmental impact as well as the community building they do. “There’s not a whole lot of waste in general. That’s our kitchen trash can,” says Alden Towler, chef and worker-owner, as he points to a five-gallon bucket near the doorway. “We’ll go through a shopping bag a day. Sometimes it won’t even fill up every day.” W/N W/N composts all their food waste, so the trash may just have a few food prep gloves in it.

Nothing goes to waste at W/N W/N. If a watermelon comes through the door, you can bet that the parts that don’t make it into your salad will be juiced and turned into a cocktail, or pickled and turned into an appetizer. Dedicating themselves to creating completely locally sourced meals means that the café menu changes often.

The restaurant business is a stressful one, and in a cooperative model, some days may seem like the employee-owners are trading the stress of working against each other for making more of an effort to work together and be in collective control.

“The biggest challenge is that everything would be easier if we ran it less democratically,” Darwall says. “Including a lot of people in a decision will make the decision take longer, and we’re in an industry where money is constantly flowing out the door—rent, utilities, payroll, insurance, expiration dates on food. Our industry requires incredibly quick decision-making.” Decisions, though they do not necessarily come quickly, are made with consideration and consensus.

Balancing an alternative ownership structure with all the regular demands of being a business that must stay afloat is, Darwall admits, a bit grueling. “Cooperative ownership has been a learning experience for me and for everybody else,” he says. It’s the “everybody else” that make the difference in the cooperative model. Whatever the learning curve of being a new business, the employee owners face their challenges together.

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DIANE CHILDS SB1 FEDERAL CREDIT UNION- Vice President of Marketing

Diane Childs has been a member of credit unions for 46 years. “My parents got me my first savings account as a child, and I have continued to do my banking only at credit unions,” she explains. Her long-time membership inspired her to eventually become an employee at Sb1 Federal Credit Union.

“Knowing that we put the member first in all of our decisions as an organization makes coming to work every day a pleasure,” Childs says.

Childs also likes that Sb1 is a not-forprofit organization. “[It] allows us to put all of our profits back into rates and services for the member-owners,” she says. “People helping each other through their deposits being lent out to their fellow members—that is pretty powerful.”

In a city known for its many diverse neighborhoods, Childs thinks financial cooperatives are especially vital. “Coops were founded to help serve, work with and work for the betterment of communities,” Childs says. “Especially living in today’s world where most everyone is faced with economic and personal financial uncertainties.”  Sb1 Federal Credit Union sb1fcu.org 1500 Spring Garden St. 215-569-3700 800-806-9465

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DRINKING & RIDING Home brewing leaves the basement, and a new taxi co-op hits the streets by justin klugh

P

hiladelphia has no shortage of home brewers. But not every tech specialist, contractor or middle school teacher who goes home to a distillery in their garage has the know-how of commercial business to take the next step in a crowded craft beer universe.

“How do I do that without quitting my day job?” asks Mark Denys, a home brewer and Senior Administrator with Temple Student Health Services. “Could I go be an assistant brewer somewhere?

My wife would kill me.”

That’s where the 12-member Philadelphia Cooperative Brewery Incubator Project plans to step in. Brewers will have the space, equipment and professional guidance to operate without having to open their own business. Six of the 12 co-op members who are more interested in brewing will be making

larger investments than the other six members, who will receive discounts and complimentary drinks in exchange for their contributions.

“With the brewer-members,” Denys explains, “the idea is that I’ll be able to do this for four or five years, not quit my day job, invest a significant amount of money—but nowhere near what you’d spend opening up your own brewery—and learn how to use a commercial system.”

Denys and the rest of the group want to create a self-sustaining structure. A few years down the line, with their tutelage complete, members who are departing to open their own pubs or join other operations will sell their shares to incoming investors. Newer members will train under an experienced brewer hired by the collective and brew beers bearing the co-op’s name, with individual members getting each of their own brands on

tap as well at the co-op’s bar, the location of which is yet to be determined.

It has been a challenge, Denys says, to get their plan past the Liquor Control Board, who is willing to listen, but has a lot of questions over what exactly the co-op is trying to accomplish.

“I think when we finally do open, there won’t be a brewery out there that is more thought-out,” Denys says. With 12 voices from various backgrounds contributing to the process, there is no shortage of intelligent input, all of which is for the benefit of Philadelphia beer drinkers.

With a wave of hyper-local beer on the way, it may be best to plan your ride ahead of time. Fortunately, there is about to be a brand new option for getting around town that combines the warring factions of taxis and ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft.

Conflict has always been an issue in our taxi system—drivers combat each other, their dispatchers and their companies, in addition to any of the myriad threats that can crash into or scream at them in a night’s work. After a career of motoring in and around Philadelphia, Ron Blount was well aware of the struggle, and in 2004, he decided to do something about it.

“There were five taxi drivers murdered in a 12-month period,” he recalls, “and the taxi drivers hadn’t had a meter increase in 14 years.”

By reaching out to local unions, and drivers in New York, San Francisco and Madison, WI, Blount and his fellow cabbies were able to start an advocacy group that would put drivers’ needs and safety first, getting fares more directly into their pockets and offering them life insurance, backing for traffic tickets and a general safety net as they attempt to create a less stressful environment citywide.

It’s been a long fight for Blount, and before the co-op’s dispatching license was approved last March, the Parking Authority had stood rigidly in the way.

It wasn’t until a lawsuit was threatened that the PPA backed off and approved Blount and company’s license to operate. Then came aspects like the required FCC license and phone number, both of which were struggles as Blount navigated unfamiliar territory.

“People were trying to hose us,” he

says. “Some people were trying to sell [the FCC license] to us for $100,000… then we found out we could have applied directly to the FCC and we wound up getting a license for $1,000.”

With those fights in their rearview, the taxi co-op can focus on the challenges ahead. Blount knows how one negative interaction can ruin a driver’s day and looks to address that aspect of the job.

“We want to teach drivers to take a break,” Blount says. “If you find yourself becoming [angry], take 10 minutes, go get yourself a cup of coffee, think pleasant thoughts… gather yourself, then start working again.”

Blount also says the taxi co-op will have an app, modeled after current ride share systems, that will help them embrace the modern aspects of the business. Organizing and protecting drivers can keep them more focused on their clientele, as well as their community, rather than sitting in front of the Marriott all day.

“That’s where the co-op is different,” Blount explains. “We want that meter to keep rolling. We want to institute a senior citizen discount in off-peak hours, we want some sort of a program for women who are abused in domestic situations, where we could come get them and take them to a shelter. We just want to be more civically responsible to the city.”

COOPERATOR BRUNCH Join participants from various Philadelphia co-ops, as well as representatives from the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance, for a low-key brunch. There is no structure, agenda or timetable for this meet-up, and friends and family of cooperators are welcome. W/N W/N worker cooperators will be serving up delicious local food and drinks.

WHEN: Saturday, September 5 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

WHERE: W/N W/N 931 Spring Garden St.

BULL GERVASI MARIPOSA FOODS- Facilities and Produce Department Coordinator

“I like talking to farmers about their work and seeing the seasons change through our produce selection,” says Bull Gervasi, facilities and produce department coordinator for Mariposa Foods, a cooperative grocery store in West Philadelphia. Gervasi has been a Mariposa Co-op member for 18 years because he believes co-ops are the least exploitative business model within capitalism. “I work for Mariposa because it encompasses several of my strongly held personal beliefs around community investment, environmental stewardship, food justice, social justice and animal welfare,” he explains.

Gervasi believes that co-ops are important in general because they serve the communities they are in.

“Food co-ops provide good jobs, support the local economy by buying locally, give people the chance to take an active part in how their neighborhood grocery store is run … and often offer educational opportunities for shoppers,” he says.  Mariposa Food Co-op mariposa.coop 4824 Baltimore Ave. 215-729-2121

winwincoffeebar.com

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PLUGGING INTO COMMUNITY The Energy Co-op offers choice, and pushes local innovation by justin klugh

S

hopping for anything when you have too many choices can mean not making a choice at all. That's one thing when you're roaming the grocery store. But when it comes to energy for our homes, many of us are not yet used to having a choice, much less understanding what they are. And while many Americans can now choose renewable or locally produced energy, Philadelphians can also buy through a cooperative business.

“It is difficult,” says Eric Kravitz of the Energy Co-op, an independently-owned nonprofit energy supplier operating in Philadelphia, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. “We’re so accustomed to using PECO or an existing provider without thinking about alternative ways to change, just because the

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nuts and bolts can be very confusing.”

But the Energy Co-op looks to simplify things for current and potential customers. “That’s another benefit to our members,” Kravitz says, “the educational outreach. We have a lot of information given to our members to help them make an informed decision about their energy choices.”

The Energy Co-op supplies Bioheat, a renewable alternative to heating oil that combines it with unadulterated biodiesel for a cleaner product, as well as PA-produced electricity via wind turbines and solar panels. Started in 1979 in West Mt. Airy, by the ’90s, they were the only company to offer renewable forms of energy in Southeastern PA. Since then, they have pushed to innovate the industry, being praised for developing a form of biodiesel from waste grease, supplying school districts with biodiesel for their buses, and working to lower the state’s dependency on fossil fuels.

In the future, the Energy Co-op hopes to expand in all directions, touting a Renewable Natural Gas program (RNG) that Kravitz says is the “first of its kind” in the United States. Through RNG, customers’ consumption of natural gas is equalized by methane pulled out of local landfills. The methane is channeled from the ground into regional businesses, where it provides locally sourced energy for the community. This subtracts from the area’s dependence on national vendors, and therefore limits the spending of funds outside of Southeastern PA. Ideally, it also inspires change by reshaping how people go about energy consumption nationally.

With their members as the primary focus, Kravitz boasts how much more comfortable customers can feel with an energy company that’s actually responsive. “I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to call PECO or any of the other large companies, but,” he says, “it’s hard just to find someone to talk to.”

“We are member-owned,” Kravitz explains. “Any kind of profit we generate is distributed back to our members. It’s different from every other large corporation that provides electricity, where the profits are sent out of state or to shareholders. It gives us a strong connection with the users and the community.”

Organization development consulting to ESOPs and worker cooperatives for 25 years.

Praxis Consulting Group 9 W. Highland St Philadelphia 19118 www.praxisCG.com 215.753.0303

WEAVERS WAY’S TENTH ANNUAL

URBAN FARM BIKE RIDE

presented by Lindy Communities

SATURDAY, SEPT. 19 8 AM - 4 PM Pedal your way through Philadelphia’s vibrant neighborhoods and visit many of the city’s unique urban farms along the way.

For details and tickets:

www.weaversway.coop/bikeride Mill Creek Farm • Bartra m’ Cloud 9 Rooftop Farm s Garde m n • Gr • Th e Far owing Tog Hous e H d l e o l s i u u u o e s G t • h r e r O e a C pen K Farm • Em itchen Sc erald ulpture GardenParcelas THAN Street s KS Farm • Farm 51 • La TO OUR SPO N SORS:

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CO-OPS & COLLECTIVES Throughout Philadelphia, you’ll find cooperative businesses that adhere to strict organizing and operative principles, as well as collectives that have looser structures, but are still comprised of people working together toward a common goal. Residential cooperatives, though not listed here, are another way to participate in community-owned-and-operated businesses; dozens of credit unions also thrive throughout the city, providing financial services and community benefits.

GROCERY STORES & FOOD CO-OPS Ambler Food Co-op amblerfoodcoop.org

Member-owned marketplace selling locally sourced food and products in Ambler and its surrounding communities. Offers fresh, organic foods including bakery items, meat, fish, dairy, dry goods, spices, grains and nuts.

Creekside Co-op creekside.coop

Full-service grocery store and community hub located in Cheltenham Township.

Fosters growth in its local neighborhood through sustainable practices. Creekside offers wholesome natural products, gourmet ingredients, prepared food and fresh seasonal items.

Kensington Community Food Co-op kcfc.coop

Member-owned grocery store in Kensington that provides healthy food products and services within its community. KCFC is also a member-built co-op that recruits investors and neighbors with a similar sustainable vision.

Heritage Shellfish Cooperative heritageshellfish.com

A partnership of three longtime shellfish growers who specialize in raising Eventide Littlenecks on the coastal bays of New Jersey. Growers control the growing process of shellfish and harvest year-round.

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Doylestown Co-op doylestown.coop

Member-owned grocery store that provides convenient access to healthy foods and locally made and raised products. The Doylestown Co-op promotes environmentally sound products and organic farming.

Swarthmore Co-op swarthmore.coop

Cooperatively-owned food market that provides healthy, delicious foods for customers, enriches economic and cultural welfare, and creates a sustainable marketplace in which people can build connections and community.

Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative lancasterfarmfresh.com

Weavers Way

LFFC is an organic nonprofit farmers’ cooperative that provides healthy, high-quality farm fresh products grown on small family farms throughout the region. Participates in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to distribute food.

weaversway.coop

Grocery-based consumer organization located in Northwest Philadelphia. It's committed to promoting environmentally sound products and environmental consciousness to its community and partners through products, services and activities.

Landisville Produce Growers Cooperative redtomato.org/farmers/landisville-produce-co-operative

Cooperative that supports and specializes in high-quality fruits and vegetables from local farms. Landisville focuses on customer satisfaction, outstanding products and timely delivery. It’s the oldest produce co-op in the country.

Manayunk Roxborough Food Co-op mrfcoop.com

Market owned by a collective of residents who aim to bring high-quality, local, organic and affordable food to the Philadelphia area. This weekly farmers market also promotes wellness and sustainability through a variety of local events for the public.

SERVICES & BUYING CLUBS The Energy Co-op theenergy.coop

Independently-owned nonprofit energy supplier providing energy cost savings, education and advocacy to its members.

Servies the PECO and PPL territories and promotes efficient use of energy while also supporting the cooperative business movement.

Home Care Associates homecareassociatespa.com

South Philly Food Co-op southphillyfoodcoop.org

Cooperative grocery store dedicated to making good food available at a low cost for members and local residents of South Philadelphia. Seeks to empower the community with sustainable practices, food-centric education, outreach and community building.

Provides highly trained caregivers for seniors in need of assistance. Qualified aides are available to help by attending to special needs, keeping track of medications, and offering safe companionship and care.

Sun Federal Credit Union

The Big Backyard Nursery School

sunfederalcu.org

thebigbackyard.net

Member-based organization for banking that has little or no fees, and has a number of branches in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. Dedicated to helping customers save money and get involved with the community through programs and scholarships.

Cooperative preschool located in Mt. Airy that fosters the emotional, social and intellectual growth of children, while making each child feel safe in a respectable and loving environment.

Charlestown Playhouse Lumbermens Merchandising Corporation

charlestownplayhouse.org

The largest dealer-owned lumber building materials buying group in the U.S. that also supplies members with non-wood products, millwork and hardware.

Nonprofit early childhood program that offers safe and fun play space. Licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Charleston is a child-centered parent cooperative that focuses on building a strong sense of community.

Page Cooperative

Childspace Day Care Center

lmc.net

pagecooperative.com

childspacedaycarecenters.org

Nonprofit, member-owned cooperative buying association. By pooling purchases, members receive discounts on ink and newsprint, graphic arts materials, pressroom and circulation supplies, and can take advantage of office production and electronic media equipment.

Member-owned and board-run childcare center that provides daycare spaces in a diverse setting for infants, young toddlers, toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners.

Also offers summer camp and after school programs.

Crossing Cooperative Nursery School The Philadelphia Contributionship

crossingcoop.org

contributionship.com

This contributionship founded by Benjamin Franklin is the seventh largest supplier of electronic security, fire alarm, video surveillance, access control and emergency response services.

Cooperative nursery school that offers a child-centered learning environment, while maintaining an old-fashioned schoolhouse charm. The spaces offers three classrooms, a multi-purpose room, a library and a spacious playground.

Philly Doula Co-op

Kennett Square Nursery School

phillydoulacoop.com

kennettsquarepreschool.com

Network of birth professionals, or doulas, who are committed to improving women’s pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum services. The collective emphasizes professionalism, education, mentoring and community.

Private, nonprofit cooperative preschool that offers classes for three-to-five-yearold children in a nurturing environment.

Maintains a multi-pronged approach to education addressing social, emotional, physical and intellectual needs.

Trinity Cooperative Day Nursery

CHILDCARE & SCHOOLS The Miquon School

tcdn.org

Nonprofit, non-sectarian child education organization with four locations within the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District.

Its mission is to provide safe, nurturing and enriching programs for children 12 months old through sixth grade.

LAUREN NAGY COOPERATIVE 518- Co-Founder

"I love the feeling of taking part in a movement instead of going at it alone,” says Lauren Nagy, who co-founded the community farm Cooperative 518 with her fiancé in 2013. “We wanted to give our friends and peers a chance to be an equal in our vision,” she explains. That vision was to turn a nine-acre piece of land into a hub for ethically produced food and education on environmentally responsible living.

“A cooperative model is important to us because it is the business-minded foundation for our budding agrarian community,” Nagy explains. “There is a constant forum for improvement and inspiration from the shared visions of members.” She believes co-ops are especially necessary in cities like Philadelphia where space and resources are limited. “This model allows for fair and effective sharing and pooling of resources,” she says. “It encourages cooperation and fellowship over competition and separation.”  Cooperative 518 cooperative518.com 15 County Road 518, Princeton, NJ

miquon.org

The Miquon School helps children grow and learn in a state of self and environmental awareness, all while teaching them strong academic and social skills.

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Wallingford Co-op Nursery School

Prometheus Radio Project

wallingfordcoop.org

prometheusradio.org

The only cooperative nursery school in the Wallingford area. Run by parents focused on kindergarten readiness that is achieved by using fun, practical approaches. Classes are small, and parents are welcome into the classrooms and on field trips.

Project that uses participatory radio as a voice for social justice for the community.

Assists organizations and movements to help build connection and allow people to express themselves in their struggle.

Wooden Shoe Books & Records woodenshoebooks.com

MEDIA AND ORGANIZING

Book shop that embodies the principles of social justice and anarchism, run by volunteers. A resource for those interested in activism, organizing, art, self-education, dialogue, community-building and the anti-capitalist struggle.

Aorta Collective aorta.coop

Consulting collective that provides interactive services for areas such as strategic planning, anti-oppression organizational assessment and transformation, policy support, agenda design and customized support.

Bindlestiff Books bindlestiffbooks.wordpress.com

Volunteer-run neighborhood bookstore in West Philadelphia offering children’s books, literary fiction, graphic novels, cookbooks and books on art, history, labor studies, politics and much more.

People's Paper Co-op and Expungement Project peoplespaperco-op.com/

This start-up co-op is working with a number of individuals in the North Philadelphia community to start a library storefront that will serve as a command center for various workshops on social justice issues.

Philly Service Co-op phillyservice.coop/about

A group of individuals whose goal is to foster community and provide safe, inclusive places locally in Philadelphia and New Jersey, bringing people together through a variety of dances and social events, including Contradelphia.

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ARTIST SPACES 3rd St. Gallery 3rdstreetgallery.com

One of the oldest artist run cooperatives in Old City with volunteer artists who share the mission of engaging the public in creative works and supporting positive local growth.

Greene Street Artists

NEIL CAMP BRYN GWELED- Co-Founder

Nelson Camp has lived at the intentional community Bryn Gweled in Upper Southampton since 1992. “Our house was built by my in-laws after the second World War, so in a sense, the same family has lived here since the mid-’40s,” he says. The community at Bryn Gweled functions as a cooperative, but the community owns the land as a collective.

greenestreetartists.org

A live/work space for a multicultural community of artists located in the Germantown area of Philadelphia, owned by artists with a mission to stabilize and support its residents.

Little Berlin littleberlin.org

An exhibition space located in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, run by about 10 members who pursue community outreach through local projects as well as monthly exhibitions.

Vox Populi voxpopuligallery.org

Artist collective located in the Callowhill area of Philadelphia that is dedicated to supporting underrepresented artists with exhibitions, gallery talks, performances, lectures and related programming.

“There are many committees which help us as neighbors,” Camp explains.

He serves on the Community Activities and Children's Activities Committee, and also as a Nominating Committee co-chair.

Bryn Gweled will actually be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year as a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and purposefully diverse place to live. “We have over 100 acres of common land,” Camp explains. “This includes a community garden, and some members have been developing a CSA, now in our second year, in addition to personal gardens and community garden plots.”

“My favorite part about being involved here is getting to really know and support the folks who have chosen to live here,” Camp says. “Each of us has some special niches to share.”

on Lancaster Ave

Creative neighborhood events every month!

September 11 • October 8 • LancasterAvePhilly.com

3500 lancaster ave.

8-10pm 3750 lancaster ave.

7pm start; $5 3750 lancaster ave.

5-8:30pm 3802 ave.

Open Mic Night at Reed’s Cafe 7pm tolancaster whenever A Part of Me Consignment 3834 lancaster ave.

5-8pm Sales & live music indigo bleu design & cultural 3870 lancaster ave. center open house & networking 5-8pm 3939 lancaster ave.

Neighborhood Bike Works (oct only) 5-8pm neighborhood time exchange 4017 lancaster ave.

6-8pm art show & performances

community education center Performances & Music reelblack presents African American focused Films vendors village outside at United Bank (seeking vendors)

FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE AT LEAST 2 years and 7 months by September 1 Friends School Haverford is now offering a flexible schedule, full-day, natureand play-based nursery school program especially for little ones who miss the preschool cut-off date.

Now Enrolling! Call:

610-642-2334

To get involved, call Sophie at (267) 902-6352 Hosted by:

FriendsHaverford.org

COMING SOON KENSINGTON COMMUNITY FOOD CO-OP





A Full Pound of Coffee Beans.

Pairs Well with Food. phillyfairtrade.com • 267.270.2563 Find our coffee online or at area cafes and markets

JOIN TODAY KCFC.COOP

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Craft CocktailS U

Happy Hour 5pm to 7pm U

Lunch & Dinner U

Private Events

STAY COOL NEW & IM PROVED

SU N SH IN E An Energy Saving Window Film Installation will: Reduce Heat • Reduce Glare • Block 99% of Harmful UV Make your work or living space comfortable!

Call today for a free consultation!

Contact Us | 215.205.3455 | www.tintcopa.com | dan@tintco.com

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www.amblerfoodcoop.org

LANSDOWNE Friends SCHOOL The SBN Sustainable Business Directory is Going Digital!

Our new directory will be: Simple to navigate Easy to update Mobile-friendly Visually-appealing Promote your business to thousands of new customers today!

SBN is a network of 400+ businesses working to create a just, green, and thriving local economy!

http://sbnphiladelphia.org/

Big ideas. Small school.

Pre-K through 6th grade, located 15 minutes from University City

610-623-2548

inquire@lansdownefriendsschool.org

www.lansdownefriendsschool.org

Fresh. Friendly. Local.

Swarthmore Co-op 341 Dartmouth Ave. Swarthmore, PA 19081 610 543 9805 www.swarthmore.coop

RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & COMMUNITY

CLEANING SERVICE

MENTION THIS AD FOR 10% OFF YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT! PHILLYMAIDGREEN@GMAIL.COM S E PTE M B E R 20 15

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P OWER TO THE

PEOPLE by heather shayne blakeslee photos by mark likosky

10 Philadelphians making change by empowering others

T

he goal of making Philadelphia a sustainable city is an ambitious one, and it requires that we have as many people as possible putting their shoulders to the wheel: We need every creative kid, every ambitious young professional and every experienced advocate who knows how to make change happen.

We need people like the individuals on the following pages, who have dedicated themselves to strengthening our people and the places that they live, work, learn and play. They are doing it one grant at a time, one job training program at a time and one vacant lot at a time, but they all share a common trait: their work empowers other people.

We hope that you are inspired not only by what they do, but by the idea that the best leaders are the ones who know that they can accomplish more when the people around them are strong, and that we will accomplish more together.

Philadelphia is becoming a better city every day. One of the reasons for our ascent is that our corridors of power are our neighborhood sidewalks. They are populated with extraordinary people who, from that street level vantage point, look squarely in the face of city’s significant challenges and opportunities and say to themselves, “I can make that better. Would you like to help?”

For every one of the people in these pages, there are countless others who are also doing remarkable work. You might be one of them. If you are, we have just one thing to say: more power to you.

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2015

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

the ADVOCATE AMY LAURA CAHN A “ nything I list as an accomplishment resulted from collective power and voice. Social justice— whether for land and food sovereignty, education access, housing rights or protection from police abuse—must center on collaboration, shared leadership and community power. And on the crucial fact that Black lives matter—all Black lives.”

— AC

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my Laura Cahn has got our back. Cahn is an uncompromising believer in social and economic and environmental justice who has left everything she’s worked on better in her wake: It’s good to have a law shark looking out for our community's values and assets.

Even before her days as staff attorney with Philadelphia's Public Interest Law Center, Cahn was working in New York City to protect kids from lead paint poisoning and starting Bluestockings, a radical feminist bookstore and activist center on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. She worked with the community organizing department at the ACLU of Pennsylvania, and then while at Penn Law, she worked with Advocates for Environmental Human Rights, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and the National Resources Defense Council’s Environmental Justice Project.

As part of her job directing the Law Center's Garden Justice Legal Initiative, Cahn worked with her partners in the Eastwick Community in 2012 to prevent the floodplain development of 128 acres next to Heinz Refuge. Cahn says she was honored to have been part of the work, which “brought attention to a host of environmental justice issues faced by the neighborhood, dating back to urban renewal.”

In 2013, she worked with a strong coalition to defeat a City Council bill that would have removed protections for urban agriculture written into Philadelphia’s new zoning code, and, that following year, worked with the same partners to ensure that the Land Bank strategic plan protected existing community gardens. Cahn believes it signals “a huge paradigm shift and commitment to preserving Philadelphia’s legacy of community-managed open spaces.”

Though her thoughtfulness can be mistaken for reserve, make no mistake: Cahn has hard questions for Philadelphia. “How will we ensure that all Philadelphians get to put down roots in healthy and affordable neighborhoods?” she asks. “That all residents have a meaningful voice in the development and future of their neighborhood? It is past time for efforts at equitable development to give life to redistributive justice for historically marginalized and disinvested communities.”

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The Merchants Fund The Merchants Fund was established to give charitable gifts to businesses facing financial hardship. It continues to award grants today to Philadelphia businesses in order to create and retain jobs, nurture companies that take leadership roles and empower referring partners to realize their goals.

1854 The year the Merchants fund was established. At the time, no public assistance programs existed to help business owners who suffered hardships

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Approximate total grants awarded to local small businesses since 2007

$3.2 mil l io n

The total sum of money distributed to Philadelphia businesses

 To find out about grant oportunities for your business, vist: merchantsfund.org

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

the DEAL MAKER PATRICIA BLAKELY “In the best of all worlds, we could buy local at competitive prices, growing jobs and the local economy.”

— PB

S

ometimes we need a little help from our friends. It’s a simple idea that inspired the creation in 1854 of the Merchants Fund, which was there to step in and help Philadelphia businesses when sickness, fire or other calamity struck at the heart of a shop’s viability.

When the financial crisis hit in 2008, the fund repurposed its mission to reflect the need for small business to have access to free capital, and they put Patricia Blakely at the helm. Blakely helps distribute the fund’s grants, up to $10,000 per business, that either help stabilize an existing businesses or make an investment that helps it get to the next level of growth.

“I take great pride that our portfolio of companies looks like the city we serve and covers a wide geography,” Blakely says. “We have formed partnerships in diverse communities from Chinatown to far Woodland Avenue, where new Americans dominate the storefront businesses.”

Small businesses are responsible for the bulk of jobs in Philadelphia, and one or two more thriving businesses can help make or break a burgeoning commercial corridor or provide crucial goods and services to an underserved neighborhood. “In 2009, the Commerce Department of Philadelphia asked us to through-grant one million dollars,” says Blakely. “We were able to make macro grants up to $50,000 each, which went toward creating jobs and robust companies such as Mariposa Co-op on Baltimore Avenue, which has remediated a food desert.”

Her vision for Philadelphia includes the Merchants Fund continuing to make business owners’ dreams come true well into the next century.

“One grant at a time.” she says. “We are in it for the next 160 years.”

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2015

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

the DOER ALEX GILLIAM A “ mazing things happen in communities when its most resilient members—youth— are empowered to visibly take the lead in designing, building and problemsolving for its future.”

— AG

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ny designer can draft plans. This one is drafting an army of doers, makers and earth-shakers. Alex Gilliam is the indomitable force behind the design consultancy Public Workshop, which works locally and nationally to help empower young people to become agents of change capable of building a better world. He’s left an impressive string of projects across the country—from rolling treehouses at a struggling public school in Virginia to a maker space at Science Leadership Academy's Beeber campus and a pop-up skate park in Camden. But more important to him than his many accomplishments—including being a National Building Museum Fellow—is the glint in the eye of every kid he’s taught to use a circular saw.

His philosophy at Public Workshop is built on the power of possibility and the momentum of action.“Rather than problems, what if the acute physical needs of all of our public schools, parks and public spaces were seen as opportunities for rich learning, empowerment, community-building, local skills development and growing new builder/ entrepreneurs?” he asks. Some projects have transformed a space in as little as two hours, and others have unfolded over months, like the new playspace at Smith Memorial Playground, designed and built by a handful of young adults from the Building Hero program, a community design leadership initiative which is part of his nonprofit organization Tiny WPA (Works Progress Administration).

Gilliam sees every listing library shelf, rotting park bench and underutilized lot as an opportunity for kids, parents, teachers and community members to work together and meet their collective needs. “We all know that the needs exist, have proven time and again that these projects work, and that people of all ilk truly want to build and have a positive impact in the places they live, work and play,” he says. “We’d like to see this happening in every public space and school in Philadelphia.”

Gilliam also wants to make Philadelphia a national model for empowering people to rebuild their communities. It’s a big idea. But if you combine a dynamic leader with battalions of charged-up kids armed with power tools, it’s just crazy enough to work.

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2015

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

the FIGHTER HELEN GYM

“The central question of whether we are going to invest in a public system that educates all of our children with equity and justice—in a city where race and poverty play so heavily into their life experiences—is not just a question about our city’s future, but our standing as a moral society.”

— HG

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he gloves are off. Helen Gym is a self-described fighter, and she wants to build up the youth of the city with solid education that gives them a fighting chance to succeed. Gym is also an activist, artist and mother, and this fall she hopes to add one more moniker to that list: City Councilwoman. “I have three children who are finding their passion in life and coming to terms with deep questions about privilege and inequity,” says Gym. “Raising them in the city brought our family into common struggle with so many communities working on those same issues. It’s helped define our understanding of equity and fairness, and why we have to work so hard to ensure it for everyone.”

Gym helped to found two public school advocacy groups, Public School Notebook and Parents United for Public Education, and wants to counter the notion that “parents in city schools don’t care enough.

We clearly do!” She cites as just one example working with others to get justice for kids at South Philadelphia High, which had been plagued with racially charged violence. “I helped lead a diverse coalition of communities to support immigrant youth who held a School District accountable to the safety of its own students,” says Gym.“This was more than just a fleeting headline. We saw a groundbreaking federal civil rights ruling in our case.” Gym says the effort helped officials at the school see an alternative to “the punitive mindset that often frames the education of children of color.”

She hopes her role in City Council will be a continuation of her lifelong work, and she wants to equally represent longtime residents and new immigrants. “Philadelphia is in a great place right now to be asking—and leading on—big questions for our future direction, particularly around education.”

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Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha APM is a Latino-based health, human services, community and economic development nonprofit organization that serves all people in the Philadelphia area, and it works to help families achieve their greatest potential. It was founded in 1970 by Puerto Rican veterans of the Vietnam War, and the organization says it “reflects the spirit of activism and emerging political consciousness of the Puerto Rican community during that time.”

10

Sites throughout North Philadelphia providing a broad network of social services

100

number of bilingual/ bicultural professionals employed by APM

40 K

Number of people served each year through APM’s health services, social services, and community and economic development activities

 If you are in need of health or social services, contact: apmphila.org

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

the BUILDER NILDA RUIZ “Bricks and mortar alone do not build healthy and sustainable communities... the shared vision and engagement of residents into the development of the physical and quality of life planning is the key ingredient to stewardship of the community’s future.”

— NR

Y

ou can’t build a neighborhood or a community without building up its people. As the Chief Executive Officer of Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc. (APM), Nilda Ruiz leads a robust network of health and human services programs in Eastern North Philadelphia, as well as APM’s innovative community redevelopment arm. She feels that it’s particularly important to help build kids up early on in life, the charge of APM's four-star early childhood centers. “APM centers provide quality Head Start and daycare to hundreds of children a year,” says Ruiz. “It is our goal to nurture our children and provide them with the foundation to become future leaders.”

Before coming to APM in 2005, Ruiz was the Senior Community Development Director for the East Coast at National Council of La Raza, the nation’s largest constituency-based Hispanic organization, where she managed community development activities from Maine to Puerto Rico. It was good training for what Ruiz is trying to accomplish now at APM, where she says she is, “transforming a community of blight into one of choice with the vision and engagement of the residents and community stakeholders.”

One of the organization’s crown jewels is Paseo Verde, a mixed-use, mixed-income, transit-oriented development project near Temple. It was the first project of its kind in the country to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest rating. “APM's Platinum LEED-ND status [for Paseo Verde] created an environment that provides opportunities to grow programming around healthy foods, walkability and addressing the social determinants of health, crime and safety,” says Ruiz. “We are creating a tipping point where all of these innovative programs will become the standard for the residents of Eastern North Philadelphia.”

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POWER TO THE PEOPLE

the GOOD NEIGHBORS TATIANA GARCIA-GRANADOS & HAILE JOHNSTON “It's all about finding those ways to connect with each other, and for us, that always happens around the dining room table.”

— TG & HJ

6&7 50

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ome neighbors will lend you a hammer, but the really good ones will work with you to build up your community. It helps when you live next door to a pair of socially minded Wharton Business School grads like Tatiana Garcia-Granados and Haile Johnston. In 2003, the couple founded the East Parkside Revitalization Alliance (EPRA), a community-based nonprofit that has empowered neighbors to transform their Strawberry Mansion neighborhood.

EPRA focuses on environmental improvement and health promotion: It supports 100 gardeners who have transformed vacant lots, and since its inception has added over 700 trees to local canopy. GarciaGranados and Johnston still live in the neighborhood with their four children. Johnston has also served as the Pennsylvania director of Center for Progressive Leadership, where he built the capacity of individuals and organizations within underrepresented communities.

They took another step for the neighborhood in 2008 when they founded Common Market, which is a nonprofit distributor of locally sourced food that operates primarily in the Mid-Atlantic Region. “We are building a good food system that is fair to farmers, fair to neighborhoods like Strawberry Mansion and restorative to the Earth,” they report. They’ve created 20 jobs, and in the last seven years they’ve been in business, they’ve been able to sell eight million dollars of local food from 80 small farms. Orders that leave Common Market’s busy loading docks head out to provide healthy food for school lunches, hospital meals and cafeterias throughout the region. “Our work really resonates with our community,” says the pair. “We love having conversations with food service directors, local funders, chefs at fine restaurants and kids in our neighborhood about fresh, healthy, delicious food.”

Their kitchen-table advocacy combined with sharp entrepreneurial skills is about to go national. They’ve initiated operations in Atlanta, and that’s just the beginning. “We hope there is a nationwide network of Common Markets, providing local farm food to institutions in every region in the country.”

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POWER TO THE PEOPLE

the VISIONARY JEROME SHABAZZ “I was privileged as a youngster to live on a North Philadelphia block with neighborhood families who celebrated and thrived on the simple aspects of life: family, clean streets, safe places for children to play, learn and love.

Today, I’m sure that my work and service to the community is inspired by the common dignity of these ordinary people.”

— JS

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t takes experience and imagination to see possibility where other people see problems. For social entrepreneur, professor and organizer Jerome Shabazz, no building block—no neighborhood block—is too small to provide a foundation for big plans. “In graduate school, I read a theory that asserts that certain institutions are so large and interconnected that they are too big to fail,” he says. “My experiences growing up in Philadelphia inspired my realization that there are systems and people in our community who are too small to fail.”

Knowing that every person and every place counts, Shabazz, who worked for two decades with the Philadelphia Water Department and as a surveying technician, turned his discerning eye on remediating an EPA brownfield site in West Philadelphia, one of many located in poor, underrepresented and minority communities in the U.S. Now, on what used to be a hazardous dump, the community has the Overbrook Arts & Environmental Education Center. Over the last 10 years, adults and children alike have immersed themselves in what Shabazz calls a “multi-sensory learning environment” where students have discovered their own potential during science, technology, engineering, arts and math projects.

Now his visionary eye is trained on creating the Overbrook Center’s Farmacy Project for Human and Environmental Health. The idea for a combination wellness center and farmers market is based on a successful model project in South Carolina, and guided by the idea that early health screenings and brief interventions—combined with access to healthy foods—can significantly improve the overall health of the neighborhood.

Transforming how people think about themselves and their community is what drives Shabazz. “By forming partnerships with community members, nonprofits and large institutions, we’ve rehabilitated homes, built a playground, greenhouse, gardens, orchards, stormwater bioretention systems, and other built and natural amenities in our West Philadelphia neighborhood” says Shabazz. “Our work has helped to create a sense of place and belonging.”

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The Energy Coordinating Agency Over the last 30 years, the ECA says it has worked to “build the infrastructure to support excellence in energy efficiency and low-income energy service delivery,” and has also been a job creator for the region.

15 K

Number of low-income households served each year by ECA’s Neighborhood Energy Centers, including bill payment assistance, budget counseling and energy conservation

250

mil l ion do l lars Amount that tens of thousands of homes have saved since ECA’s inception

130

thousand Total number of ECA’s residential energy efficiency improvements, heating system repairs and upgrades, and water conservation interventions  To find out how ECA can help save you money and make your home more energy efficent, visit: www.ecasavesnergy.org

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

the DISTANCE RUNNER LIZ ROBINSON “Energy efficiency is such a win-win. It truly is the cleanest, cheapest, safest and fastest energy resource, and it creates the most local jobs. In a city like Philadelphia, it’s also transformative. Harnessing our energy efficiency resource will transform our energy economy and enable our wonderful old buildings to last another hundred years.”

— LR

S

low and steady wins the race. Energy efficiency is like the tortoise of the old fable. It’s the first energy, the first step toward responsibly balancing our need for comfort and commerce with our available resources. It’s attic insulation and caulk, a low thermostat and a thick sweater, the less sexy counterpart to a field full of sleek new windmills made of steel.

While we’re going to need both to get to the finish line of a sustainable city and planet, we’re lucky that Liz Robinson has been helping us to steadfastly march toward our goals. Since helping to found the Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) in 1985, Robinson has helped the ECA establish a citywide network of 14 Neighborhood Energy Centers that act as one-stop shops for the delivery of low-income energy services.

They serve 15,000 low-income households every year with financial assistance, education, and energy and water upgrades. ECA has also educated tens of thousands of people through do-it-yourself workshops locally and statewide, and was a founding partner the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance, a statewide trade association of energy efficiency and demand response companies that Robinson also leads.

Robinson’s work has also been centered on creating local jobs, and ECA has trained over 3,600 Philadelphians to become energy efficiency experts. She counts as one of her proudest accomplishments founding the Knight Training Center, which prepares a diverse workforce of men and women for careers in energy efficiency, stormwater management and environmental remediation.

While she’s Philadelphia’s grande dame of energy efficiency, she’s not averse to seeing more of those fields of windmills. “I’d like to see solar and other renewable energy double every year for the next several years,” Robinson says. “We need to take clean energy to scale as quickly as possible.”

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POWER TO THE PEOPLE

the TREE HUGGER SKIP WIENER

“When I found myself back in my childhood neighborhood, ravaged by time, I set a course that—through guerilla gardening with children on crime-ridden parcels—has methodically proven that by reclaiming land and respecting human life, no matter how depressed, a community can recreate itself, catalyzing individual and community health.”

— SW

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t’s time to embrace the idea that communities can be transformed by people taking back the land. For the first 20 years of his career, Skip Wiener put to use dual Master’s degrees in science and landscape architecture in the private sector. But when he saw the state of the West Philadelphia neighborhood he grew up in, he knew he needed to give it some love, and he started by planting trees and crops with the neighbors.

In 1989, Wiener founded the Urban Tree Connection (UTC), which assists low-income urban communities in revitalizing their neighborhoods through gardening interventions. UTC believes that by transforming abandoned open spaces, which are often crime-ridden and strewn with trash, we can instead provide people with safe, beautiful places that inspire and promote positive human interaction, including growing healthy food together.

Wiener says he loves “working with the women of Haddington and letting them lead me to the projects that would be successful because they took ownership.” Empowering leaders in the community is a primary strategy of his work, and he also loves seeing the children of Haddington discover the world outdoors. He believes he’s been able to watch a generational shift over 10 years that has removed the stigma of farming. There is enough local good being grown to support the Neighborhood Foods Co-op, a farmers market and mini economic engine.

While much of the work has centered on the Haddington neighborhood, UTC is starting to branch out into adjacent neighborhoods and to the city of Chester. In addition to working with vacant lots, Wiener wants to bring the model to affordable housing. “We are replicating our social cohesion/farming model in Chester with the Chester Housing Authority, and discussing other public housing farming with the Philadelphia Housing Authority,” he says. “I would love urban farming to become the norm in public housing and be used as a powerful community revitalization, both physically and socially.”

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EVENTS /

September 3

September 10

Fringe Arts Festival

Warm Season Grass Walk

FringeArts is Philadelphia's home for contemporary performance, with progressive world-class art that stretches the imagination and boldly defies expectation.

The FringeArts festival is a 17-day celebration, with over 1,000 events at various locations throughout Philadelphia. Join them for an unexpected display of curated and independently produced contemporary performance art pieces. fringearts.com

By creating a yard with vegetation that offers food and cover, you can create a refuge for several wildlife species. Join botanist Janet Ebert, who will showcase the warm season grasses at Bucktoe Creek Preserve’s diverse meadows and discuss their significance to the surrounding ecosystem.

Switchgrass and Big Bluestem are just two of the grasses you will identify.

WHEN: Thurs., Sept. 3 to Sat., Sept. 19 WHERE: Various locations COST: Varies with event

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

WHERE: 432 Sharp Rd., Avondale, Pa. COST: $10 for the Land Conservancy members; $15 for non-members

September 5 Garden Discovery Series – Leaf Wreath Fun Learn to identify some of the fall leaves that you will discover as you stroll through the arboretum, and find out why leaves change colors. Afterward, create your own fall leaf wreath made from recycled paper. morrisarboretum.org WHEN: 11 a.m.

WHERE: Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 100 E. Northwestern Ave. COST: Free with admission

Saturday Night at the Movies: Ghostbusters

Bring a blanket and watch a movie on the Great Lawn. Games and pre-show activities start at 7 p.m.; the movie begins at 9 p.m. historicphiladelphia.org WHEN: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

WHERE: 6th and Race Sts. COST: Free

September 9 Photography, After Hours Instructor Lisa Roper will lead you through a short presentation covering the basic principles of garden photography, including: light, composition, depth of field, point of view and shutter speed. Then she’ll take the class into the gardens to put these principles into practice and demonstrate how she sets up a shot. This class is open to all who have a digital, single-lens reflex camera and working knowledge of manual or aperture settings. pennhort.net/chanticleer WHEN: 5 p.m.

WHERE: Chanticleer, 786 Church Rd., Wayne, Pa. COST: $20 for PHS Members; $30 non-members

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bucktoecreekpreserve.org

September 11 SPOKE Issue Three Launch Party Join the SPOKE team for the launch of Issue Three at W/N W/N Coffee Bar. Grab a copy of the magazine, enjoy exclusive drink specials and hang with your fellow cyclists.

Mysterious Moths Join insect expert, Alyssa Molin-Graves, and the Land Conservancy to explore the interesting and mysterious lives of moths.

By using special lighting equipment you will be able to get an up close and personal experience with these elusive creatures. tlcforscc.org WHEN: 8:15 p.m. to 10 p.m.

WHERE: Walnut Hill Headquarters, 541 Chandler Mill Rd., Avondale, Pa. COST: $10 for The Land Conservancy members; $15 for non-members

September 12 Victory for the Headwaters This day-long celebration and fundraiser starts with a volunteer trash clean-up canoe trip down the Brandywine River and continues at Victory’s Parkesburg Brewery, where Victory unveils the new packaging for its Headwaters Ale. All proceeds will benefit Victory’s Headwater Grant, which provides funds to environmental organizations dedicated to protecting local water.

spokemag.bike

victorybeer.com/news

WHEN: 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: 931 Spring Garden St. COST: Free

WHEN: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

WHERE: 317 Lower Valley Rd. COST: Starting at $10

Native Ferns

Charcuterie with Nick Macri from La Divisa Meats

Ferns are much-loved woodland plants that flourish in shade and provide textural interest from spring through fall. This class serves as a primer on fern biology and identification, and is an opportunity to see them in natural landscape settings. Learn 25 species, including many of the easiest and most desirable to grow, as well as how to incorporate them into your home garden. Be prepared to walk outdoors. mtcubacenter.org WHEN: Fridays, Sept. 11 to 25, 10 a.m.

WHERE: Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Rd., Hockessin, Del. COST: $90

Garden Crafts Uncorked: Nature's Keepsake Create a keepsake box with the charming geometric patterns of ferns. Apply the lacey foliage of dried ferns to transform an ordinary box into a unique memento of your garden. Create a special container for yourself or a loved one. They provide the crafts—you bring the wine and company. mtcubacenter.org WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Rd., Hockessin, Del. COST: $20

Get the basics of at-home charcuterie with local go-to charcuterie chef Nick Macri. In this hands-on workshop, everyone will get to make their own pâté, and will learn techniques for grinding meat at home. The class will discuss how to make forcemeats and use them in various pâté and terrine recipes.

La Divisa will provide a variety of garnishes for your pâté to bake in class. greensgrow.org/events WHEN: 12 p.m.

WHERE: Greensgrow Community Kitchen, St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, 2139 E. Cumberland St. COST: $35

Pennsylvania Coast Day Discover Pennsylvania’s coastal connection at Pennsylvania Coast Day, hosted by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. Free attractions at Penn’s Landing will include boat rides, kayaking, kids crafts, exhibits and more. You can also see the world's largest fleet of LEGO model ships with your paid admission to the Independence Seaport Museum. DelawareEstuary.org/Coast-Day WHEN: 11 a.m.

WHERE: Outside the Independence Seaport Museum, Walnut Plaza at Penn’s Landing COST: Free with admission

/ EVENTS Fall Wildflowers: Beyond Asters

Pruning Small Trees and Shrubs

Explore the broad palette of native perennials that bring color, texture and visual interest to the autumn garden. Learn which species to select and grow that attract birds and pollinators, including blue lobelia, wild ageratum and blackeyed Susan. A walk along the dogwood path and through the meadow will inspire you to create your own remarkable fall garden. mtcubacenter.org

This course will introduce all aspects of pruning various shrubs and small flowering trees. You will take away practical information, including reasons for pruning, when to prune, and the proper use and care of tools. You’ll learn correct timing to ensure optimum blooms, as well as accurate techniques to give your trees proper shape and improved habit.

WHEN: 1 p.m.

WHERE: Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Rd., Hockessin, Del. COST: $30

www.pennhort.net/chanticleer

Clayfest The Clay Studio celebrates creativity with ClayFest, a daylong event featuring hands on art activities, refreshments and live entertainment. Participants are invited to tour the galleries, school and artist studios; try their hands on the pottery wheel with assistance from teaching artists; and add their own touch to artist-made bowls with colorful glazes. Also on site will be a workshop in clay animation techniques and the opportunity to contribute to a collaborative sculpture in the making. theclaystudio.org WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: The Clay Studio, 137-139 N. 2nd St. COST: Free

September 13 Paw Paw Tasting & Jersey Fresh Dinner Fundraiser Get free paw paw seeds and talk about growing them in your backyard. You’ll enjoy homemade food, live Irish music and visit with special guest, Walt Whitman, actively interpreted by Rocky Wilson. Tasting at 3 p.m. Dinner at 4 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Old Pine Farm Natural Lands Trust. Register at 856-889-4160. facebook.com/oldpinefarm WHEN: 3 p.m.

WHERE: 340 Pine Ave., Deptford, N.J. COST: Free

September 16 Philly Vegan Drinks Join the Humane League for delicious vegan food, drinks and great company! thehumaneleague.com WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m.

WHERE: Bourbon & Branch, 705 N. 2nd St. COST: Pay-as-you-go

WHEN: 5 p.m.

WHERE: Chanticleer, 786 Church Rd., Wayne, Pa COST: $20 for PHS Members; $30 non-members

Seed Keeping Workshop: Storytelling, Liberation and How to Save Seeds Mariposa will begin the night by telling the stories embodied in our ancestors’ seeds, and discussing the current political context which makes seedkeeping so essential.

You'll briefly explore important concepts for saving seeds, such as flower anatomy, isolation distance and taxonomy, and then spend time cleaning both wet and dry seeds using common items from the kitchen. mariposa.coop WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Mariposa, 4824 Baltimore Ave. COST: Free

Preserving!

Learn to preserve local tomatoes with Jammin’ Crepes Co-Founder and Cornell University Cooperative Extension Master Food Preserver, Kim Rizk. She’ll guide you through the recipe steps as you chop and cook, and then show you the basics of water bath canning. You’ll finish class with a demonstration of how to use your new condiments with a variety of Cherry Grove Farm meats and cheeses, then snack on small bites while discussing different pairings. shopcherrygrovefarm.com/product-p/ cl-pres-series.htm WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m.

WHERE: 20 Nassau St., Princeton, N.J. COST: $50

Cambodian Street Food Workshop Join Koliyan for the second workshop in our Cambodian Street Food Series. This is a hands-on workshop where you'll learn to make three popular Cambodian favorites.

In this class, you’ll make nyum swye (green mango salad), pa-hut (kroeung lemongrass curry vegetable croquettes) and amok (steamed tofu and vegetable kroeung lemongrass curry soufflé topped with coconut milk). koliyanphilly.com WHEN: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

WHERE: 806 S. 6th St. COST: $75

September 17 Nature Buddies: Nuts To You! Learn about the comical ways of bushytailed tree planters. Nature Buddies programs include a story, an outdoor walk and a take-home craft. This program is appropriate for ages 3 through 7. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call to register by Tuesday, September 15. bhwp.org WHEN: 10 a.m.

WHERE: Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, 1635 River Rd., New Hope, Pa. COST: Free for members; non-members: $7 for one child with adult

September 18 Autumn Art-In Let your creativity bloom while you draw, paint or photograph Mt. Cuba Center's naturalistic gardens. Meet other participating artists and enjoy a lovely day of art and inspiration. Registration required. mtcubacenter.org WHEN: 10 a.m.

WHERE: Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Rd., Hockessin, Del. COST: Free

Farm Venue Open House Greensgrow and Birchtree Catering invite you to experience a memorable party and event expo at one of the city’s most unique event venues. It will be a special opportunity to meet local event vendors, service-providers and planners while enjoying appetizers and cocktails provided by Birchtree Catering. greensgrow.org/event/greensgrow-farms-andbirchtree-catering-present-farm-venue-open-house WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Greensgrow Farms, 2501 E. Cumberland St. COST: $10 in advance; $12 at the door

Mushroom Cultivation & Application Course Join Radical Mycology founder Peter McCoy for a 2.5-day intensive on the art, science and regenerative applications of mushroom cultivation. This course covers the essential principles and practices of high-yield mushroom production for all budgets. Starting with the fundamentals of cultivation, and progressively building in conceptual stages throughout the weekend, you will learn the empowering life skill of growing mushroom mycelium (spawn) and fruiting mushrooms in any environment. radicalmycology.com WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Heritage Farm, 4300 Monument Ave. COST: $250

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Local | Farm-to-Table Fresh | Organic

CONTACT ChefPeg@cosmicfoods.com 610-324-5256 NOW for YOUR fresh menu!

Helping creatively-driven businesses grow & succeed

bookkeeping • business plans • operations elysianfieldsphila.com

Thanks to a grant from the Claneil Foundation, we can focus on sustainable farming initiatives. frenchandpickering.org JOIN FRENCH & PICKERING AS A MEMBER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN LOCAL LAND PRESERVATION!

e finest sustainably raised fruits and specialty vegetables available at Headhouse Farmers Market (Sundays 10-2) and at like-minded stores and restaurants throughout the city.

FROM OUR FARM TO YOUR HOME 717.677.7186

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/ EVENTS

September 19 Circuit City Explore how electricity flows by building simple circuits that light up or make noise.

Then combine them with other people’s creations to make more complex circuits and see how they interact. Designed for kids 5 - 10 and their accompanying adults. dmdphilly.org WHEN: 1 p.m.

WHERE: Department of Making + Doing, 3711 Market St. COST: $39/$35 Early Bird

What's for Dinner?

The evening’s menu will be filled with local and organic foods, many also biodynamic, either grown or raised right in Kimberton Hills or by their neighbors. The event will begin with hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine at an outdoor garden, followed by dinner in the Camphill Café. Between courses, attendees will hear from the growers and producers to learn more about the foods served that evening. camphillkimberton.org/whatsfordinner WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: 1601 Pughtown Rd., Kimberton, Pa. COST: $100-125 sliding scale

Beekeeping 101 Don Shump, president of the Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild and Greensgrow’s beekeeper, will walk you through bee biology, hive management, swarming, equipment and bee products. Registration Required.

Everyone will receive a $10 Greensgrow Gift Card after the workshop. greensgrow.org WHEN: 12 p.m.

WHERE: Greensgrow Farm, 2501 E. Cumberland St. COST: $35

Go West Craft Fest This arts and crafts fair returns to the Woodlands with 100 local crafters, live music, food from local eateries, children's craft activities and acrobatic performances by Tangle's TinyCircus. gowestcraftfest.com WHEN: 11 a.m.

WHERE: 4000 Woodland Ave. COST: Free

Culture Connection: Exploring Korean Heritage Celebrate traditional and modern Korean culture with music and dance performances, food tastings and activities. Guides will lead an exploration of the Korean plants of the Arboretum’s 92-acre botanical collection. morrisarboretum.org WHEN: 11 a.m.

WHERE: Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 100 E. Northwestern Ave. COST: Free with admission

Repair Fair #6 During the Fair, guests are welcome to bring in their damaged or inoperative possessions to have a volunteer fixer help them diagnose, mend and get them back to working condition. phillyfixersguild.org/calendar WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: KCFC Future Retail Site, 2672 Coral St. COST: Free

University of Nature: Fall 2015 At the University of Nature, a one-day symposium for nature enthusiasts, there will be guided hikes, workshops and lectures on topics ranging from field botany to natural history. Enjoy a picnic lunch and stay afterwards for an opening reception for The Mountain and the Bumblebee at 4 p.m. schuylkillcenter.org/blog/event/university-of-nature-2 WHEN: 10 a.m.

WHERE: 8480 Hagy's Mill Rd. COST: $55

September 20 Storytelling Through Cut Paper with reC reate A rtist Katie K noeringer Participants will tell a story in one image by layering paper cuttings, drawings, photos and paper shapes. Basic collage materials will be provided and additional materials can be purchased from our warehouse of reclaimed materials. RSVP to info@theresourceexchange.org theresourceexchange.org

Wild Foraging Series: Edible Plants Come join Lee Peterson, author of Peterson’s Field Guide to Wild Edible Plants of Eastern/ Central America to explore Bucktoe in search of edible plants. Learn how to gather and prepare them, and most importantly identify them. Enjoy a light dinner at the conclusion of the walk. bucktoecreekpreserve.org WHEN: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Bucktoe Creek Preserve, 432 Sharp Rd., Avondale, Pa. COST: $10 for the Land Conservancy members; $15 for non-members

Benefit for Historic Fair Hill Food historian William Woys Weaver, Ph.D., will be the guest speaker at the “Seeds From the Past: Feeding the Future” benefit for Historic Fair Hill, Inc. The event will feature artisanal beer and substantial hors d’oeuvres made with “Fair Hill Grown” produce. historicfairhillbenefit2015.eventbrite.com WHEN: 5 p.m.

WHERE: 7 Boathouse Row, Kelly Dr. COST: Ticket prices vary

September 21 Climate Change: A New Dialogue In response to Pope Francis’ call for a “new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet,” the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University will hold a special public forum of environmental advocates, scientists and community members for a critical conversation about climate change and the future. Register online. ansp.org WHEN: 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy COST: Free

WHEN: 1 to 3 p.m.

WHERE: The Resource Exchange, 1701 N. 2nd St. COST: $5

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September 22 In a Pickle: Canning for City Dwellers Canning is a wonderful way to preserve food. You’ll learn quick pickling methods and hot water bathing canning, as well as the process of making pickled radishes and jalapeños. dmdphilly.org WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Department of Making + Doing, 3711 Market St. COST: $29

Hometown Herbs How-To: Oils & Salves Learn to create your own skin-nourishing oils and salves. April Pedrick and Amy Hsu will lead this class in extracting plant properties into oils that can then be used for a variety of salves for any purpose. weaversway.coop/homesteading WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Henry Got Crops Farm at Saul High School, 7095 Henry Ave. COST: $5

Kensington Community Food Co-op Marketplace Buy sustainable, locally grown food at KCFC's Marketplace every fourth Tuesday at their pop-up farmers market, upstairs at Circle of Hope. Come support the effort to open a neighborhood food co-op! kcfc.coop WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: KCFC Marketplace, 2009 Frankford Ave. COST: Free.

September 23 Botanical Master Class: Goldenrods and Asters Join Dr. Ann Rhodes as she focuses on the asters and goldenrods of the local area.

Program includes a presentation and handson time to examine live specimens. Call to register: 215-862-2924. bhwp.org WHEN: 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, 1635 River Rd., New Hope, Pa. COST: members: $30; non-members: $35

September 24 Painting Mushrooms: Woodland Jewels of the Forest Much of the mystery and intrigue surrounding mushrooms stems from the tiny kingdom they inhabit on the forest floor. Join Margaret Saylor for a three-day workshop where you will examine different types of mushrooms, then sketch and build an accurate painting. You’ll also learn to include secondary elements such as grasses, leaves, acorns or even woodland critters to add interest to your composition. mtcubacenter.org WHEN: Thurs., Sept. 24 to Sat., Sept 26, 10 a.m.

WHERE: Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Rd., Hockessin, Del. COST: $180

September 25 Fall Fitness Walks Experience the natural beauty of Mt. Cuba Center’s gardens, forests and meadows as they take on the vibrant colors of fall during this invigorating hour-long walk.

Get to know the native flora as you improve your health, engage with staff and enjoy the Center’s extensive walking trails. Dress for the weather, bring a water bottle and be prepared for hilly terrain. mtcubacenter.org WHEN: Fridays, Sept. 25 to Oct. 30, 8:30 a.m.

WHERE: Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Rd., Hockessin, Del. COST: $30

September 26 Small Trees for Small Spaces Tour Join guides for a tour of Morris Arboretum’s smaller specimen trees in the garden’s new tour, Small Trees for Small Spaces. Arboretum Guides will point out small trees that make a big impact. morrisarboretum.org WHEN: 11 a.m.

WHERE: Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 100 E. Northwestern Ave. COST: Free with admission

the pre-Finished Hardwood specialist since 1985 Environmentally-Friendly Wood Floors, Naturally Buy from a local Philly homeowner and SAVE!

(800) 363-6881 Materials 62

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Eating Healthy on a Tight Budget Mariposa has put together a series of store tours and workshops to help you make the most out of your Mariposa shopping experience. Learn about their product guidelines, prices and frequent deals, and then check out a workshop where you can share tips on what works for you. RSVP to education@ mariposa.coop. mariposa.coop WHEN: 11 a.m.

WHERE: 4824 Baltimore Ave. COST: Free

Orienteering: An Outdoor Navigation Sport for All Ages Test your outdoor navigation skills with the Delaware Valley Orienteering Association.

Beginners and advanced orienteers are welcome with multiple different courses set up. White, yellow, orange, brown and green courses are available, with navigational difficulty from beginner to advanced and lengths from about 1.5 to 5 kilometers. schuylkillcenter.org/blog/event/orienteering-an-outdoor-navigation-sport-for-all-ages-2 WHEN: 10 a.m.

WHERE: Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 8480 Hagy's Mill Rd. COST: $12

Connecting Your Land to Our Water The quality and quantity of water in our streams, rivers and aquifers are directly affected by every property, no matter how big or small. Learn how to estimate the amount of runoff from your property, how that influences the local water supply and how to use “nature’s water filters” to mitigate your impact on the environment. Go home with tips on conserving water in your landscape and become a steward of your own watershed! mtcubacenter.org WHEN: 10 a.m.

WHERE: Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Rd., Hockessin, Del. COST: $30

/ EVENTS

September 27

October 2

Foraging with Ben Walmer

Spooky Mini Golf

Join Chef and Architect Ben Walmer for a walk deep into Cherry Grove Farm to search for seasonal ingredients. From mushrooms to tree bark, foraging unearths some of nature’s most delicate treasures. Afterwards, Walmer will demonstrate ways to utilize the bounty of the farm, and you’ll taste “farm fresh” in a whole new way. Take home recipes, class materials and the know-how to dig up your own dinner. Register online or by phone at (609) 895-1502 shopcherrygrove-

Philly Mini Golf is transformed into spooky fun for the season with fog, lights, music and surprises on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square/what-to-see WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Franklin Square, 6th and Race Sts. COST: $9 for adults; $7 for children

Tenth Anniversary Party for juju salon &

farm.com/product-p/for-bw.htm

organics

WHEN: 3 to 5 p.m.

WHERE: 3200 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrenceville, N.J. COST: $45

Come and celebrate this organic salon's 10th Year of Green Beauty! There will be drinks and cocktails from local distillers and brewers, and a vegan buffet from Rachel's Pantry.

Enjoy 10 percent off all body, skin and hair products and enter their raffle for a chance to win free hair services.

October 1 Night Market

jujusalon.com

The Food Trust presents the final Night Market of their 2015 fifth anniversary season at Frankford and Girard avenues! Expect local bites, live music and much more at Philly's favorite roving street food festival.

WHEN: 8 p.m.

WHERE: 713 S. 4th St. COST: Free

October 3

nightmarketphilly.org WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Frankford & Girard Ave. COST: Free

The Outlet Dance Project Returns to Grounds For Sculpture Now in its 11th year, the Outlet Dance Project is one of New Jersey’s most popular dance festivals. Join this dynamic and magical journey through GFS and experience dance and the garden in a whole new way.

Enjoy the Dance on Film Festival on October 1 and the Day of Dance on October 3. theoutletdanceproject.com WHEN: October 1, 7 p.m.; October 3, 2 p.m.

WHERE: 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, N.J. COST: $15; Free with park admission

Fall Festival Don’t miss this weekend of autumn fun that has become an annual tradition for many families. Make your own scarecrow, paint a pumpkin, sample different varieties of apples and more. Free with admission. Some activities have an additional fee. morrisarboretum.org WHEN: October 3 and 4, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: 100 E. Northwestern Ave. COST: Free

Wellness Day Spend a day immersed in nature rejuvenating your body and clearing your mind. Start off the morning with yoga and meditation sessions in our forest, then spend the afternoon learning about how natural plants can be used to connect the senses and the body.

Yoga will be led by Katy Hawkins, and Isaac Garfield will lead participants through outdoor seated and active sensory meditation.

Bring a picnic lunch or enjoy a catered lunch for an additional fee. schuylkillcenter.org/blog/event/wellness-day WHEN: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: 8480 Hagy's Mill Rd. COST: $45

Garden Discovery Series - Acorns, Leaves, Bark, Oh My!

and

Learn about the animals that depend on tree nuts, and how to match the variety of acorns around the Arboretum with the trees that made them. Discover the function and purpose of bark while making bark etchings. morrisarboretum.org WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: 100 E. Northwestern Ave. COST: Free with garden admission

October 4 Arden Woods Mushroom Forage and Feast Join Mycopolitan and the Arden community for an afternoon foraging for maitake, chicken of the woods, blewits and other mushrooms in the beautiful oak-beech woodland along Naaman Creek. After the hike, you’ll feast on wild mushroom soup, quesadillas, candy cap mushroom cookies and other treasures of the woods. mycopolitan.com/store WHEN: 1 p.m.

WHERE: *address received after order,* Arden, Del. COST: $45

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BUILDING A BEACON FOR THE CITY AND THE WORLD A green building project made a spiritual calling concrete by patricia mcbee

F

ifteen years ago, I made a commitment to put my shoulder to the wheel of caring for the earth. I’d made lifestyle changes, but yearned to make a bigger contribution, and I started visiting the homes of members of my Quaker meeting. We spoke about the impacts of our lifestyle, discussed how we use and invest our money, what we do at our workplace and how we can learn from disadvantaged communities.

Then, Friends Center, the complex of Quaker buildings at 15th and Cherry that included my meeting house, began renovation plans.

They asked me to lead the effort to raise the money to bring the buildings into the 21st Century—they knew I wouldn’t refuse if it was going to be a green building.

We tied the project to the basic Quaker principles of peace, equality, simplicity and integrity. How could we live in integrity with our peace testimony in the face of wars over energy and water resources? How could we speak of equality when a large portion of the earth’s population doesn’t have access to clean

air and clean water? How could we claim to live in simplicity if we are over-consuming the earth’s resources?

As we planned for the renovations, we asked these questions as we drew together 100 relatively conservative Quakers who headed Quaker funds or had personal wealth. Whatever we undertook would require their support.

We gave them each a green sticky dot to put on a chart that showed a range of choices from “fix things when they break,” to “be a beacon to the city and the world.” To my delighted amazement, these practical-minded Quakers placed a cascade of green on the side of “be a beacon”!

We put the chart on the wall of the capital campaign office, and it lifted our spirits on discouraging days. We raised the money.

I also dickered with vendors about using less toxic products. For years, I used every public presentation and living room solicitation as a platform to talk about the state of the planet and our personal responsibility for it. From donors and schoolchildren to foreign delegations, hundreds of people heard from

me about our moral responsibility, green roofs and geothermal wells.

In 2009, our 30-year-old office building was renovated in 2009 to LEED Platinum standards. At the time, it was the highest LEED rated building in Pennsylvania and the rest of the campus, originally built in the mid-19th century, is a healthy place to work and worship, fossil-fuel free, carbon-neutral and protective of the watershed.

I have a deep longing to live with reverence for the earth and all its inhabitants. Through this unexpected work, I was able to combine that longing with Quaker principles and apply them to a concrete project. Along the way, wonderful people deepened my knowledge and my commitment. I’m ready for whatever may come next.

In 2006, Patricia McBee was the director of the capital campaign for the Friends Center renovation project, and then served as the center’s executive director until her retirement in 2014.

Each month, Dispatch features personal reflections on adventures in sustainability. Have a story you’d like to share? E-mail getinvolved@gridphilly.com 64

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CLAY FEST PHILAD ELPHIA

A Free Community Festival

Saturday, September 12, 10am-4pm 137 n 2nd street, philadelphia pa 19106

215 925 3453 ǀ www.theclaystudio.org

Behind door #3 A software engineer ventures into the unknown and finds her passion.

Nidhi Krishen Master of Environmental Studies ’15, University of Pennsylvania To let Nidhi convince you why you should recycle your cell phone, visit www.upenn.edu/grid

When Nidhi Krishen (Master of Environmental Studies ’15) talks about her new career in sustainability, her voice bubbles with barely contained excitement. As a former software engineer once used to “binary thinking,” she says, “this field is big and open and interdisciplinary. It’s a huge challenge, and that’s what I love about it.”

Restless with the software field, Nidhi chose the Master of Environmental Studies program to switch careers and pursue her lifelong interest in environmental protection. At Penn, Nidhi found a new fascination with the untapped potential of mobile phone waste (“It’s a golden product!”), a new job with an international sustainability firm and a new field that marries purpose and passion.

Staff from Penn’s MES program are here to answer your questions

“My friends and family said, ‘Aren’t you’re crazy to switch careers?’

I understand that—but the Master of Environmental Studies program was one of the best decisions of my life.”

face-to-face on the second Wednesday of each month.

www.upenn.edu/grid

Walk right in.

www.upenn.edu/grid

www.facebook.com/UPennEES

@PENN_EES