Grid Magazine September 2013 [#053]

Education Guide Sustainable programs and resources in Philadelphia

alternatives

energized A major grant is energizing sustainable education and providing viable alternatives for more students

The energy to save…

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MAYSIE’S FARMFEST 2013

The Conservation Concert LOCAL FOOD • LOCAL MUSIC

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ANDREW LIPKE

CUCINA VERDE

CHRISTOPHER PAUL STELLING

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SEAN HOOTS

SUNFLOWER TRUCK STOP

SHARON LITTLE

WYEBROOK FARM

TIN BIRD CHOIR

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VILE BRED

and more!

This solar powered, GMO-free community celebration supports Maysie’s Farm Conservation Center’s mission of “Working toward a Local, Sustainable Food System.”

and more!

TICKETS

$20 IN ADVANCE $25 AT THE GATE

www.maysiesfarmfest.org

Sat. Sept. 21 • 1pm - 11pm MAYSIESFARMFEST.ORG

RAIN DATE: SUN. SEPT. 22

LUDWIGS CORNER, GLENMOORE, PA

publisher

Alex Mulcahy 215.625.9850 ext. 102 alex@gridphilly.com

Service Project

editor-in-chief

Jon McGoran jon@gridphilly.com art director

Jamie Leary jamie@gridphilly.com designer

Danni Sinisi danni@gridphilly.com

Education that empowers students and changes the world

distribution / ad sales

S

hortly after graduating college, I had the opportunity to get into a field I knew nothing about: publishing. Fortunately, I encountered the aptly named Joe Wright, a humble, helpful and hard-working graphic designer who designed publications for the college where I had just graduated. For weeks, he would stay late after his nine-hour workday was over to work on my project. After a few months, and a few all-nighters, it became clear that even the selfless Mr. Wright couldn’t keep up that kind of schedule, so I had to learn to do it myself. I bought a Mac, acquired some software, and opened up the page layout program. Staring at a blank page, I called Joe. “Joe, how do you place a picture in a document?” Five minutes later, “Joe, how do you put text in a document?” He patiently answered all of my questions, and before long I was off and running.

My design skills never did blossom, and those first few issues would make a good designer cackle. But I still remember how proud I was that, with a little bit of coaching and equipment, I had created something.

Dedicated Grid readers will remember our enthusiasm for project-based education from our July 2010 cover story the West Philly Hybrid X team, the high school students who produced an award-winning electric car. Really sharp readers will recognize that Ann Cohen, quoted in this issue’s cover story, was quoted in that one as well.

That’s because she and Hybrid X team leader Simon Hauger are among the leaders of the recently funded Workshop School.

What makes this school (and the Science Leadership Academy) so compelling is that the types of projects students undertake are designed to better our society. As SLA student Amanda Millat will verify, when students look to better the world, they inevitably better themselves. It’s an inspiring reminder for all of us. And it makes you wonder: If someone so young can make such a meaningful contribution, what can I do?

alex j. mulcahy, Publisher alex@gridphilly.com

Jesse Kerns 215.625.9850 ext. 100 jesse@gridphilly.com community engagement

Morgan Berman morgan@gridphilly.com writers

Alon Abramson Bernard Brown Kate Campbell Lauren Mandel Kristin Maranki Julianne Mesaric Molly O’Neill Brian Rademaekers Emily Teel Samantha Wittchen interns

Sarah Adams Whitney DiTaranto Christine Dobisch Suzanna Erlich Rasheed Flowers Corey Jameson Devon Jennings Yarnkai Koryon Cassandra Kyriazis Valerie Lang Andrew Schlesinger Meredith Thomas photographers

Christian Hunold Neal Santos Dave Tavani Emily Teel illustrators

Kirsten Harper Hilary Sedgwick controller

Nicole Jarman nicole@gridphilly.com 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

p hoto by G e n e s m irn ov

PRESENTS

YOU’VE READ THE MAGAZINE, NOW SEE THE SHOW! Thursday

September 12 Trinity Memorial Church 22nd and Spruce Sts. DOORS OPEN AT

6:00 p.m.

SHOW STARTS AT 7:00 P.M.

TICKETS

$5.00

Buy tickets in advance at STORE.GRIDPHILLY.COM

and you’ll be entered to win a free T-shirt!

Limited Edition Tote

made by Fabric Horse from waxed canvas & recycled materials

HOSTED BY

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Alex Mulcahy Grid Publisher

Guests to be announced

REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED BY

available at Grid Alive and online at store.gridphilly.com

CO-SPONSORED BY

SUSTAINABLE

19103

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Community: Revival House · E-waste recycling · prison waste composting · neighborhood rehabbing

12 Design: Book casings · zoo ecology · off the rails 16 Green Living: Pop a cold one · check yourself 22 Food: Phickle fun · Red Hot Chili Peppers 24 Media: Green ace · shore thing · celebrates cities

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38 Urban Naturalist: Birdland 42 Events: Work, workshops, festivals, films and more!

46 Dispatch: Looking for lunch in all the right places

Schooled in Sustainability Major grant means a major expansion of sustainable alternative schools in Philadelphia by julia bergman

cov e r an d co n te n ts il lustratio n S by HILARY Sedgwi c k

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community

Plain Sights

2nd and Norris

Revival House This unusual specimen of Victorian Romanesque Revival architecture near Norris Square in Kensington is a multicultural marvel: a German history with an Asian owner in a Latino neighborhood. Built in 1890, the hall hosted several German Singing Societies, including the Banater Maennerchor “male chorus.� During its 1920s heyday, the Maennerchor not only sang, but also offered free classes, trained local homeless men and sponsored a renowned soccer team. Following a 1939 merger, Maennerchor became the United German Hungarian Club, and eventually moved outside the city to Oakford, Pa., in 1961. The current owners have leased the building to an organization that wants to convert it into an art gallery. For more on this story, visit the Hidden City Daily, hiddencityphila.org.

In partnership with Hidden City, Plain Sights highlights historic buildings with compelling stories hiding in our midst.

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M O D E RN p hoto By B radley Maule

E-WASTE NOT!

Electronic waste (e-waste) recycling has been mandatory in New Jersey since 2011, but Magnum Computer Recycling, based in Pennsauken, N.J., has been providing eco-friendly and ethical recycling service to the state since 2006. “I didn’t understand why people wouldn’t recycle this stuff,” says Magnum founder John Martorano, Jr., referring to a pile of e-waste he found in the woods. “I did some research and found that it was actually a big problem. I decided to get involved and I haven’t looked back.”

Magnum’s services are free. The bulk of its income comes from electronics manufacturers, who must subsidize the collection and recycling of the electronic goods they produce under New Jersey’s “manufacturer take-back” program. The sale of scrap metals augments this income.

Magnum collects, transports, records and dismantles the waste, producing 30 different commodities (a single computer will be broken down into 18 commodities).

Some materials (mainly metals) are sold for reuse, others sent to landfills. For hazardous materials, Magnum partners with companies like Electronics Recycling International (ERI), which has won praise for its environmentally sensitive disposal technology. Martorano is passionate about getting the word out about the hazards of e-waste and the laws mandating its proper disposal, and making sure it doesn’t end up contaminating the environment here or in third world countries where it is often shipped. —Alon Abramson For more info, visit magnum-llc.us

stewardship

maps Who, what, where, why and how?

The Philadelphia Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEWMAP) is surveying local environmental stewardship groups for a series of citywide Stewardship Maps that will help inform the development of citywide, participatory Stewardship Roundtables. If you received the survey, please complete it. If you didn’t and think you should have, contact stewmap.philly@gmail.com.

Prison Green

A Philadelphia prison program diverts waste, saves money, and creates some primo compost by kate campbell

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hiladelphia’s prisons have instituted an innovative recycling and composting program that is saving money, diverting waste from landfills, producing great compost and drawing national attention.

“We went from zero tons of single-stream recycling to about 310 tons the first year,” says Laura Cassidy, green program coordinator for the city’s prisons, who started the recycling program five years ago. “The cost for all of the prison facilities to dispose rubbish is about a quarter of a million dollars a year after single-stream recycling is extracted,” she says. “I’ve estimated that we could save as much as 70 percent once we implement our composting at all of our facilities.”

The prison program incorporated composting two years ago, and it is unique for its urban setting.

That’s part of the reason the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the city a grant to start it.

“We’d like to see facilities that generate a lot of food waste compost it on-site to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills and to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas generated,” says Mike Giuranna, of the EPA Region III Philadelphia office. Success is measured by the reduction of organic materials (food waste, leaves, wood chips, etc.) going to landfills. The long-term goal is “to compost as much food waste as possible.”

The Philadelphia prison system provides 9,000 inmates with 23,000 meals a day, and the waste is sent to a landfill at $77 a ton. The city diverts about 600 pounds of source-separated organics a day, acph otos By dav e tavani

cording to Cassidy. From August 2012 through June 2013, that was 200,000 pounds of food waste. Added to 620,000 pounds of single-stream recycling, that’s more than 400 tons of waste diverted from landfills, saving the city almost $24,000.

“We are not allowed to compete with private industry,” says Cassidy, so the compost is not for sale.

Currently, prison staff members receive compost for free, but there are plans to use it on prison grounds and donate it to community gardens.

The idea for the program began with Louis Giorla, commissioner of the Philadelphia Prison System, who asked Cassidy to explore ways to strengthen sustainability initiatives. Cassidy realized if the prisons recycled properly, what would remain would be food or organic waste.

“I figured that if we implemented a compost program, we could save anywhere from 30 to 70 percent on our solid waste costs, not to mention the impact on the environment,” says Cassidy. “It would save us a significant amount of money.”

But she knew the savings from a compost program could be wiped out by costs of transporting the organic waste to an industrial compost site. “I decided to cut out the middle man and implement the program on-site,” says Cassidy.

The pilot program has been such a success it was featured in the summer 2013 issue of NCIA News, the quarterly publication of the National Correctional Industries Association. It also received a Waste Watcher Award by the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania and has inspired plans for similar programs across the country.

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community

Home Care Project Rehab is improving whole neighborhoods in University City, one house at a time by brian rademakers

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niversity city district (ucd) executive director Matt Bergheiser is only half joking when he says he’s not interested in sharing Ryan Spak. A Philadelphia native, Spak was busy building his construction management firm with his wife when UCD recruited him in 2011 to head a new effort called Project Rehab.

Spak, 32, has since gained a reputation for his ability to execute Project Rehab’s mission of collaborating with city agencies, banks and owners of blighted properties to revive left-for-dead sections of University City. Working roughly 20 hours a week for UCD, the Temple grad is having a noticeable impact on the area. “The project has positively affected almost 21 properties,” says Spak. “We’ve added $7 million in market value in terms of real estate.”

Bergheiser cites Spak’s knowledge of the real estate industry, his intuition and his aggressiveness as reasons he was picked for the Project Rehab job. But just as important is his ability to connect with owners of properties mired in legal and financial limbo and bring them back into the dialogue. “A lot these properties get stuck like this for various reasons,” says Bergheiser, “and Ryan’s an expert at getting them unstuck.”

For more on Spak and Project Rehab, visit universitycity.org/project-rehab .

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Photo by N EAL SA NTOS

UNIVERSITYCITY.ORG

UNIVERSITYCITY.ORG

UNIVERSITYCITY

UNIVERSITYCITY

UCDPHL

UCDPHL

phillywaldorf.com

Kindergarten is no place for pressure tactics.

It’s for nurturing that leads to real growth.

Is there such a thing as an urban oasis for preserving childhood? At the Waldorf School of Philadelphia, there is.

Our curriculum nurtures your child’s body, mind and spirit in a playful environment that grows her capacity for learning, thinking and doing. Life long.

open Join us: 7500 Germantown Ave | Mount Airy Saturday, October 26 @ 10 am

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design

Book Beats

Crazy cool speaker sets are bound to inspire you

at hive 76, a small community makerspace at 915 Spring Garden St., audio-whiz Brendan Schrader creates small batches of up-cycled speakers that look as good as they sound. “If I’m building something, I always try to use what’s already around me,” says Schrader, who also salvages cases and materials from local vintage shops.

The portable “BoomCase” is self-contained and has inputs for iPods, instruments, even microphones. The wood and vinyl “BoomBooks” are the size and shape of books, easily hidden away in a bookcase. Schrader’s most recent “noisemakers” use small devices called electro-

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mechanical transducers to produce sound on flat panels featuring wood burnings by Chris Terrell, a fellow Hive76 member. “We are a group of hackers, DIYers and makers,” says Schrader. “We tear things apart and put them together in new ways.” —Morgan Berman

Visit noisemakershop.com to see more products created by brendan schrader. To learn more about Hive76 visit hive76.org .

After successfully raising $26,000 using Projexity, a locally based crowdfunding platform, to develop South Philadelphia High School’s “Greening” Master Plan and fund a full-time garden educator, Roofmeadow will work with students, faculty, staff and the community this fall to develop a shared vision for the school’s 5.5-acre urban campus. The plan will help secure financing for design and construction. —Lauren Mandel

Passive Aggressive

fewer opportunities for energy to be lost through exterior walls.

When McDonald talks about largescale urban development, he means it.

He’s hoping to start a research institute at Temple University focused on urban residential high–performance buildings, and Onion Flats’ next project — Ridge Flats, a partnership with Grasso Holdings in East Falls — will be a 146-unit passive project. It has already attracted the attention of Penn State University, which has asked to partner with Onion Flats so the university can study large-scale passive development in practice.

Passive houses use insulation and sealing to cut heating and cooling costs by 90 percent by samantha wittchen

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orthern liberties is getting its first row of Passive House-certified homes. Onion Flats, one of Philadelphia’s best-known sustainable developers, and Domani Developers have completed the first three units of the Stables, a 27-unit single-family rowhome project on George Street that is slated for Passive House certification when the first block of nine homes is completed at the end of the year. The Passive House standard specifies very high insulation values and aggressive air-sealing techniques to reduce heating and cooling loads on the building by 90 percent compared to a

typically constructed building.

Onion Flats’ first Passive House project was the Belfield Homes in North Philadelphia. With this second project, president Tim McDonald says, “We’re hoping to demonstrate that this makes sense as a standard way to build.” McDonald says it’s easier to design passively on a larger scale, so the standard makes a lot of sense for whole blocks of urban development with Philly’s traditional rowhome typology. It’s easier to achieve passive standards when buildings share walls, lowering the exterior surface to interior volume ratio and leading to

Visit onionflats.com to learn more about the Stables and Onion Flats.

Philly Zoo LEEDs By Example Saving energy and saving wildlife This April, the Philadelphia Zoo opened KidZooU, a family education center and children’s zoo focused on conservation and sustainability. This interactive environment is decked out with all the latest in sustainable design and the zoo hopes it will get a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The KidZooU exhibits connect endangered species to acts of conservation. “We aim to teach our visitors that saving energy saves wildlife by demonstrating everyday sustainability actions and linking these actions to saving species,” says Margaret DeGennaro, communications coordinator at the zoo. The exhibits include both an explanation of the KidZooU building design and suggestions on how kids can create changes to conserve water and energy in their own homes.

The building features green design elements like geo-

thermal wells for heating and cooling, rain gardens to reduce water runoff, daylighting and automatic turn-off lights and grey waterflushing public toilets. The outdoor stables are built from recovered wood and have green roofs. The zoo recycled more than 95 percent of the materials from demolition of the previous building and used many recycled materials in the new construction. “This construction project makes our organizationwide sustainability efforts visible to the public, allowing us to lead by example,” says DeGennaro. —Sarah E. Adams KidZooU, 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. through October 31, included in price of admission. Learn more at kidzoou.org or philadelphiazoo.org .

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design

Branching Out

New rails-to-trails plan includes an underground park by alon abramson

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he friends of the rail park (FOTRP) are working to transform the decommissioned Reading Railroad line into a post-industrial linear park, like New York City’s High Line, but partially below street level. The three-mile park is split into two pieces: FOTRP focuses on the western, below-grade section, part of which is referred to as the City Branch. The other piece is the Reading Viaduct, which is above ground and looks to the east.

“There is energy and excitement behind the whole vision for this park,” says Michael Garden, an agent with CITYSPACE realtors and a supporter of FOTRP’s efforts. Garden says all parties involved are working hard to prove that the concept works.

Phase One of the Rail Park is a spur running two-tenths of a mile east from 13th and Noble

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Streets. Spearheaded by the Reading Viaduct Project with support from the Callowhill Neighborhood Association and funding from Center City District, it is expected to break ground in 2014 and will serve as a proof-of-concept of the park’s potential.

Looking to the future, a Community Design Collaborative volunteer design team from OLIN, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, CVM Engineers and VJ Associates worked with FoRP to demonstrate how the City Branch — which runs west from Phase One and underground below Broad Street to 17th Street — can connect the city in dynamic new ways. The design addressed safety and accessibility concerns associated with the underground section of the park with simple measures: plenty of entryways via stairs, elevators, a larger ramp proposed

at Broad Street adjacent to the school district administration building and closing the park at night, like the High Line. “The space will be active at all times of year,” says Board President Liz Maillie, who is enthusiastic about the sheltered space available in the City Branch section of the park. Spaces covered by road crossings and a tunnel under the Pennsylvania Avenue will be transformed into event spaces. The Design Collaborative’s plans illustrate the feasibility and practicality of reenergizing this forgotten section of the city.

Those looking to get involved with FOTRP can sign up for their newsletter, check out the new blog on their website, therailpark.org, and pencil in their September 14 event at Philly Fringe Festival, a fundraiser that will help establish a park maintenance fund for Phase One. FOTRP will also partner with Design Philadelphia in October, offering a park tour and showing off the Design Collaborative’s plans.

See what will soon become a prototype of the rail park between Broad Street at Noble Street and the portion of the viaduct above Callowhill Street.

Learn more at therailpark.org .

R E N D ERIN GS courtesy o f the Co mmunity D esign Co l l abo rati v e and THE D ES IGN TEAM OF OL IN , B o hl in Cy w inski Jackso n, CVM E ngineers , and VJ Assoc iates

Existing conditions

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Green living

Check, Please!

Program helps foot the bill for residential stormwater improvements by brian rademakers

Pop Top

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vacant lot filled with discarded materials can be quite an eyesore. But if that lot is beautifully landscaped — and if those discarded materials consist of pallets up-cycled into terraced seating and shipping containers repurposed into a bar and a local food stand — that lot can become something beautiful.

For the third summer in a row, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) has transformed a neglected space in Center City into a lush and inviting Pop Up Garden. This year, PHS partnered with University of the Arts, Four Corners Management (FCM) and Groundswell Design Group to transform a vacant lot across from the Kimmel Center into a Pop Up Beer Garden, providing cool shade during the day and serving as a hot, local nightspot once the sun goes down.

“We wanted visitors to view the garden as a destination, a place to spend time with friends and enjoy their surroundings,” says PHS executive director Drew Becher. “After seeing the amazing work that Four Corners Management and Groundswell Design Group did at Morgan’s Pier, we knew they could bring an exciting element and guest experience to the PHS Pop Up 18

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Partnership transforms vacant lot into Pop Up Beer Garden by jon mcgoran Garden. The final step was acquiring Garces Group, whose picnic-inspired menu is a perfect fit for the space.”

The Pop Up Beer Garden will be open through October 13, then the repurposed materials will be repurposed once again. The structures will be reused by PHS for their fall events. The plant material will be returned to PHS Meadowbrook Farm and other locations. And the pallet seating, tables, chairs and shipping containers will be reused by FCM and Groundswell Design Group for future projects.

Don’t worry, though — the Pop Up Garden will be back somewhere else next year. “PHS intends to pop up again next spring in a new location, and will also continue its work cleaning and greening vacant lots across Philadelphia,” says Becher. “If anyone has great ideas for where they would like to see the 2014 PHS Pop Up Garden, we always welcome suggestions via the PHS Facebook and Twitter pages.”

PHS Pop Up Beer Garden, 313 S. Broad St. Visit phsonline.org/greening/pop-up-gardens for more information.

The free rain barrel program by the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) has been a big hit, and with the city’s Rain Check program, even more residents can get help stepping up their stormwater game. Now in its second year, PWD’s Rain Check program connects neighborhoods served by a combined sewer system with the resources to implement a variety of stormwater tools.

More than 200 households took advantage of the program last year. Homeowners sign up on the PWD website, and once the right approach is selected for a property, the city sends a contractor to price the job. If the homeowner gives the okay, the city kicks in funding, drastically reducing the cost. The tool most residents used in the first year was the downspout planter, which collects water, but also acts as a living garden. Larger-scale options include de-paving and rain gardens. This year, PWD is working with roughly 350 properties.

“It’s a direct benefit for homeowners, in the sense that they get to have a tool that benefits their home at a greatly discounted cost,” says Rain Check program manager Maggie Wood. The current year is booked, but there is a waiting list in case of cancellations. The program will be available again next year.

For more information, visit

phillywatersheds.org/raincheck .

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divine ripened Farming program uses empty spaces at Sacred Places by molly o’neill

And Phickle.com is all about preventing food waste: Creative tips like pickling kale ribs for salads or making vinegar from fruit scraps prove just how ecologically-friendly fermentation can be.

“Fermented foods are the spice of life,” says Feifer. “We’re just kind of at the beginning of scientific research in these areas, but it’s kind of magic. It’s a little like alchemy to me that you can put salt water and a vegetable in a jar and come away with a pickle!” —Molly O’Neill

Partners for Sacred Places has been pairing social service and cultural organizations with houses of worship since 1989, allowing these groups to enjoy low-cost homes in underutilized spaces. But it wasn’t until recently that Partners began noticing other church assets that could be used to create new food systems.

Partners program associate Caroline Acheatel says that many religious buildings “have these beautiful commercial kitchens, or they’re often sitting on a great campus of green space, or next to an empty lot that they own.” In 2011, Partners began forging relationships with the Food Trust, Urban Tree Connection, the Philadelphia Orchard Project and the Philadelphia Department of Commerce. Food in Sacred Places was born.

The pilot program in West Philadelphia pairs Ward African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church with the Urban Tree Connection (UTC). Ward AME enjoys plenty of outdoor space — the footprint of five adjacent rowhomes — so UTC planted food crops in raised beds on part of that property. Cooking demonstrations are slated to begin in August, using both the kitchen and the large social hall. Most of the food will come directly from the garden, with any supplemental produce arriving from an all-organic Lancaster farm. The site will also become home to a farmers market serving West Philadelphians.

“We work at the intersection of historic preservation and community development,” says Acheatel.

Churches may receive rent income, but perhaps more importantly, their congregations and communities are strengthened by these partnerships and program.

The food justice organizations benefit from welllocated, well-appointed facilities and enthusiastic neighbors.

The next step, says Acheatel, is working with the Departments of Commerce and Licenses and Inspections to put shared incubator kitchens in churches and navigating zoning laws with the Health Department to make sure facilities are up to code.

“It’s definitely challenging,” she says, “but I think it’s doable, and the payoff would be so great for people in Philadelphia.”

amanda feifer blogs at phickle.com .

For more information, visit sacredplaces.org.

Fermenting Rebellion Former fake flavoring flack finds fulfillment in fermentation

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rom cashew cheese to homemade soda, Amanda Feifer is Philly-fying fermentation with her blog Phickle.com. Once a marketing executive for a large food corporation, Feifer began making yogurt nearly 10 years ago, but it wasn’t until later that she realized she was actually fermenting. Though she made her living selling flavorings to food manufacturers, she was determined to find a better way of eating at home.

“The first ferment I ever made was yogurt,” she says, “and I think it was just because I was so carefully looking at all of the grocery store products. I was wondering, what is the point of eating this? It’s loaded with artificial flavors.

Being confronted with those products all the time and living a life so separate from that really made me look for the best thing I could do in terms of health.”

Phickle.com emphasizes lactic acid fermentation, rather than vinegar pickling or canning. “When you make canned pickles,” says Feifer, “you have to sterilize everything, and that’s killing off the good and bad bacteria alike. When you ferment, you’re getting the probiotic benefit and the minerals, which are an alkaline food.”

Feifer’s recipes are surprisingly userfriendly. “We’re crazy busy all the time,” she says, “but the good news is, if I make a quart of pickles, which takes maybe five minutes, in two weeks I have something delicious to put into rice. I think the act itself is empowering because once you realize how easy it is, if you just follow a few simple rules — temperature, submersion and time — you’ll be amazed what you can make.”

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Brew Gooders

Saucony Creek Brewing Company’s new Stonefly IPA is a special beer in more ways than one. Not only is it the first of the brewery’s beers to be bottled, but Saucony is donating roughly 10 percent of proceeds to the Schuylkill Action Network to support restoration projects across the Schuylkill Valley. Have a few beers and do your part to contribute to the Schuylkill River.

A self-guided exploration of the green spaces hidden in South Philly’s concrete jungle ------------------ * -------------------

Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013 1-5pm

rtmGRID4.5x4.75_Layout 1 7/15/13 10:33 AM Page 3

------------------ * ------------------Check-in at South Philly High School, Broad and Snyder

Tickets $20 Advance or $25 Day of Tour Proceeds support efforts to open a member-owned grocery store in South Philadelphia ------------

Golden Fish

John Yi Fish

S PO N S O R E D B Y: Dolphin Tavern and Boot + Saddle

Wan’s Seafood

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The Campaign Group, Green Mountain Energy, Grid Magazine, Passyunk Post, Saul Ewing, Sb1 Federal Credit Union, and Urban Jungle.

DETAILS AND TICKETS: southphillyfoodcoop.org

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food

The Whole Food

Chili Peppers Hot time for hot peppers story and photos by

emily teel

T

here are polarizing Nutrition 101 Beyond their dynamic culinary uses, there are foods out there, to be potential health benefits to incorporating some hot sure. Plenty of people peppers into your meals. Capsaicin, the antioxidant aren’t fond of the spongy texpresent mostly in the seeds and white membranes of ture of mushrooms, the iron hot peppers, binds to pain-receptors in our mouths, sweetness of beets, the bitterwhich we experience as that particular “hot” sensation.

Hot pepper varieties are each awarded a different ness of eggplant or the funk of number on the Scoville scale based on how much cabbage. To the dismay of salcapsaicin is present. Studies have shown consumption sa lovers everywhere, we for of the capsaicin in hot peppers to increase blood whom cilantro tastes of soap circulation, decrease cholesterol and triglycerides, walk among you. We form aland reduce the risk of stomach ulcers. Plus, our bodies produce endorphins to combat the effect of capsaicin, legiances based on these prefwhich, once the initial burn has worn off, can leave us erences, collectively incredufeeling especially relaxed and even euphoric. lous when people we thought we knew well reveal their inability to tolerate our very What to look for favorite food. But there is one Fresh peppers will have smooth, firm skins and stems flavor that elicits a stronger rethat appear juicy, not dried out. Almost any variety sponse than almost any other: of hot pepper can be eaten when young and green, the heat of chili peppers. though different varieties will take on fantastic orange, To their fans, chili peppers red, or even purple hues as they ripen. Ask your grower for suggestions on how he or she uses each one. represent an amazing variety of flavors that add interest and distinctiveness to cuisine from all over the world. But for those with low tolerance for spice, chili peppers seem to lurk alongside genial bell peppers at farmers markets, sinister, waiting to be mistaken for sweet instead of hot. Like storybook villains, hot peppers aren’t evil, but misunderstood, and learning a little about them might be enough to convince even the most timid to give them a chance, either in the kitchen or the garden.

An alumna of Fair Food, Philabundance and Greener Partners, emily teel is a food freelancer profoundly dedicated to sustainable, delicious food in Philadelphia. See more of her work at emilyteel.com .

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for The grower

“Hot peppers are actually a lot easier to grow than sweet peppers,” says Barry Savoie, of Savoie Organic Farm in Williamstown, N.J. “Sweet peppers are finicky. If you don’t have enough magnesium…potassium… [and] calcium in the soil you get a lot of blossom-end rot.”

Hot peppers, on the other hand, tend to be a little tougher, to the point that even novice gardeners will succeed with them. The plants are often compact, requiring little real estate, and even one plant can be prolific, fruiting for weeks and producing an astonishing volume relative to the size of the plant. Even better, chilies love when the soil warms up, so they’re ideally suited to container gardening.

They should be watered when it gets quite hot, but they’re positively hardy when compared to other, more highmaintenance annuals.

Despite this hardiness, Savoie supports his hot pepper plants with stakes, “like you would a tomato, [because] you get a lot better yield,” since the plants can focus on fruiting instead of developing as supportive a root network.

They do require patience, as they’re a little slower growing than other annuals, so even if you start them early in early spring, you’ll have to wait until the very end of summer to see much production. Savoie advises that home gardeners to test soil before planting because hot peppers need a good amount of phosphorous and calcium available,

“not nitrogen, or you’ll have a plant that’s 90 feet tall with no fruit on it.” Home gardeners can “save up two weeks of eggshells and put them down in the hole and plant peppers on top… or use a calcium supplement, especially when it’s really hot.”

This year Greensgrow Farm in Kensington sold seedlings for a great variety of peppers, including bright orange Bulgarian carrots, Ho Chi Minh, Jwala “finger hots” from India, yellow Hungarian wax, a variety of New Mexico anaheims called Joe E. Parker, Cherry Bombs and Red Rockets, a type of Serrano.

for The cook

The astonishing variety of chili peppers — which originated in present-day Bolivia and now boast diverse cultivars all over the world — is enough to dazzle any cook.

Late-summer hits and peppers abound in a tumble of red, yellow, orange, and green. More than almost any other item at the farmers market, they are the biggest bang-for-yourbuck local food, often available in far greater quantities than even hot pepper fanatics (who sometimes refer to themselves as chili-heads) know what to do with.

Chili-heads aside, home cooks often stick to familiar territory when it comes to hot peppers. We might play it safe with the mild heat of poblanos, up the ante with serranos or jalapeños (or their smoked version, chipotles), and only venture to try another variety with caution and a specific recipe in hand. Our loyalty to these few varieties mean that even in well-stocked grocery stores, it can be difficult to find any other chilies, though they are a fruit with endless variation and subtlety.

Fortunately for the curious, small-scale growers have more freedom to experiment than big industrial producers, and farmers markets offer interesting gems whose heat levels fall in the same range as our familiar standards.

While hot peppers may never be the staple that sweet peppers are in terms of getting quick, seasonal meals on the table, they don’t have to be — if given a chance, they can provide something even better than convenience: inspiration.

Instead of grilling up another chicken with your standard barbecue recipe, try making a Peruvian-inspired sauce using Savoie’s aji amarillos. Do your best to one-up DiNic’s and grill your own long hots for pork sandwiches made with pastured pork from Sweet Stem Farm. A splash of fish sauce and a chop of chili transform a simple cabbage slaw into a local twist on Thailand’s som tam, a green papaya salad (recipe on gridphilly.com ).

Chef Tim Spinner, of La Calaca Feliz in Fairmount and Cantina Feliz in Fort Washington, uses both fresh and dried chilies to flavor countless sauces at the two restaurants. His house recipe combines dried pasilla di Oaxaca chilies with grilled tomatillos, garlic and tomatoes into a rust-colored, smoky and tart salsa. Prefer something hotter? You’ll be delivered a dish of smooth, orange habanero salsa that is bright, citrusy and definitely spicy.

Chef Spinner developed this fruit salsa recipe — a Grid exclusive — which balances the heat of chili against the sweetness of fruit. Though the recipe calls for jalapeño, feel free to substitute any hot pepper you like.

La Calaca Feliz, 2321 Fairmount Ave. , lacalacafeliz.com Cantina Feliz, 424 S. Bethlehem Pike, cantinafeliz.com

from the kitchen of che f SPINNER

Si m pl e Su m m er Sa lsa (Serves 4 as a snack)

Toss all ingredients together, adjusting seasoning with more lime, salt or chili as needed.

Cover and let stand at room temperature for at least 15 minutes.

Serve with tortilla chips.

cup watermelon, seeded and finely diced ½ cup cantaloupe, finely diced ½ cup fresh pineapple, finely diced tsp. red onion, grated 2 or minced 2 Tbs. lime juice, from

1

1 1

1-2 limes tsp. jalapeño pepper, grated or minced * tsp. extra virgin olive oil a few leaves of either cilantro or mint, chiffonaded (cut into long, thin strips) pinch of salt

*Wear rubber gloves and be careful

when handling fresh hot peppers

Need a suggestion for how to use

for The pantry

Chilies are among the easiest foods to preserve — good since even spice lovers can only eat so many of them fresh. You can air-dry small, thin-walled peppers by stringing them into a garland. (Poblanos and jalapeños are usually too fleshy for this method.) Simply thread a needle with heavyweight thread and push it through the stem end of a chili. Tie a small knot around the stem to hold the chili in place, and thread a second chili in the same method, leaving enough space in between so they don’t touch. Repeat until you have a few feet of garland, then hang in a warm, dry spot with good air circulation. Allow chilies to dry until leathery and firm. Then, cut chilies off and store in an airtight container. Rehydrate as needed by simmering in water.

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tomatillos ?

Check out gridphilly.com for

Chef Spinner’s Salsa Verde and Salsa Aguacate.

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Media

Houses Built on Sand Local documentarian looks at climate change, rising sea levels and coastal development in the Age of Superstorm Sandy by jon mcgoran

W

hen Philadelphia-based filmmaker Ben Kalina set out to make Shored Up, a documentary about climate change and its impact on how we think about development in our coastal communities, one of the biggest challenges he faced was one faced by policy-makers around the globe: How do you make a compelling narrative out of abstract concepts and warnings about the future?

Kalina took on the challenge and was nearing the completion of a film that warned of the impact of climate change and rising sea levels on ill-conceived coastal development, when suddenly those abstract concepts became anything but.

“Three years after I started making this film, Superstorm Sandy hit and provided this incredibly obvious and visceral and very clear education of what is happening,” says Kalina. He knew there was no way he could proceed as planned. “It would just feel immediately dated,” he says. “And obviously there’s a huge opportunity ... all of a sudden, there is something that everyone can understand and a way

AUG 20

24

Screening of Shored Up

to place everything in context.”

Kalina had to dip into his own bank account to finance the rest of the project, but within days, he and his crew were back at work, restructuring the film and reshooting large segments of it. “We were in about as soon as you could get back into these places,” he says.

But while Sandy may have necessitated a rewrite of the film’s financing and production schedule, it didn’t require a change of focus. “Sandy really was the storm that the film was always about,” says Kalina, “and when it happened, it was immediately obvious there was no way to finish the film without making Sandy a really central part of the film.”

Shored Up was released in May and was an official selection at the San Francisco Green Film Festival, Film Fest D.C., DOXA (Documentary Media Society film festival) and the Montclair Film Festival, where it debuted.

For more information, visit shoredupmovie.com .

The film will be shown at International House (3701 Chestnut St.) presented by SCRIBE Video as part of their Producer’s Forum and co-presented by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Sierra Club. Kalina will be in attendance for a post-screening discussion. For more information, visit ihousephilly.org .

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The Head & The Hand Celebrates the Belt Philadelphia is the home of Poor Richard and history’s most famous almanac, so it makes sense that when Philadelphia publisher The Head & the Hand decided to publish a book celebrating the art, innovation and vibrancy of America’s Rust Belt cities, it would take the form of an almanac.

The Rust Belt Rising Almanac “looks at the beauty, art and value of revitalizing America’s urban core, through essays, stories and witticisms,” explains Nic Esposito, who founded The Head & the Hand in 2012 with help from Kerry Boland and Linda Gallant.

The goal of The Head & the Hand is “to promote artistic collaboration to create books... bringing our writers and readers into our creative process and sharing it with them.”

For more information, visit theheadandthehand.com.

Black and White and Green All Over

Market research Last fall, 209 farmers market customers in Philadelphia completed an 18-question online survey.

Here are some of the key findings.

Sandy Bauers covers the sustainability beat for The Philadelphia Inquirer by julianne mesaric

I

love bird stories,” says sandy bauers, who writes the bi-weekly GreenSpace column in The Philadelphia Inquirer. She also loves stories about rivers, wildlife and trees. Always has. In addition to exploring environmental health issues, from the science of cancer clusters to mercury in tuna, Bauers practices the conservation and self-sufficiency she writes about, living on a three-acre property in Chester County, spending time outside every day. “Just noticing the beauty of our world,” and tending to her vegetable garden, Bauers is reminded daily “how much effort it takes — and sometimes just how futile it is — to try to coax or control nature.”

“It’s important to show how environmental factors might be affecting our health,” says Bauers, who also writes about the effects of climate change in our region — how spring is coming earlier, for instance. “Our region has exhaustive records that go back more than a century,” she says. “And the case is compelling.”

Originally from Wilmington, Del., Bauers graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, and a particular interest in science and the environment. When she returned to the Philadelphia area, positions writing about these topics for the Inquirer were already filled.

“I just started worming my way in,” says Bauers. “I wrote the stories that those reporters

weren’t writing or didn’t want to write. Finally, after two temporary-fill-ins when reporters were on leave, I got the job.”

Bauers balances the weight of heavy pieces with human interest and good humor. Sometimes she flees Chester County for a wild adventure or a story. “Twice, my husband and I took a year off and spent it sailing our boat to and through the Bahamas,” she says. “Besides the sheer joy of it, I learned the value of conservation and self-sufficiency, and the difference between necessity and luxury.”

One of Bauers’ favorite stories put her on a plane to the tip of South America with New Jersey biologists who were studying the red knot, a shorebird that stops at Delaware Bay every spring to refuel as it migrates to the Arctic. “We camped near mudflats, ate poorly and got exceedingly dirty,” she says. “And I loved every minute of it!”

But back to Philadelphia. What makes a good environmental journalism story here? What does our city need to pay attention to that other places may not have to consider? “Waste and stormwater,” says Bauers. “Two topics that surprised me by being so interesting! Philly’s stormwater plan is the envy of the industry and will even change the way the city looks.

Trees are capturing a lot of the runoff. Repaved roads are porous. Our streams will be cleaner because of it.”

Greenspace appears every other Monday in the Health & Science section of The Philadelphia Inquirer, visit philly.newspaperdirect.com to view the digital edition.

85%

SAY produce at farmers markets is “higher quality”

75%

walk at least part way

70%

shop at least every other week AGE of respondents 0% 5% 10% 15%

20%

18-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+ The survey was co-administered by Farm to City and Mahbubur Meenar of Temple University’s Center for Sustainable Communities. Read the report at tinyurl.com/philly-farm-mkt-survey.

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story by julia bergman • illustration by hilary sedgwick

Schooled in Sustainability A grant-funded expansion of two schools with an emphasis on sustainability is providing an alternative means to alternative ends

Amanda Millatt stands tall

and speaks confidently on the stage of the Musser Demonstration Theater at the Franklin Institute as she presents to a group of classmates, parents and teachers the water pump she has designed. Millatt is a graduating senior at the Science Leadership Academy (SLA), one of three schools that recently received a share of $6 million in grants from Philadelphia School Partnership (PSP). She hopes the pump will one day be implemented in developing countries such as Malawi. It was a trip to Malawi that inspired Millatt to redesign the UNICEF water pumps used there, which she says are fragile and inefficient. Her original idea was a pump powered by kids playing soccer, with gears that would be activated whenever a goal was scored. The finished design is more practical than that early concept and, she believes, more practical than the UNICEF pumps as well. [4]

p hoto cou rt esy a m a nda m i llatt

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Millatt describes each component of the design in a way her peers can understand. The handle is an “egg-shaped piece of metal that is used to push down the piston.” The piston “is basically a bike pump in reverse so you know how you push out air, it basically sucks up water.” Describing the process with ease, Millatt says, “The gear that is on a 45-degree angle is rotating and pushing down the piston, which is basically sucking up the water into the reservoir, and then when you turn it, it comes out the faucet.” This is not the high school experience shared by most Philadelphia public school students.

SLA is built upon five core values: inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation and reflection. The school has a saying often repeated throughout the day and the school year: “High school should not just be preparation for real life. High school should be real life.” Principal Chris Lehmann describes SLA as an “inquiry-driven, project-based modern school where students tackle real-world problems and work to find real solutions that are applicable to the world we live in.”

It turns out it is a model in great demand. Last year, the school conducted more than 1,040 interviews for 125 seats.

“We were turning away kids that we knew wanted this kind of education,” said Lehmann.

Now, a grant from Public School Partnership will make that opportunity available to more students in the city. In April, PSP announced that it was investing $6 million in grants from its Great Schools Fund to help fund expansions of three alternative Philadelphia public schools. Two of those schools,

SLA and the Sustainability Workshop, have an emphasis on sustainability.

SLA will receive $1.9 million over three years to add 500 new seats at a second campus at the current Beeber Middle School in West Philadelphia. “So many kids have told us that they want to learn this way,” says Lehmann.

“The opportunity to offer a second campus and another 500 kids the ability to do this is just incredibly exciting.”

The grants also include $1.5 million over three years to the Sustainability Workshop, a project-based, alternative program for seniors, which will use the grant to expand into a full-fledged high school called the Workshop School. The school’s expansion will begin with a larger location at 48th and Hanson Streets in West Philadelphia, beginning with 60 ninth-graders from predominantly low-income communities in the fall. Plans include adding a total of 500 seats and possibly a second location in the future.

A third grant totaling $2.6 million over three years was allotted to Hill Freedman Middle School to add 600 new seats at its 240-seat high school campus. Hill-Freedman operates a unique hybrid model in which 70 percent of students are enrolled in a rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) program and 30 percent are enrolled in a high school transition pro-

SLA principal Chris Lehmann (above left) observes student work. Developed in partnership with The Franklin Institute, the school’s modern facility (above) opened September 7, 2006 at 55 N. 22nd St.

Principal Chris Lehmannn describes SLA as an “inquiry-driven, project-based modern school where students tackle real-world problems and work to find real solutions that are applicable to the world we live in.”

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“There is a whole group of people in this world that don’t learn particularly well sitting in class and being lectured at… who get it much more when they can put their hands on the problem they’re trying to solve.” —Ann Cohen chair of the board, the Workshop School

Students from the Workshop School enjoy a lighter moment during construction of their LandRAFT (left).

Another project, their innovative Greens-Ina-Box (below) grows fresh produce hydroponically in a recycled shipping container.

gram for students with complex needs. IB programs partner schools with governments and international organizations to develop international inquiry-based education plans and a rigorous curriculum assessment.

The grants are helping these schools expand at a time of crippling budget cuts in the School District of Philadelphia, with many schools preparing to operate on skeleton budgets and 23 school buildings permanently closed. The students from those schools will now attend new schools, in some cases where rivalries exist.

In a statement, PSP says it selected the schools “after a thorough due diligence process focused on academic outcomes, leadership quality and capacity for growth.” Perhaps most significant is that these schools have demonstrated that their models of education are successful and yield impressive results. SLA, which attracts a diverse range of kids from across the city, boasts a 93-percent graduation rate and an overwhelming majority of students going on to college. Nearly all of the students in this year’s program at the Workshop School were also accepted to college.

“I think you saw it tonight, you saw the energy the passion, you saw what an inquiry-based, project-based, modern education can help kids achieve and become,” says Lehmann, referring to Millatt and other SLA students’ presentations of their capstone projects, the final assignment of their senior year. He stops mid-conversation at the sight of a group of SLA seniors posing for a photograph together at the end of their presentations. “I want a picture of that,” he shouts. Throughout the conversation, he never takes his eyes off his students.

The mission of the Workshop School is similar in ways to 30

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that of SLA, but with a slightly different focus. “To think that education is one size fits all is ridiculous,” says Ann Cohen, who coordinates communications and external partnerships for the Workshop School. “...There is a whole group of people in this world that don’t learn particularly well sitting in class and being lectured at. Some do very well and I don’t mean to undervalue a traditional education, but there is a whole host of people who get it much more when they can put their hands on the problem they’re trying to solve.”

The Sustainability Workshop evolved directly out of just such a project — West Philadelphia High School’s Hybrid X Team. Under the leadership of Simon Hauger, that afterp hotos courtesy wo rks hop sc hool

Sustainable [URBAN] Development presents‌

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STREET COMMUNITY GARDEN FUNDRASIER TH

Join us for drinks, FREE appetizers & a raffle to benefit the 59th St Community Garden!

Wednesday, August 28th 7:00pm -9:00pm City Tap House 3925 Walnut St $15 Early Bird Ticket: 1 free beer + 1 free raffle ticket (PURCHASE TICKETS via http://59fundraiser.eventbrite.com )

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Super Fund In 2010, a group of philanthropists and education leaders in Philadelphia saw a need for a more coordinated strategy to pool and invest funds in order to increase student achievement across the city. To accomplish this, they created the Philadelphia School Partnership and along with it a five-year fund, the Great Schools Fund, to raise $100 million from individuals, corporations and foundations with the goal of creating 35,000 additional seats for kids in high performing schools. Currently, the organization has added approximately 12,900 seats. To date, PSP has raised $60 million, and invested $26 million of that.

PSP awards four different types of grants:

school program building hybrid cars earned widespread acclaim and won numerous national competitions. Its success inspired Hauger to create the Sustainability Workshop. “The lessons learned in the after-school program translated directly into a full school day program,” says Ann Cohen. “Simon learned in running the Hybrid X team that the students not only built a great car, but they learned a lot in the process.”

The two classes of seniors at the Workshop School have built on that model. Take for example the innovative hydroponic garden dubbed Greens-In-a-Box. Built by a group of this year’s seniors, it earned them bragging rights and a tie in FreshDirect’s Inaugural Green Angel Fund Challenge. The students grew six different types of lettuce in a garden inside of a shipping container turned greenhouse, using LED light panels and a nutrient-infused water system. As a result of the tied vote, the Workshop students will travel to San Francisco on an all-expensespaid trip to attend the National Indoor Gardening Expo.

Another group of Workshop seniors built a project called LandRAFTS, a small, permanent modular home that can be deployed to disaster areas. Originally conceived by a group of students last year, the idea was developed and improved upon by students from this year’s class.

“Around the world, 1.6 billion people lack access to adequate housing and over 100 million people are homeless,” says Tina Tran reciting her group’s pitch. The raft, she says, “provides clean water, off grid power, sanitation, cooking, refrigeration and pre-fabricated building materials to create a small, high-efficient permanent home.”

The students participated in the Spirit of Innovation Awards in Houston, Texas earlier in the year — the only public school in competition. They earned a top-five spot in the energy and environment category.

Tran said she and some of her peers previously felt they were taking a risk by coming to the school their senior year. “They took a risk, but it wasn’t a bad risk, it was a good risk,” says classmate Sagar Patel, who also worked on the LandRAFTS project.

The school featured a class of 28 students its first year 32

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sept em be r 2013

Students and directors of the West Philadelphia High School’s Hybrid X Team pose with one of their innovative custom-built hybrid cars.

•• ••

Incubation grants A planning grant, such as that received by the Sustainability Workshop last year Startup grants Awarded once a plan is created and a school is ready to launch, such as the one received by the Sustainability Workshop this year Growth grants Given to existing schools to help them expand, i.e. the Science Leadership Academy and Hill Freedman Turnaround grants Given to new management teams to transform low-performing schools

and 29 students this past year. All had been recommended to the program by their re•• spective principals at South Philadelphia High School, Horace Furnace High School or Benjamin Franklin High School. “The goal for this upcoming year is to serve the •• West Philadelphia community,” says Cohen, referring to the Workshop School’s planned expansion. But more than that, “We hope to demonstrate the power of this kind of project-based learning to serve students of Philadelphia, and to show significant, innovative and effective education can be done in public schools in the city of Philadelphia.”

“The sustainability aspect is important to us in that it engages students in learning and helps to prepare them for meaningful success after graduation,” says Kristen Forbiger, PSP’s communications and public affairs manager. “We believe high-quality schools come in all types, but they share common elements, like great teachers and visionary leaders who believe all students can achieve at high levels. These schools and leaders were selected because they have a track record of preparing students to succeed in college and careers, and they have the capacity to provide that high-quality education to more students.”

Millatt’s capstone presentation is evidence of that preparedness. As remarkable as her design and mastery of the concepts involved is the ease with which she explains it. “I used to be really quiet and shy, and now I’m outspoken and I’m just out there,” Millatt says after the presentation, which took place just a few days after her graduation from the school. “I’m not afraid to be myself because everybody here is not afraid to be themselves.”

Millatt looks forward to attending Colby College in Maine this fall. “I really will take away the experience that I had from SLA, and I will bring it there,” she says.

“Hopefully, I can be an activist like I really want to be.” 

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s u sta i n a b l e r es o u r c e g u i d e

Education

this is a brief list of sustainably minded educational resources in our area, including some museums, community organizations and adult classes, in addition to the more traditional institutions of learning. While far from exhaustive, we hope it will be helpful to learners exploring what “sustainability” means and how to make a difference. As always, if you think we left out something that should have been included, let us know at getinvolved@gridphilly.com.

Colleges & Universities Bryn Mawr College brynmawr.edu 610-526-5000 101 North Merion Ave. Bryn Mawr, PA Offers Tri-College Environmental Studies Minor between Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore. Pledged to be a responsible environmental steward in accordance with their Quaker roots.

Delaware Valley College delval.edu 1-800-2DELVAL 700 E. Butler Ave. Doylestown, PA Features organic farming programs with specific specialization in sustainable agriculture and offer the study of “Agribusiness,” emphasizing the importance of both agriculture and sustainability.

Drexel University drexel.edu 215-895-2905 3141 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA Offers degrees in a number of environmental areas along with the Drexel Green Initiative. Recently merged with the Academy of Natural Sciences, expanding science and research opportunities for their students.

Haverford College haverford.edu 610-896-4217 370 Lancaster Ave. Haverford, PA LEED Gold-certified Athletic Center and 100% wind-powered campus. Offers a minor in environmental studies through the school’s 34

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Tri-College program with Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore.

ronmentally sustainable and spiritually fulfilling society.

La Salle University lasalle.edu 215-951-1000 1900 W. Olney Ave. Philadelphia, PA Environmental science program centers on core courses required by all environmental science students, with concentrations in Environmental Biology, Environmental Geology, and Environmental Chemistry.

St. Joseph’s University sju.edu 610-660-1000 5600 City Ave. Philadelphia, PA Offers degrees in Environmental Science and Organizational Sustainability, an interdisciplinary minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies.

The only Research Green Roof system in the region.

Penn State Great Valley sgps.psu.edu 610-648-3200 30 East Swedesford Rd. Malvern, PA A graduate school of PSU, offering a graduate certificate in sustainable management practices and graduate degrees in education, finance, leadership development and engineering and information sciences.

Swarthmore College swarthmore.edu 610-328-7791 500 College Ave. Swarthmore, PA 19081 Developed a climate action plan to guide their carbon neutrality efforts for two decades. They offer the TriCollege environmental studies minor in cooperation with Bryn Mawr and Haverford.

Philadelphia University philau.edu 215-951-2700 4201 Henry Ave. Philadelphia, PA Offers BS in Environmental Sustainability and a Bachelors in Landscape Architecture, plus on-campus and online Masters in Sustainable Design.

Winner of USGBC’s Excellence in Education Award.

Temple University School of Environmental Design temple.edu 267-468-8000 580 Meetinghouse Rd. Ambler, PA Offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs as well as certificate programs in the areas of Community Development, Community and Regional Planning, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.

Reconstructionist Rabbinical College rrc.edu 215-576-0800 1299 Church Rd., Wyncote, PA RRC’s Social Justice Organizing Program trains rabbis to be Jewish leaders in bringing about a socially just, envi-

University of Pennsylvania upenn.edu 215-898-5000 3451 Walnut St. Philadelphia, PA Offers 170 graduate programs including Masters of Environmental Studies, law degrees

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with Environmental Specialization, Eco Architecture Certification, and Masters of Environmental Management.

University of the Sciences usciences.edu 215-596-8800 600 S. 43rd St. Philadelphia, PA Provides a comprehensive environmental science major, including exposure to environmental law and risk management, with emphasis on research, community awareness and environmental education.

Ursinus College ursinus.edu 610-409-3730 601 E. Main St. Collegeville, PA Offers BA and BS in Environmental Studies and Certification in Environmental Education and green campus with bikeshares, Eco Reps, Recyclemania events, and organic farming.

Villanova University villanova.edu 610-519-4500 800 E. Lancaster Ave. Villanova, PA Integrates sustainability into its courses, research and policies and is working to achieve net climate neutrality under the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.

West Chester University wcupa.edu 610-436-1000 700 S. High St. West Chester, PA Offers an MPA with Urban and Regional Planning Concentrations and an MSA in Geography

and Planning with Regional Planning Concentration.

Widener University widener.edu 1-888-widener 1 University Pl., Chester, PA Offers bachelor’s degree in environmental studies.

Education Centers Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University ansp.org 215-299-1000 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia, PA A world-class natural history museum dedicated to advancing research, education, and public engagement in environmental science, offering programs to build the sustainability community and promote awareness of critical environmental issues.

American Philosophical Society Museum apsmuseum.org 215-440-3442 105 S. 5th St. Philadelphia, PA Exhibits, events and programs for those interested in learning how science, history and art are connected.

Bartram’s Garden bartramsgarden.org 215-729-5281 54th St. and Lindbergh Blvd.

Philadelphia, PA Historic house and garden offering guided tours and new Green Room providing handson seasonal activities, as well as binoculars, field guides, and art supplies.

Flint Hill Farm Educational Center flinthill-farm.org 610-838-2928 1922 Flint Hill Rd. Coopersburg, PA Multifaceted facility located on a 28-acre farm in Lehigh County, PA, meeting the educational and nutritional needs of the rapidly growing area by bridging the growing gap between the family farm and the suburban communities.

Independence Seaport Museum phillyseaport.org 215-413-8655 211 S. Columbus Blvd.

Philadelphia, PA Engaging visitors about Philadelphia’s local waterways, heritage and history with maritime exhibits, two historic ships and learning opportunities within the museum.

Longwood Gardens longwoodgardens.org 610-388-1000 1001 Longwood Rd. Kennett Square, PA One of the great gardens of the world, this non-profit strives for innovation in horticulture and display, presenting the arts in an unparalleled setting.

Maysie’s Farm Conservation Center maysiesfarm.org 610-458-8129 15 St. Andrew’s La. Glenmoore, PA Nonprofit educational organization committed to expanding public knowledge of conservation and ecological ideas and collaborating with individuals, families, communities and educational institutions to promote organic agricultural practices.

Morris Arboretum upenn.edu/arboretum 215-247-5777 100 E. Northwestern Ave. Philadelphia, PA Historic public garden and educational institution that promotes an understanding of the relationship between plants, people and place through programs that integrate science, art and the humanities.

Philadelphia Museum of Art philamuseum.org 215-763-8100 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia, PA One of the nation’s oldest and largest art museums, housing over 227,000 objects and hosts temporary exhibitions by world-renowned classic and contemporary artists.

Mt. Airy Learning Tree mtairylearningtree.org 215-843-6333 6601 Greene St. Philadelphia, PA Offers classes ranging from dance to yoga to tax preparing, taught by neighbors interested in sharing skills with the community. Most classes are geared towards adults but many are appropriate for youths.

Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education schuylkillcenter.org 215-482-7300 8480 Hagy’s Mill Rd. Philadelphia, PA Hosts children’s programs including summer and day camp, scouting, and the Nature Preschool. Programs for adults include challenge and team-building courses and a naturalist program.

Wagner Free Institute of Science wagnerfreeinstitute.org 215-763-6529 1700 W. Montgomery Ave. Philadelphia, PA A research library that chronicles the history of science, offering free education programs for children and adults on a wide range of science topics including ecology and environmental science.

Wyck Historic Home and Garden wyck.org 215-848-1690 6026 Germantown Ave. Philadelphia, PA The 2.5-acre property features the oldest rose garden in original plan in America, and a farm that grows produce, including unusual heirloom varieties, for an onsite weekly farmers market.

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e d u c at i o n s u sta i n a b l e r es o u r c e g u i d e

Private SCHOOLS Abington Friends School abingtonfriends.net 215-886-4350 575 Washington La. Jenkintown, PA Offers a sustainability course that includes exploratory approaches like reading environmental texts and action-based approaches including a community garden project to learn about sustainability. PreK-12.

Baldwin School baldwinschool.org 610-525-2700 701 W. Montgomery Ave. Bryn Mawr, PA Supports local farmers through dining services program.

Athletic center features solar reflectance roofing. School is moving towards 100-percent chemical-free cleaning.

PreK-12.

Friends Select friends-select.org 215-561-5900 17th & Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia, PA Friends Select features locally sourced and environmentally friendly dining plans as well as a sustainability program in its science department. PreK-12.

George School georgeschool.org 215-579-6500 1690 Newtown Langhorne Rd. Newtown, PA Focus on environmental stewardship as part of its Quaker identity, with organic gardening, composting, recycling, and energy awareness in dorms as well as classrooms. PreK-12.

Germantown Academy germantownacademy.net 215-646-3300 340 Morris Rd. Fort Washington, PA Recent green reconstruction project added motion-actived lighting, restoration of wetlands, rainwater harvesting, greywater toilets, and an academic courtyard for science and art projects. PreK-12.

Germantown Friends School germantownfriends.org 215-951-2300 31 W. Coulter St. Philadelphia, PA LEED Gold-certified science 36

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center features stormwater cisterns, greywater toilets, rain gardens, a green roof, solar panels and an energy dashboard for student engagement.

PreK-12.

Haverford School haverford.org 610-642-3020 450 Lancaster Ave. Haverford, PA New Upper School building is Montgomery County’s first LEED Gold-certified building.

PreK-12.

Miquon School miquon.org 610.828.1231 2025 Harts La. Conshohocken, PA Independent progressive elementary school that sees the natural world as a place to learn and encourages students to play and learn outdoors.

PreK-6.

Moorestown Friends mfriends.org 856-235-2900 110 E. Main St. Moorestown, NJ Dedicated to reducing their carbon footprint, its Hartman Hall is a LEED Silver certified building with a geothermal HVAC system and a student raingarden on campus. PreK-12.

Project Learn projectlearnschool.org 215.438.3623 6525 Germantown Ave. Philadelphia, PA A cooperative, independent elementary and middle school with about 80 students where teachers, students and parents work together to create a progressive and humanistic school community that promotes mutual respect, involvement and curiosity. K-8.

Shipley School shipleyschool.org 610-525-4300 814 Yarrow St., Bryn Mawr, PA Encourages students to incorporate conservation into their everyday lives by turning the lights out or turning down the thermostat as well as environmental science courses. PreK-12.

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy sch.org 215-247-4700

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500 W. Willow Grove Ave. Philadelphia, PA An independent school offering a rigorous college preparatory program that includes environmental education and sustainability. PreK-12.

The Church Farm School gocfs.net 610-363-7500 1001 E. Lincoln Hwy. Exton, PA Harnesses nature through environmentally responsible and sustainable initiatives, including a 1.1 megawatt solar installation on five acres of school land. 7-12.

The Hill School thehill.org 610-326-1000 717 E. High St., Pottstown, PA Offers environmental science courses on campus that includes a solar powered science building, sustainable dining, and comprehensive compost and recycling programs. 9-12.

The Waldorf School phillywaldorf.com (215) 248-1662 7500 Germantown Ave. Eagles II Building Philadelphia, PA Offers an education that delivers substantive academics, nurtures family life and fosters social and community awareness. PreK-8.

Westtown School westtown.edu 610-399-0123 975 Westtown Rd. West Chester, PA Features extensive curricular offerings in sustainability and a student-powered one-acre organic farm, uses 100 percent green energy and recycles 50 percent of waste. PreK-12.

William Penn Charter School penncharter.com 215-844-3460 3000 West School House La. Philadelphia, PA Offers environmental education featuring outdoor classroom, wetlands, a beehive, and advanced courses in environmental science, with director of environmental sustainability who coordinates best practices for building and remodeling. PreK-12.

Public SCHOOLs Cook-Wissahickon Elementary webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/ schools/c/cookwissahickon 215-487-4463 201 E. Salaignac St. Philadelphia PA Students regularly attend The Outdoor School for a three-day environmental science camping experience as well as enjoying their native Pennsylvania meadow and outdoor classroom. K-8.

Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School phila.k12.pa.us/schools/ kensingtoncapa/ 215-291-5010 2051 East Cumberland St. Philadelphia, PA First LEED platinum-certified public school in the United States, with site design incorporating stormwater management and local food sourcing. 9-12.

Science Leadership Academy scienceleadership.org 215-979-5620 55 N. 22nd St. Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia magnet school founded by the Franklin Institute, curriculum incorporates interdisciplinary and science design projects focused on sustainability and other environmental initiatives. 9-12.

The Workshop School workshopschool.org 221 S. Hanson St. Philadelphia, PA Mission is to create schools that unleash the potential of students to solve the world’s toughest problems, through projects like developing alternative energy vehicles. 9th grade in 2013/14, expanding one grade each year to 9-12 in 2016/17.

W.B. Saul High School webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/ schools/s/saul 215-487-4467 7100 Henry Ave. Philadelphia, PA Has a working farm with livestock and meat science program bordered by a nursery, field crops, and a pasture area.

Weavers Way Co-op CSA available. 9-12.

West Philadelphia High School webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/ schools/w/westphila 215-471-2902 4700 Walnut St. Philadelphia, PA Achieved LEED Gold certification with a site design that includes responsible stormwater management, vegetated open space, and bicycle paths. 9-12.

Youth Groups (Agatson) Urban Nutrition Initiative urbannutrition.org 215-898-1600 3451 Walnut St., Suite P-117A Philadelphia, PA UPenn project to fight cancer, obesity and diabetes in West Philadelphia neighborhoods by providing produce grown in the school garden with compost from restaurant scraps and plants grown by prisoners through the City Harvest program.

Neighborhood Bike Works neighborhoodbikeworks.org 215-386-0316 3916 Locust Walk Philadelphia, PA Increases opportunities for urban youth by offering educational recreational and career-building opportunities through bicycling.

Promotes cycling as a healthy, affordable and environmentfriendly form of transportation.

Student Conservation Association thesca.org 215-756-2279 8601 Lindbergh Blvd.

Philadelphia, PA Provides college and high school-aged members with hands-on conservation service opportunities from tracking grizzlies through the Tetons to restoring desert ecosystems and teaching environmental education.

Teens 4 Good Urban Farms teens4good.orbius.com 215-989-3566 x 16 Rooted in urban agriculture, driven by a desire for food justice, Teens 4 Good fosters creativity through converting negative, blighted vacant lots into positive urban green spaces.

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urban naturalist

by bernard brown • photos by christian hunold

Meadow Lark

Hard work and determination restores Houston Meadows

A

male rose-breasted grosbeak!” exclaimed Keith Russell, followed by an exuberant expletive uncharacteristic of Philadelphia’s typically mellow and carefully spoken Audubon Outreach Coordinator. “First one I’ve seen here in years!” Even I could spot the pink chest on the bird zipping above us at the Houston Meadows, near Cathedral Road in Philadelphia’s Andorra neighborhood.

I remember stumbling onto the Houston Meadows six or seven years ago, as tiny patches in the thick forest of the Wissahickon Valley.

Now you can see the first meadow from the street — no more stumbling.

Those Meadows, strangled by the encroaching woods, were a pathetic remnant of what Russell explored in the ’70s and ’80s. Back then, he and other Philly birdwatchers could see breeding field sparrows, indigo buntings, rose-breasted grosbeaks and other birds of open country that don’t frequent the forests of Fairmount Park. By the early 2000s, many of the birds Russell remembered were gone.

“You would never know you are in the city of Philadelphia,” Russell said as I stood dumbfounded, staring out at rolling hills below us one morning a few weeks ago. The birds are coming back, too. On one short morning outing, we saw or heard 42 species of birds, including field sparrows feeding bugs to their young and a Cooper’s Hawk cruising for other birds to munch on.

Natural areas like this don’t happen by accident, and this one started with a plan hatched

by Russell and Tom Witmer, director of Natural Resources for Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (then Fairmount Park) in 2007. At first

they didn’t have any money to restore the Meadows, but they did have a vision.

Some naturalists might think “bureaucrat” is a dirty word, but there is an art to making conservation happen. My respect for Witmer grew as he discussed cobbling together the funding to restore and clear the 30 or so acres of meadow and rehabilitate another 15 acres of surrounding woods. They were then able to take advantage of Recovery Act money available through the U.S. Forest Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service to plant shrubs and seed the newly cleared areas with native grasses, primarily little bluestem. The Friends of the Wissahickon re-routed a trail through the new space. Six years and several grants later, the Meadows are back.

While we were there, the birdsong was interrupted by pet dogs running off-leash and squabbling on the trail ahead of us. This is not just an aesthetic problem. As Witmer emphasized, the Meadows were rehabilitated to provide habitat for birds that like open and shrubby environment: “They nest close to the ground. Dogs running off-leash can disturb nesting birds.”

So, if you come to the Houston Meadows, bring binoculars to see the birds, come early before it gets too hot, and if you bring your dog, be sure to use a leash. bernard brown is an amateur field herper, bureaucrat and founder of the PB&J Campaign (pbjcampaign.org ), a movement focused on the benefits of eating lower on the food chain.

cedar waxwing

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field sparrow

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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.

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AUG

08

24th Annual Pennsylvania Dutch Festival at Reading Terminal Market

Three-day festival in the Market’s Center Court seating area, featuring handmade crafts and traditional foods. On Saturday, the festival expands out onto Arch Street to create a country fair in the city. Sponsored by the Center City District →→ Thu., Aug. 8, 8 a.m. – Sat., Aug. 10, 5 p.m., 51 N. 12th St. Visit readingterminalmarket.org

for more information.

AUG

AUG 10

Brandywine Creek Cleanup

Join United By Blue and Trail Creek Outfitters in cleaning up a local landmark with fun activities and contests with great prizes. Supplies will be provided.

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→→ Sat., Aug. 10, 9 a.m. – noon. Brandywine Creek, 99 Creek Rd., Wilmington, DE. Email cleanup@ unitedbyblue.com , call 215-642-0693 or visiting bit.ly/13vrRWH for info.

Southeast Asian Dragon Boat Festival

See the Great Plaza transformed into a hub of Southeast Asian culture during the Southeast Asian Dragon Boat Festival, part of the PECO Multicultural Series. →→ Sat., Aug. 10, noon – 8 p.m. Free. Great

Plaza at Penn’s Landing and the Marina at Penn’s Landing.

AUG 11

Montgomery County Household Hazardous Waste

Don’t know what to do with your household hazardous waste? Bring it to Montgomery County’s designated drop-off area! →→ Sun., Aug. 11, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Abington Jr. High,

Enter via Tyler Rd., 970 Highland Ave.

AUG 10

Culinary Herbs: Fragrant, Flavorful and Festive Foods

Philadelphia Extension Master Gardener Linda Grimwade will show how to grow herbs from seed and preserve them by drying or freezing.

AUG

Blue Bell Hill Picnic Area Restoration

Restoration of Blue Bell Hill picnic area continues, building a berm to divert water and repacking a short section of trail to reduce erosion.

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AUG

Third Thursdays Live and Local

The Delaware River Waterfront’s newest series, this Thursday night music event will feature some of Philadelphia’s top local talent.

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→→ Sat., Aug. 10, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Free. Blue Bell Hill →→ Sat., Aug. 10, 9:30 a.m. registration; 10 a.m.–

noon workshop. $10 registration fee. Fairmount Park Horticultural Center, 100 N. Horticultural Dr. To register, call 215-471-2200 Ext. 100 or visit extension.psu.edu .

Pavilion. To register, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Eric D. Falk at falk@fow.org .

Registration is recommended.

Columbus Blvd. and Race St.

AUGUST recurring events

t h u r s d ay s

s at u r d ay s

s u n d ay s

Screenings Under the Stars

Schuylkill Banks Movie Series

Saturdays @ SCEE

Yoga on the Race Street Pier

Thursday nights in July and August, a different film will be screened outdoors on a big screen at Penn’s Landing. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy a great summer treat!

Bring your friends, blankets and picnic baskets for a great time watching movies under the stars on Thursday evenings. At Walnut Street (*except where noted).

Inspiration and fun for your child every Saturday morning.

The first and third Saturdays are all about exploring nature: We’ll study different objects from nature and take a walk in the woods. The second and fourth Saturdays feature read-aloud storytime and old-fashioned games.

Every Sunday morning in August, yoga enthusiasts of all levels can enjoy a yoga class out on the beautiful Race Street Pier.

→→ Aug. 8: Little Shop of Horrors →→ Aug. 8: The Hunger Games (PG-13) →→ Aug. 15: The Hobbit: An

Unexpected Journey (PG-13) →→ Aug. 22: Pitch Perfect (PG-13) →→ Aug. 29: Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (PG)

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→→ Thu., Aug. 15, 7 – 10 p.m. Free. Race Street Pier,

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(PG-13) →→ Aug. 15: Clueless (PG-13) * Grays Ferry Crescent →→ Aug. 22: My Cousin Vinny (R) →→ Aug. 29: 10 Things I Hate About You (Rain Date) (PG-13) →→ Sept. 5: Moonrise Kingdom (Rain Date) (PG-13)

→→ Sundays, Aug. 4, 11, 18., 25 9:30

a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Free. Race Street Pier. Race St. and Columbus Blvd.

→→ Every Saturday in August, 10:30

– 11:30 a.m. Free for kids. 8480 Hagy’s Mill Rd.

photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC

What We Sow: A City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Project Cooking Demo with Chef Andrea Rossi of C19 Learn how to select heirloom produce and create delicious recipes with Chef Andrea Rossi. →→ Sat., Aug. 10, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Farm to City’s

Rittenhouse Square Farmers’ Market, 18th and Walnut Streets.

Heirloom Tasting with Fair Food Try new tastes of seasonal heirloom produce at the Fair Food Farmstand. →→ Wed., Aug. 14, 3 – 5 p.m. Fair Food,

Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Market Streets.

Messages in Motion Share your recipes and stories of heirloom foods with videographer Laura Deutch and her Messages in Motion video van. →→ Thu., Aug. 15, 6 – 10 p.m. 5th and

South Streets.

City Seed Saving Start planning for next season with the seed saving specialists from Happy Cat Farm. →→ Sat., Aug. 17, noon – 2 p.m. Greensgrow

AUG

GMO Free NJ Meeting

Enjoy a screening of the beautifully filmed documentary Deconstructing Supper, directed by Marianne Kaplan. Film is 47 minutes long and appropriate for children.

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→→ Thu., Aug. 15, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Free. Collingswood

Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ. Visit gmofreenj.com or call 856-869-3592 for more info.

aug

A 3.5-mile stroll including both ridgetops, demonstrating the different terrain and appearance of the Wissahickon Creek from either side. Children welcome with an adult. Bring water.

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→→ Sat., Aug. 17, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Free. Meet

at the Cedars House at Forbidden Dr. and Northwestern Ave. For more information, contact Bruce at bwagner@temple.edu . Heavy rain cancels.

Adam Forbes will present his research from seven countries on the cultural and ecological importance of seed diversity. He will also share agricultural stories from immigrant communities in Philadelphia, and lead an introduction to seed-saving in our region. →→ Fri., Aug. 23, 6 – 8 p.m. Pennsylvania

Horticultural Society, 100 N 20th St. RSVP at phsonline.org .

Visit muralarts.org/whatwesow for more information.

aug 17

Extending the Garden SeasonMaster Gardener 22 Rutgers Association of Camden County 2013 Homeowners’ Series Speaker Jan Zientek covering topics including how to get a longer growing season, increaseing your harvest of vegetables and herbs, late seed planting and more. Advance registration requested. →→ Thu., Aug. 22, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Sign-in at 6:30

Trail Ambassador Guided Hikes

Farms, 2501 E. Cumberland St.

Preserving Agricultural Heritage

aug

Master Gardeners of Camden County Plant Clinic

Master Gardeners of Camden County hold a Plant Clinic on the third Saturday each month, May to September. →→ Sat., Aug. 17, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Free. Camden County

Environmental Center, 1301 Park Blvd., Cherry Hill, NJ. For more information, visit camdencounty.com or email njgarden@camdencounty.com .

p.m. Lecture begins at 7 p.m. Camden County Environmental Center, 1301 Park Blvd., Cherry Hill, NJ. For more information, email njgarden@ camdencounty.com or visit camden.njaes.rutgers. edu and click on “lawn and garden.”

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World Wide Stereo and Sustainable Waste Solutions E Waste Event

Food, fun and helping to create a landfill-free community. Bring working and nonworking computers, monitors, network devices, peripherals and more to World Wide Stereo’s Montgomeryville store. →→ Sat., Aug. 24, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. World Wide

Stereo, 754 Route 309 (Bethlehem Pike), Montgomeryville. Visit landfillfree.com for more information.

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Sky Tour with Chester County Astronomical Society

Join The Land Conservancy for a night observing the stars and planets with the Chester County Astronomical Society. Use high-tech telescopes to view objects and learn about their relationship to each other. Light refreshments will be provided. →→ Sat., Aug. 24, 8:30 – 10 p.m. $5 The Land

Conservancy members; $10 non-members.

Bucktoe Creek Preserve, 432 Sharp Road, Avondale. Visit tlcforscc.org or call 610-347-0347 ext 104 to register.

AUG 15

ART/GAGE: Celebrate Philly Creativity

This year’s collaboration between ART/GAGE and Night Market Philadelphia celebrates the uniqueness of the South Street neighborhood—a community with a rich history of art, music and cultural venues. →→ Thu., Aug. 15, 6 – 10 p.m. Free. South Street,

approx. between Front and 9th Streets. Visit phillymagicgardens.org/news/artgage for

more information.

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aug

Philly Naked Bike Ride

Riding together to promote fuel– conscious consumption, positive body image and cycling advocacy. PNBR is accessible to all levels of cycling prowess. Other modes of people-powered transportation are welcome also.

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SEP

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Visitors will enjoy the Pennsylvania Tug Boat Festival, “man overboard” demonstrations, and free kayak and swan pedal-boat rides in the marina.

→→ Sun., Aug. 25, 2013, time TBD. Location and route

map will be revealed to the email list 48 hours before the ride. Visit phillynakedbikeride.org or email info@phillynakedbikeride.org for updates.

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SEP

Art in Public Places

The presence of art in public spaces has implications for the artist, the work and the public. This panel presents artistic and institutional perspectives on public art in Philadelphia. Reservations required.

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→→ Sun., Sept. 1, 2 – 3:30 p.m. Free. The Barnes

Sharing Nature with Children

Enjoy the wonder of nature by engaging your children in different activities each month to awaken their natural senses!

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→→ Sat., Sept. 7, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. $2 The Land

Conservancy members; $5 non-members. Visit tlcforscc.org to register. Located at Bucktoe Creek Preserve; 432 Sharp Rd., Avondale.

Museum, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.

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WHYY Connections Festival

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Beekeeping 101 Workshop

The WHYY Connections Festival brings national talent to the Great Plaza. This year, the event runs in conjunction with Coast Day: From the Delaware to the Schuylkill Waterfronts.

Greensgrow’s beekeeper Don Shump will walk you through the basic knowledge to start a hive in your backyard. The class will touch on Bee Biology, Bee Behavior, Hive Management, Swarming, Equipment and Bee Products.

→→ Sat., Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m. – Sun., Sept. 8, 4:30 p.m.

→→ Sat., Sept. 7, 12 – 2 p.m. $25. Greensgrow

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Great Plaza and Marina at Penn’s Landing.

Pennsylvania Coast Day

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Farms. 2501 E. Cumberland St. See more at

→→ Sat. Sept. 7, noon - 5 p.m. Walnut Plaza on

Penn’s Landing (Columbus Ave. at Walnut St.).

Log on to DelawareEstuary.org for details.

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Natural Soda–Making Workshop

Registration required. You don’t need a machine or special equipment to make your own lightly bubbly soda! You need only the power of fermentation! Amanda Feifer, fermentation enthusiast behind Phickle.com, comes to the Greensgrow Community Kitchen to teach you how to make naturally fermented sodas.

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→→ Sat., Sept. 14, noon – 2 p.m. Greensgrow

Community Kitchen at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, 2139 E. Cumberland St. Register at greensgrow.org/event/natural-soda-makingworkshop .

greensgrow.org.

)íqPÙį ğP­ĥ 701 S 4 t h St , P hi l a d el phi a , PA 1914 7 P ho ne: (2 15 ) 2 38-1888

\į ğı®Ùį íĥ 5009 Baltimore Ave. 215-471-7700 vixemporium.com

Garden now open for the summer Guest tasting dinners every third Wednesday

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday Dinner 5 pm - 10 pm Late Night Menu 10 pm - 12 am Bar 5 pm - 2am

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Contact Jesse Kerns: 215.625.9850 x100 or email jesse@gridphilly.com

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SEPT E M BE R 20 13

photo courtesy o F Partnership fo r the D elaware Estuary

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U PC O M I N G E V ENTS CITY SEED SAVING WITH HAPPY CAT FARM • August 17 • free * • BEEKEEPING 101 • September 7 • NATURAL SODA MAKING WORKSHOP WITH PHICKLE • September 14 • HEIRLOOM HAPPY HOUR & FRUIT TASTING • September 20 * • TOMATO JAM WORKSHOP WITH MARISA MCCLELLAN • September 21 • MURAL, MARKET, GARDEN TOUR: KENSINGTON • September 21 *

6TH ANNUAL SUBARU FALL FESTIVAL AT GREENSGROW FARMS • September 28 LIVING WALL WORKSHOP • October 5 • HOMEMADE CHEVRE WORKSHOP WITH SHADY APPLE GOAT FARM • October 12 • WINTERIZING TROPICAL PLANTS WORKSHOP • October 19 • HOMEMADE TORTILLAS AND DUCK BARBACOA WITH GARCES GROUP CHEF GREGG CIPRIONI • October 26 • TERRARIUMS WORKSHOP November 2nd • UNDERCOVER GLUTEN-FREE: THANKSGIVING SIDES • November 9 • SUCCULENT CONTAINER WORKSHOP November 16

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Light Lunch Kick-starting culture change with a return to tradition by kristin maranki

O

ne of my favorite perks of teaching English in Ecuador was how easy and inexpensive it was to eat well. At lunch, I would stroll around near my students’ offices to see what the mom-and-pop luncheonettes had scribbled on their whiteboard menus.

Most of these outfits had the same idea: Offer tasty but basic meals for a set price, and plan to have a steady turnover of diners. They had the same process, too: The customer walks through the door and grabs a seat, and immediately a server places fresh fruit juice on the table. The server takes the order — one of the two options available — and quickly returns with a hot bowl of soup. Minutes later, an entrée arrives, usually a small cut of meat or serving of lentils, a heaping portion of rice, a cooked vegetable and a little salad. Sometimes you even get a small dessert.

All that for two bucks! (Ecuador adopted the U.S. currency in 2000.)

These luncheonettes don’t strive to impress with the most indulgent flavors or ambiance.

Their purpose is more practical; they offer tasty, healthy dishes reminiscent of meals cooked in your own kitchen. It’s good quality food on the go and on the cheap.

I couldn’t help but think this way of eating had something to do with the smaller waistlines I noticed in Ecuador.

On my daily commute to work in Quito, the capital, I observed the greater connection people have with the source of their food. Five-foot pig carcasses hanging from sturdy hooks in doorways of stores and restaurants marked my journey through the northern part of the city. In grocery stores, chicken heads and feet are available at the meat counter to flavor your stock or pot of soup. No part of the animal goes to waste here.

While discussing lifestyles and food during English class, my adult students explained how they prefer home-cooked meals and make time to prepare them, even when competing with a demanding work schedule. It’s a matter of habit for them, but something more, as well.

Each person I met in Ecuador would ask with modest but unmistakable pride what was my favorite local dish or whether I preferred the ceviche and plantains from the coast or the wide variety of potatoes, quinoa and lentil dishes more common in the mountains. Food represents much more than nutrition or calories to quell hunger; it represents a cornerstone of identity

in Ecuadorean culture.

These experiences made me realize just how powerfully Ecuadorean food traditions and habits guide their food choices in the right direction.

It made me realize how our lack of firm traditions and habits to inform our choices is precisely what makes it difficult for us to overcome obesity in America. In his new book, Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation, Michael Pollan suggests that cooking at home is the answer to warding off obesity. This idea may seem intuitive, but even putting aside issues surrounding access, not everyone has the know-how or the time to cook nutritious, satisfying meals from scratch. However, even if we aren’t yet willing or able to make home-cooked meals for ourselves, perhaps we should focus on exposure to healthy, prepared meal options at an affordable price.

If I were able to import one element of the food culture from Ecuador to Philadelphia, it would be Ecuadorean-style lunch, serving as a convenient means to spark interest among the masses in cooking at home, where traditions are fostered and retained. The more exposure we get to simple, good, quality food, the more we’ll demand it. And once preferences are aligned with eating well, nutritious food will become a priority for which we would all make time. kristin maranki is a copy writer by profession, and a food culture and sustainability enthusiast by hobby.

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

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SEPT E M BE R 2013

illustratio n by Kirsten Harper

OTTO’S MINI 305 W LINCOLN HWY EXTON, PA 19341 855-646-4194

OTTOSMINI.COM

EmpowEring Education in local Philly high schools Penn students do more than explore the effects of heavy metals and other contaminants in urban soil: by partnering with W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences, students in the Urban Environments – Speaking about Lead in West Philadelphia course facilitate a 6-week hands-on program helping to educate their high school counterparts about lead contamination.

Lead poisoning is “not just an issue that affects somebody, but one that could affect [these students] as they go forward in life,” says Prof. Rich Pepino, course professor and proponent of local outreach. Saul students often become advocates in their own families and communities by raising awareness of the symptoms and long-term effects of lead poisoning.

meet with penn’s mes program staff on the second wednesday of each month

3440 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104

Through the courses offered at Penn, MES students are working to solve complex and critical environmental challenges, and seeing results in Philadelphia communities.

Learn more about the MES program at Penn.

Change the world you live in.

www.upenn.edu/mes

www.facebook.com/UPennEES

@PENN_EES