E. Mt. Airy Community Garden Seeks Funds to Keep it Growing

by Anne-Marie Gincley and Sarah Claxton, for the Shuttle

Aquarter-acre community garden in east Mt. Airy threatened by an up-and-coming nearby development has started a Go-Fund-Me effort that, if met, will allow it to stay in the neighborhood and continue to donate many pounds of fresh vegetables to families in Northwest Philly

Werner’s Community Garden, tucked away on the back half of a residential property next to the former Fred’s Mt. Airy Motors on Mt. Airy Avenue, is an active site of farming, land stewardship, and community gathering. Participants are hoping to raise the legal fees to preserve the land and create a fund to support future operation costs and infrastructure projects.

This garden has persisted and provided since 2012, when members of nearby Gabbie’s Garden on Chew Avenue tilled and organized the Werner’s plot in response to interest from neighbors. It includes 34 growing plots, a variety of cane fruits, and a perennial garden with flowers and medicinal herbs. Currently, the garden has 17 members who tend their individual plots; 15 other plots are set aside to grow produce to be donated.

Werner’s has always been community-led and mission based. The garden participates in the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s City Harvest program, which provides seedlings and other assistance to make sure donated produce gets to where it’s needed. In 2019, garden leadership changed and led to infrastructure improvements that included the building of a shed on the property and a redesign of the compost system. In addition, more of the growing spaces were designated for donation.

During the growing season, the garden makes weekly donations to Face to Face Germantown, which then uses the produce in hot meals and/or distributes it to families in need. Since 2020, Werner’s has harvested just over 3,000 pounds of produce for Face to Face, which also provides legal and medical assistance, clothing, a place to shower, a summer camp, and many other services.

Chef Altenor Vaval, director of food services and operations for Face to Face, believes that Werner’s “has elevated the wisdom of community.”

“They are helping us dignify our meals and as well extend our open market on Thursdays,” he said. “Thank you, Werner’s Garden, for being the seed of caring to our Germantown community.”

Late last year, garden members learned that the parcels containing Fred’s Motors and two multi-family residences were being sold to developer Stuart Udis, who plans to construct 12 townhomes and a 30-unit condominium. Since then, the group has been working to preserve the garden with the Neighborhood Gardens Trust, a nonprofit that has preserved over 50 community gardens in Philadelphia.

In order to simplify the preservation process and develop the properties cohesively, Udis will purchase the parcels that contain the garden and gift that portion to NGT. The final hurdle involves raising money for legal fees to complete the division and transfer of property, which will preserve the space in perpetuity

Those involved in preserving Werner’s believe that the garden fosters community and feeds its members along with a portion of the city. As a former member stated, “Joining Werner’s Community Garden allotted me the space to not only connect with the Earth and my food, it also connected me to my new community. The garden offered me an encouraging, collab- orative and intergenerational environment to learn and explore.”

To donate, please use the QR code or visit www.wernerscommunitygarden.org/donate.