As the summer approaches, some of our readers may be looking for CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) options in their neighborhood. The number of CSA programs that deliver fresh, locally grown fruits and veggies, as well as dairy, eggs, meat and other products to our area has grown, so we compiled this guide to help you navigate through some of the available options (for more, visit this page).

Also, please consider supporting local urban farms, like Mill Creek Farm, Farm 51, and Neighborhood Foods Farm. For information on local farmers’ markets and gardening options check our Civic Life page.

Greensgrow Farms Summer CSA

Schedule: mid-May through early November

Pick-up locations:

• Greensgrow West, 4912 Baltimore Avenue, Fridays 3–6 p.m.

• Lancaster Avenue, 37th & Lancaster, Thursdays 3:30–6:30 p.m.

What’s in the share? A variety of five-eight vegetables, plus fruit, and a protein choice (a dozen eggs, two cups of yogurt, a package of locally made tofu, a package of locally made seitan, or a wedge of butter). Eight times during the season, the share will include a locally made artisan cheese (vegan sub is available). Some weeks the share includes a locally made prepared food such as fresh pasta or locally made beer from Philadelphia Brewing Company.

Cost: Full share (24 weeks): $800; Half share (13 weeks): $448

Click here to sign up.

Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative

Schedule: TBA

Pick-up locations: Garden Court (5000 block of Osage Ave); Powelton Village (3700 Baring St); The Spruce St. Cafe at the Hospital of UPenn (3400 Spruce St)

What’s in the share? In the full vegetable share, you can expect to receive 9 to 12 varieties of vegetables per week. In the half vegetable share, you can expect to receive 4 to 7 varieties of vegetables per week. When abundant, fruit will be included in Full Vegetable Shares. Other options: a fruit share, which consists of 2 to 3 varieties of seasonal fruit, and other shares (bread, eggs, meat, chicken, cheese, herbs, flowers, and CSM (community supported medicine).

Cost: Full Vegetable Share: $750; Half Vegetable Share: $475. Info on other shares is available here.

Click here to sign up.

Philly Foodworks

Schedule: May 27 – October 23 (22 weeks)

Pick-up locations:

• Hibiscus (4907 Catharine St). Wednesdays 3 – 7:30 p.m.

What’s in the share: Your Choice option: You commit to spend $395 with Philly Foodworks throughout the season but what you get is entirely up to you. Choose from a variety of produce, meats, dairy items, fruits, breads, spreads and more. You do not have to buy something every week, so feel free to purchase as you choose. Mix Share option: In this option you get five produce items each week based on what is available. In addition, you receive a total of $65 in credits that can be spent throughout the season at the online market. Farmer’s Choice option: In this option you receive 10 items each week based on what local farmers have available (zucchini or yellow squash, sweet corn, cantaloupe, multi-colored peppers, heirloom tomatoes, eggplant, lettuce, red or yellow onions, potatoes, basil and more).

Optional shares include: bread, eggs, jams, coffee, fruit, apothecary, cheese, bacon, flowers, and more.

Cost: Your Choice option: $395; Mix Share: $395; Farmer’s Choice: $625.

Click here to sign up.

West Philly Foods CSA

Schedule: mid-May through mid-October (22 weeks)

Pick-up locations:

Choose from one of pick up locations each Thursday:

• Walnut Hill Community Farm (46th and Market) from 4-7 p.m.
• Renewal Church (47th and Cedar Ave.)  from 5-7 p.m.
• Heritage Farms (4300 Monument Blvd.) from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
• CHOP Hospital (Abramson Research Center Lobby) from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
• CHOP Hospital (Karabots), 4:15-6:30 p.m.
• High Point Cafe (2831 W. Girard Ave.) from 3-6 p.m.

What’s in the share? The veggie & fruit share includes: Green beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, basil,  summer squash, zucchini, eggplant, sweet potatoes, okra, sweet & hot peppers, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupes, and nectarines. Full Share: Approx. 10-12 lbs; Half Share: Approx. 5-6 lbs. Value-added shares include: jams, artisan bread, nut butter, cheese, coffee, beer, cookies, ice cream and more.

Cost: Full fruit & veggie share: $610; Half share: $360. For more information on additional shares, click here.

Click here to sign up.

James Roebuck speaking at the Mariposa Food Co-op in 2012. (Archived photo/West Philly Local)

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of Q&A’s with local political candidates before the primary election on May 20. Our first Q&A, with Algernong Allen, is here. Next up is Matt Wolfe, who is running for a seat in Philadelphia’s City Council. Also, today is the last day to register to vote in the primary. For more information, visit: http://www.votespa.com.

Since assuming office in 1985, James Roebuck has represented West Philadelphia and the rest of the 188th district as state representative, and focused on education as the chairman of the House Education Committee.

Roebuck says he leans on his background as a trained teacher and former Drexel University professor to inform his work as an educational advocate. Through his years of service in the legislature, and under former Governor Ed Rendell, Roebuck lays claims to many successes, including an improved pre-K system and an increase in educational funding. And, on his off-time, he says, you can find him at any local school, reading to grade school students or tutoring second graders.

“To me, education is not just about the way you fund the schools, it’s also about the way you involve yourself in local schools,” Roebuck told West Philly Local.  Continue Reading

The Cedar Park Neighbors community organization will hold its annual meeting tonight, from 7 – 9 p.m. at Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th and Baltimore). All neighbors are welcome. The annual meeting is a great introduction to the organization, its work and accomplishments over the last year and plans for the coming year. You can also meet candidates for the CPN Board of Directors (more information about the candidates is available here). Voting for CPN Board Members will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The meeting will also include a conversation with the two local candidates for the state representative – James Roebuck (the incumbent) and Algernong Allen. The talk will be moderated by Cedar Park resident Bill Hangley Jr., a journalist with The Philadelphia Public School Notebook.

An informal meet and greet will follow the meeting.

Note: The meeting will take place at Calvary Center Sanctuary (please enter through the doors on the second floor).

Click to enlarge.

As West Philly Local has reported before, coworking is picking up steam in Philadelphia, providing freelancers, remote workers, and independent contractors an opportunity to trade in the four walls of their home for interaction with like-minded professionals.

Well, it seems The Enterprise Center (4548 Market Street) is tapping into the trend by launching its own coworking and entrepreneurial development platform, the Venture Acceleration Center. The program, opening next month in Enterprise’s Market Street headquarters, will offer business coaching, resource learning sessions, and peer-support meetings, as well as make available a coworking space fitted with free wifi, workstations, conference and event space, and video conferencing.

“The Venture Acceleration Center will offer a totally unique experience for member-businesses that is both structured and flexible,” Iola Harper, The Enterprise Center’s senior director, said in a press release. “We want businesses to grow and create jobs in the community and we are here to provide the all of the support needed.”

To introduce the Venture Acceleration Center to the community, the Enterprise Center is holding an information session at its Market Street office next Saturday, April 26th from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event, titled “Start-Up Stampede” is open to all Philadelphia entrepreneurs looking for guidance and support in accelerating their business growth. Light refreshments will be served.

While Start-up Stampede is open to all business professionals, membership into the Venture Acceleration Center is only open to early-stage businesses in operation for six months and in the construction, beauty, hair, fashion and food industries.

Readers can register for the information session here. It is a $5.00 fee through today, and $10.00 fee thereafter.

-Annamarya Scaccia

Map courtesy of UCD (click to enlarge).

Unfortunately, the number of burglaries in the University City area continues to grow, according to the latest monthly crime update distributed by University City District. Over 30 burglaries were committed in March, which is twice as many as in February and, by far, the largest number of burglaries in the past year. UCD is asking residents to be vigilant and use extra caution (for tips on how to prevent a burglary at your residence, click here).

A number of these burglary incidents seem to have been related to a recent arrest, according to UCD. We’re trying to get more information about that.

Overall, 64 serious crimes were committed within the University City District boundaries last month (see map).

As burglaries remain a concern in the area, the 18th District Police Department is inviting residents to a crime prevention event this Friday (April 18), where the discussion will focus specifically on burglaries. The event will take place from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Rite Aid parking lot located at 57th and Chestnut Streets.

The event will also spread awareness and encourage participation in the following programs designed to combat property-related crimes: Operation I.D., B.O.N.D. (Business Owner Notification Decal), S.A.V.E. (Stolen Auto Verification Effort), and VIN Etching (Vehicle Identification Number Engraving). If you are unable to attend tomorrow’s event, please contact cleanandsafe@universitycity.org for additional information on these programs. Some more details are also available here.

There’s also a monthly community meeting with police tonight, at 6 pm at Calvary Center (48th & Baltimore). As usual, Lt. Brian McBride and Sgt. Ron Washington of the University City Division of the 18th Police District will hear your concerns and discuss current crime and neighborhood issues. Such meetings happen every third Thursday of the month and all community members are welcome.

Although we’re seeing a little setback with the weather, here’s some great news: University City District began re-installing “parklets” (outdoor seating platforms), throughout the neighborhood. Yesterday, the UCD installed two of them – one by the Green Line Cafe on Baltimore Ave and another one by Little Baby’s Ice Cream in Cedar Park:

Today UCD crews installed 43rd St. (@GreenLineCafe) & 49th St.(@LittleBabysIC) Parklets! Enjoy them #UCDPARKLETS pic.twitter.com/QhGG7K4Hhd

— University City (@ucdphl) April 14, 2014

Overall, five parklets will be installed in the neighborhood, all near trendy local shops, cafes and restaurants (though, like parks, they are public spaces so you don’t have to buy anything to sit in them):

Parklet by Fu-Wah Market on S. 47th St. (archived photo).

• 4040 Locust St (hosted by Ramen Bar)
• 261 S. 44th St (hosted by Honest Tom’s Tacos and Lil’ Pop Shop)
• 4239 Baltimore Ave (hosted by Green Line Cafe)
• 810 S. 47th St (hosted by Fu-Wah Market)
• 4903 Catharine St (hosted by Little Baby’s Ice Cream and Hibiscus Cafe)

The city’s first parklet was installed on 43rd Street near Green Line Cafe in the summer of 2011. Parklets, which are a wood and metal platform with tables, chairs and planter boxes, usually pop up in April and remain through October or until the cold weather sets in. Although enjoyed by many, parklets have also received some criticism, since they take up parking spots, which are hard to find in our area.