A group of local non-profits and Reading Terminal Market are teaming up to bring more fresh and healthy food to Parkside residents this summer. The first-ever Parkside Fresh Food Fest kicked off on Viola Street between 41st St and Belmont Ave on July 6 and will be held on select Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. throughout this summer. The festival brings fresh food to residents (via a food share program) and also includes cooking demonstrations from Reading Terminal, live entertainment and activities for families.

The next event in the series will take place this Thursday, July 20, and the remaining four events are scheduled on the following dates: Aug. 10, 24 and Sept. 14, 21.

The food share program was created after gauging residents’ interest in a potential subsidized Community Supported Agriculture service for East Parkside. Each food share includes fresh fruit, vegetables, locally-sourced eggs and/or dairy, and an assortment of other grocery items from Reading Terminal. Participation in the food share program requires a subscription (four-event subscription is $35), and some limited single shares ($10) will be available at each event. Information on each item in the food share package will be included along with a recipe card.

The series seeks to use food as the foundation to build community and utilize common public space. Attendees can also participate in organized art activities, bicycle safety workshops from the Indego Bike Share, and a Philadelphia Free Library Book Nook for children. Activities will vary each week and may include live music performances and a movie night.

The program is supported by the Knight Foundation.

More information about the fest can be found here. To subscribe to Parkside Market Food Share, click here and type the password “viola”.

One of Greensgrow Farms Winter CSA shares (Photo courtesy of Greensgrow).

For those of you who prefer locally grown veggies and want to support local farmers during winter months, there’s a new winter CSA (City-Supported Agriculture) program in the area. Greensgrow Farms, located in Kensington, is “really happy” to be offering it for the first time in West Philly this season.

Greensgrow West’s new home at 5123 Baltimore Ave.

Greensgrow West has recently moved to a larger, more permanent location – at 5123 Baltimore Ave. – and Winter CSA share pick-ups will be available there from early December through mid-April.

To become a Winter CSA member, interested individuals can sign up online by November 26. Winter CSA shares include more than veggies; various share options are available – you’ll receive a choice of dairy or vegetable protein; milk, eggs, butter, yogurt, tofu or seitan. Seasonal fruit, fun specialty prepared items and a few pantry staples will also be included. Meat, vegetarian and vegan share options are also available. Check out a photo gallery of the Winter CSA here.

More information about the program is available here. Greensgrow CSA hotline is (215) 380-4355. You can also email: csa@greensgrow.org

To explore other CSA programs in the area, check our earlier post here.

As promised, here’s more information about summer Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs that deliver weekly shares of produce and other goods from local farms and suppliers to West Philadelphia.

Greensgrow Farms

Schedule: Mid-May through early November

Pick-up location: 4912 Baltimore Avenue (Greensgrow West)

What’s in the share: A seasonal assortment (5-8 items) of locally grown vegetables; a selection of fruit that reflects the abundance of the season; a dairy/protein option; locally made cheese (8 times during the season); locally produced prepared food, such as beer, pasta or ice-cream. Half-share and add-on share (add cheese, coffee, ice cream or bread) options are available.

Cost: Full share: $800; Half share (pick up every other week): $475.

www.greensgrow.org/csa/summer-csa

Continue Reading

Spring is in full swing and it’s time to stock up on your gardening supplies. The West Philly location of Greensgrow Farms is reopening this weekend just in time. Although smaller than the flagship location in Kensington, Greensgrow West features a fully stocked garden center.

Starting this Friday, you can stop by at 4912 Baltimore Avenue and pick up seeds and seed starting supplies, as well as soils, soil amendments, mulch and more. Also, spring bulbs, pansies, and Easter plants will be available for sale this weekend, plus there will be a special sale on emerging fall blooming perennials!

Greensgrow West is also a farmstand and CSA pick-up location for the Greensgrow Summer CSA program, registration for which is currently underway. Full-share, half-share and add-on share options are available. The CSA season begins the week of May 19 and ends the week of November 3.  Continue Reading

Friday, Feb. 26 is National CSA Day celebrating community-supported agriculture. This is the day when many farms start offering sign-ups for their summer CSA programs.

One of local CSA programs, Greensgrow Summer CSA, is also launching their online application this Friday and inviting West Philly residents to Dock Street for a happy hour from 4-6 p.m. There you can meet Katie Jacoby, a West Philly neighbor and CSA manager, who will answer your questions about what’s in store this season.

There will also be a guest appearance and sampling by Fikira Bakery, which will be joining CSA this year by providing a Greensgrow West bakery share.

Friday’s event is also an opportunity to sign up for a discounted share and a further discount for returning members. Monica McCollin, the manager for the SNAP box program and a West Philly resident, will be at Dock Street to answer any questions about the monthly affordable access share.

The Greensgrow Summer CSA runs from mid-May through early November, and shares can be picked up at their West Philly location at 4912 Baltimore Avenue.

If you can’t make it to Friday’s event and would like to sign up, you can do it online starting Feb. 26. A $15 discount will be applied if you sign up by March 11, 2016, just use the code WPLOCALS16 at online signup at http://greensgrow.csasignup.com/members.

We’ll let you know about other 2016 Summer CSA programs soon. In the meantime, check out our previous posts here.

Fresh, locally grown fruits and veggies are just a couple of months away! Local summer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs will resume in May and already started accepting applications. CSAs usually work as a seasonal subscription programs where subscribers purchase a share of the produce grown on a local farm.

Urban and rural farms, food entrepreneurs and restaurants are participating in this summer’s CSA programs by supplying locally grown or prepared items, including produce, dairy, meat, honey, baked goods, coffee, beer, and more! Here’s a list of assorted CSA programs, which offer share pick-up location in West Philadelphia. Please note that Greensgrow Farms is currently offering early bird CSA sign-up discounts.  Continue Reading