Greensgrow opened their West Philly hub in 2016 (archived photo).

Greensgrow West, the West Philly branch of Greensgrow Farms located at 51st and Baltimore, ceased its operations on Friday, July 22 after the nonprofit urban farm announced a financial crisis earlier this month. The flagship location in Kensington closed in early July.

“This past month, Greensgrow was the victim of a counterfeit check scheme that leaves us struggling to keep our doors open through July,” reads their Instagram post dated July 15. “Although, we typically close in the start of August, this season we are working with bankers and law enforcement to try to recoup $33,000 in lost revenue.”

To help ease the dire financial situation, which made it difficult for the management to meet the next payroll for their workers, Greensgrow has launched a fundraising campaign. Continue Reading

For the second year in a row, Greensgrow Farms is offering community beautification mini-grants to residents representing a specific neighborhood or organization in Kensington, the Riverwards, and West Philadelphia. The grants are provided by Mary’s Community Fund, a legacy project that continues the work of Mary Seton Corboy (1957-2016), the founder of Greensgrow and a visionary in supporting a greener Philadelphia.

Grants up to $1,000 are available for the following types of projects:

• Improvement of neighborhood public spaces;
• Community beautification;
• Nurturing a shared sense of neighborhood identity and community pride  Continue Reading

Here’s a chance for West Philly community members who want to beautify their neighborhood to get some financial help. Greensgrow Farms, which recently opened a larger and more permanent West Philly location at 5123 Baltimore Ave., is offering small grants to individuals or organizations in the area for projects that will:

• Improve neighborhood public spaces;
• Beautify the community;
• Nurture a shared sense of neighborhood identity and community pride

The grants are being offered as part of Mary’s Community Fund, a legacy project to continue the life and work of Mary Seton Corboy, the founder of Greensgrow and a supporter of a greener Philadelphia.

Each applicant group must represent a specific neighborhood or organization and may request up to $1000 in direct grant support towards the project budget. Applications are due on March 11, 2017. Grantees will be announced at Greensgrow’s 20th Anniversary Opening Event on March 25.

The application form as well as more information about eligibility, funding guidelines, and project ideas can be found here.

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.

UPDATE: Registration for Session 1 of the SNAP Box program is still open. Please go to: http://www.greensgrow.org/life/snapbox/sign-up or contact Greensgrow at: snapbox@greensgrow.org or 267-496-0148.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a great thing, but most farm share programs are costly and inaccessible for many city residents. Greensgrow Farms is bringing back its low-cost SNAP Box program this summer to help connect low-income individuals and families with local farmers and their produce. The program launches on Thursday, July 9, and here are more details:

SNAP Box participants in West Philadelphia can purchase their produce from Greensgrow West located at 4912 Baltimore Ave. on Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m. The SNAP Box program consists of three sessions, and each session runs for four weeks. Session 1 begins the week of July 9th, session 2 begins the week of August 6th, and session 3 begins the week of September 3rd. A one time fee of $26 valued at a retail price of $64 will offer participants an assortment of 5-8 weekly produce items sourced from local farms throughout the four-week program. In addition, program participants will have access to an onsite nutritionist and herbalist who will answer general health related questions and to free culinary education classes. Recipes, food prep and storage tips will also be offered. Additional information about the farms and farmers who contributed to the share will also be available.

Sign-up is still open for sessions 2 and 3. More information and a sign-up form are available here. If you have questions, please email: snapbox@greensgrow.org or call 267.496.0148.

The “bamboo lot” at 5123-29 Baltimore Avenue (Google Street View).

Greensgrow Farms recently signed a lease for a new garden center on Baltimore Avenue, and now they would like to present their plans to the community and get some feedback. A community meeting will take place on Thursday, June 4 at People’s Baptist Church (5039 Baltimore Ave), from 6 to 8 p.m. The meeting is a great opportunity for neighbors to share ideas about what they want to see at this location.

The new garden center is planned for the overgrown vacant lot (aka “the bamboo lot”) at 5123-29 Baltimore Ave. Some likely features of the new location will be a small farm, nursery, an outdoor classroom space and possibly a farmers’ market. However, Greensgrow is willing to work with the community to figure out what the new space should include.

Greensgrow, which is based in Kensington, is also inviting neighbors to check out their temporary West Philly location at 4912 Baltimore Ave. to meet the staff and learn more about their mission and impact.