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.

UPDATE (4/9/2014): Due to unprecedented demand, walk-ins will not be accepted at upcoming tree giveaway events, including the event at Bartram’s Garden on Saturday, April 12, according to TreePhilly Program Assistant Lindsey Walker (see comments below).

(3/19/2014): TreePhilly, a great program run by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, is back for Spring 2014 and is giving away free yard trees to city property owners. Eleven different species are available, ranging from large oaks to smaller fruit trees (all trees are six to eight feet tall). One of the giveaway events will be held in Southwest Philadelphia – at Bartram’s Garden (54th & Lindbergh Blvd.) – on Saturday, Apr. 12, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to help people select the appropriate species and learn how to plant them properly.

Interested property owners can get more information and register by visiting treephilly.org or by calling 215-683-0217. The deadline to pre-register for the spring giveaway is March 27, but walk-ins will be accepted at the event as well.

Please note that TreePhilly is focused on giving away yard trees – trees that must be planted in the ground on private property (not in the sidewalk). However, people can also get help requesting free street trees from the city, TreePhilly Program Assistant Lindsey Walker told West Philly Local via e-mail. Please contact TreePhilly for more information.

If you have questions, you can also email: treephilly@phila.gov

In an effort to address hunger in the region, Repair the World: Philadelphia, a regional nonprofit mobilizing Jewish youth to help improve communities, will launch its Food for Thought Awareness Weekend on Friday, April 11.

The West Philly branch of Repair the World will host three events during its awareness weekend, which ends Sunday, April 13: a community-wide food drive on Friday, the annual Walk+Run Against Hunger 5K event in conjunction with the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger on Saturday, and a West Philly lot beautification with Cedar Park’s Jewish Farm School on Sunday. You can find details for each event below.

Repair the World: Philadelphia, which launched its fellowship program in October, is also preparing to move into their brand new office space at 4029 Market Street, according to Leah A. Silver, RTW: Philly’s fellow and social media coordinator. Silver told West Philly Local that the nearly 2,000 square foot office will likely be used for community meetings, trainings, and social events, as well as serve as the regular hub for Philadelphia’s Repair the World Fellows. There is no confirmed date for the move, but Silver said it’s mostly after May 15th.  Continue Reading

Photo via Greensgrow West Facebook page.

Community members are invited to check out the newest location of the urban farming hub Greensgrow Farms beginning Thursday, April 3. The opening party will be on Saturday, April 5!

Last month, we wrote about Greensgrow Farms’ plans to open a West Philly location at 4912 Baltimore Avenue, the former home of Elena’s Soul Bar & Lounge destroyed by fire in December 2012.

Greensgrow West will include a garden center featuring veggie starts, soils, tools, annuals and perennials, fruit trees, and expert help. The new location will also have a seasonal farmstand and CSA pick-up every Friday. Finally, Greensgrow West is planning to offer educational workshops for the community.

Greensgrow West hours, starting April 3, will be:

Garden Center: Thursday-Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
CSA Pick-up & Farmstand: Fridays 3:00-6:00 p.m.

For more information, visit http://www.greensgrow.org/ or facebook.com/GreensgrowWest

Algernong Allen standing in the remains of the Elena’s Soul building. (Archived photo/ courtesy of Algernong Allen)

Sad news for readers waiting on Elena’s Soul’s return: it seems the neo-jazz joint, which was destroyed by a fire in 2012, won’t make a second appearance on the lot of its former home at 4912 Baltimore Avenue—well, at least not for another two years.

That might not be such bad news for green thumbs, though. On Tuesday, Elena’s Soul owner Algernong Allen signed a contract with Greensgrow Farms after two months of talks to bring the urban farming hub to West Philly. As part of the deal, Greensgrow will lease Allen’s lot for two years, operating a multi-tiered site that the Kensington-based farm plans to open April 3. And during those two years, Allen told West Philly Local, he will consider the “feasibility of reconstruction” and redevelopment of the site.

“Realizing the void that Elena’s left both physically and culturally in the neighborhood, I wanted to do something that would be beneficial for a community that has been so kind to my family and I,” Allen, who’s currently running for state representative, told West Philly Local. “The Greensgrow deal not only provides a valuable resource to the urban greening community, but will also add more pedestrian traffic to Baltimore Avenue, attractiveness to the block, and even a few jobs for our local economy.”  Continue Reading

Thanksgiving is a great time to give back, so if you’re looking for some local causes to help this week you might want to consider donating to local food growers and distributors. Check out these two fundraising campaigns currently underway in the area.

‘Bring in the Harvest with Mill Creek Farm’ fundraising campaign

Photo via Indiegogo.com.

Mill Creek Farm, and urban educational farm operating at 49th and Brown in West Philly, is dedicated to improving access to fresh produce and building a healthy community. The farm underwent a lot of transition this year, bringing a new farmer, acting director and board of directors, and is trying to stay afloat through the end of this season and into the winter. The current fundraising goal is $13,400 and there are still 12 days to go. Here’s what your money will go toward, according to the project’s Indiegogo page:

• keep our farmers employed through the farmers market season
• continue offering affordable, fresh, vegetables at 2 weekly farm stands
• offer educational tours for students from pre-schoolers to undergrads

For more information and to donate go to: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bring-in-the-harvest-with-mill-creek-farm

The Fresh Food Hub Mobile Grocery Store expansion project

Photo from The Fresh Food Hub’s Facebook page.

The Fresh Food Hub, a mobile grocery store and farmers’ market bringing fresh and healthy food to Powelton, Mantua and Belmont neighborhoods, is raising funds for its expansion into other parts of Philadelphia. The project launched in Spring 2012 and as of August 2013 The Fresh Food Hub has distributed over 15 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables and served over 1,500 West Philadelphia families.

The Fresh Food Hub fundraising campaign in on Kickstarter (some of you have probably seen it in the sidebar widget on West Philly Local) and there are still 11 days left to help. As of Monday, Nov. 25, 1:30 p.m., $8,555 has already been raised toward the $9,773 goal. To read more about The Fresh Food Hub and to donate, click here.