Mill Creek Farm has been providing affordable produce to Mill Creek residents for the past ten years. Now, it faces a budgets shortfall that it hopes to fill in the next few weeks.
A web post by the farm explained that the shortfall had been created in part by a continued effort to employ local residents in key roles at the farm.
“We are challenging oppressive power dynamics and designing ones that put those most affected in leadership positions,” the statement reads. “Planning these changes created a short-fall in our finances and we need your help finish[ing] out the rest of the season.”
The farm hopes to raise $5,000, and an anonymous donor has promised to match funds up to that amount, meaning the farm could raise $10,000 in total.
Mill Creek Farm was created after the organization was granted 1.5 acres of vacant land along the former Mill Creek. The farm now grows vegetables, fruits, and herbs and then sells them to the public twice a week, including at the 52nd & Haverford farmers market. In addition, it educates the surrounding community about environmental and civic issues.
Here’s a great and delicious way to celebrate the end of the growing season and help a neighborhood farm. Mill Creek Farm board members, staff and volunteers are inviting West Philly neighbors to their 10th annual “Grow Strong” Benefit Party on Saturday, Dec. 5, 5-8 p.m.
The party, which will be held at the new Penn State Philadelphia Center (675 Sansom St.), will feature live music, local eats and brews, a silent auction and a raffle. Tickets ($25) can be purchased online or at the door.
Donations can also be made online to benefit Mill Creek Farm’s education and food access programming in 2016 and beyond: www.millcreekurbanfarm.org/donate.
Over $15,000 has been raised at previous benefits, the proceeds of which support free educational field trips and after-school programs for local public schools, a Philadelphia Youth Network high school internship, an apprenticeship program and a host of community workshops. Each year, over 5,000 lbs. of chemical free produce are harvested from the farm and sold at affordable prices at market stands within two miles of the farm. Over 1,000 lbs, of produce are donated annually to neighborhood food cupboards. 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
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.
This thing kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with a weed identification lesson, then you’ll “jump right into weeding and a few rounds of getting to know the person across your row,” according to the invitation. All of that weeding will be followed by music and refreshments.
Now there is a charge for this thing – it is a fundraiser after all – and there is a limited number of spots. Admission is $12 and you can order tickets here. It is also BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug) and is restricted to those 21 and over. No farming experience necessary, but dress to get dirty.
This is from the event Q & A:
Q: What does my ticket price support?
A: Your ticket supports Mill Creek Farm’s educational and food security programs for the fall of 2013. Mill Creek Farm is dedicated to improving access to healthy food, buidling a healthy community and environment, and promoting a just and sustainable food system – and we couldn’t do it without you!
Q: I am gay, can I participate? or I just want to meet like minded people, can I participate?
A: Everyone is welcome. While we can’t guarantee that there will be a match for every attendee, we do hope that we will meet some great friends in the process.
As promised, here is part 2 of filmmaker Clay Hereth’s documentary about The Mill Creek Farm, a neighborhood farm at 49th and Brown in West Philadelphia. See yesterday’s story for the full intro to the film and Mill Creek Farm’s work.
Last week’s warm weather got us pining for spring. So even though the spring-like weather has passed for now we wanted to get something onto the site that reminded us that spring isn’t too far away. Filmmaker Clay Hereth has just what the doctor ordered.
Hereth spent parts of the 2010 growing season filming work at the Mill Creek Farm (49th and Brown Streets). The documentary he produced, West Philly Grown, debuted at the farm’s fundraiser in December. The farm produces, sells and donates thousands of pounds of produce per year and is an important neighborhood asset. An ongoing issue with the farm is getting the land it occupies into a permanent trust.
Organizers are petitioning the city, which owns the vacant lot where the farm and a community garden were started, to place the land into the Neighborhood Gardens Association land trust. That would ensure the land remains a farm and community garden in the future.
Here is part 1 of Clay’s film (we will put part 2 up tomorrow):
“We are challenging oppressive power dynamics and designing ones that put those most affected in leadership positions,” the statement reads. “Planning these changes created a short-fall in our finances and we need your help finish[ing] out the rest of the season.”
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