So far this summer, total fresh vegetables contributed to the Food Cupboard at Riverview Apartments is:

June 2015 – 250 lbs

Did you know that each summer our garden hosts several programs for the Sadie Glover Blossom Summer Camp for neighborhood kids? And that gardeners Ed Mitinger, Janice Chorba and beekeeper / gardener Don Shump prepare fun and educational activities for several of the sessions?

Kids adore Don and his stories of bee adventures & exciting live bee demos.

Ed welcomes summer organizers and the Fleisher mobile Color on Wheels truck.

Campers hard at work at the Color on Wheels session.

A Fleisher volunteer demonstrates a special technique.

Here are the campers about to do a birdwatch walk. That's Ed in the back row!

Kudos to our gardener volunteers and the wonderful things they do!

On Monday June 4th a 3rd grade class from McCall Elementary School visited the garden. They were studying hunger in the community this year, so who better to guide the tour than Ed & Janice & the City Harvest crew, who introduced them to the work they do for City Harvest. This is the thank-you note received after their visit:

And here is the thank you from their teacher to SWQV gardeners and others who helped with the project. It is inspirational to see how much these third-graders could actually accomplish — their teacher’s comment about “helping my students to feel empowered to be agents of change” really says it all:

Finally, here are some of the kid’s “talking points” which they put together before speaking at Senator Casey’s office and to Mr. Brian Sims (State Representative for Center City’s 182nd District):

–BarbM

The City’s free rain barrel program is up and running again. Follow the link to sign-up to attend!
–Janice

FREE – NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED
INFO: 215-988-8885
Sponsored by the Philadelphia Community Farming Collaborative in Partnership with PHS/City Harvest. These workshops build on each other.

TOPIC – COOL SEASON ORGANIC PEST PREVENTION & CONTROL
WEDNESADY MARCH 28TH 6-8PM
EAST PARK REVITALIZATION ALLIANCE
3226 W.MONTOGOMERY AVE. (STRAWBERRY MANSION)

TOPIC – COOL SEASON HARVESTING & POST HARVEST HANDLING
WEDNESADY APRIL 25TH 6-8PM
EAST PARK REVITALIZATION ALLIANCE
3226 W.MONTOGOMERY AVE. 19121(STRAWBERRY MANSION)

TOPIC – WARM SEASON HOOPHOUSE PRODUCTION
WEDNESDAY MAY 16TH 6-8PM
SHARE FOOD PROGRAM
2901 W.HUNTING PARK AVE. 19129

TOPIC – BEEKEEPING
WEDNESDAY, MAY 30TH 6-8PM
MILL CREEK FARM
49TH & BROWN STS. WEST PHILA. 19139

TOPIC – WARM SEASON ORGANIC PEST PREVENTION & CONTROL
WEDNESDAY JUNE 27TH 6-8PM
SAUL FARM (HENRY GOT CROPS) ACROSS FROM SAUL HIGH SCHOOL
7100 HENRY AVE. 19128

TOPIC – WARM SEASON HARVESTING &POST HARVEST HANDLING
WEDNESDAY JULY 25TH 6-8PM
BARTRAMS GARDENS-FARM & COMMUNITY FOOD RESOURCE CENTER
5400 LINDBERGH BLVD. 19143

College of Physicians Video: Jon visited the Southwark Queen Village Garden last summer and talked with Janice Chorba about the garden and City Harvest.

HINT: If the video keeps stopping to rebuffer, just let it play thru while you do something else, then hit “replay” to watch without interruptions.