Illustration by Kathleen White Horticulturist Lynn Ellen Wolf has been helping Philadelphians make the most of their gardens at the Greensgrow Farms nursery since 2008. Here are her tips on making the most of the season. Start with a vision. “Before you come [to the nursery], take some time to look through stacks of books [or
MoreCommunity Gardening Wisdom collected by the Neighborhood Gardens Trust It takes time and patience“When we finally got a chance to have a garden plot, we were so excited! We’d waited over 10 years to officially get a chance to be part of a special part of our neighborhood. Although we had our own garden plot—it
MoreThree low-maintenance perennial container ideas that will work in very different urban environments by Laura Everard When you’re choosing your own plants for a perennial planter, look for those with similar requirements for sun exposure, watering and soil type. Each of these ideas is designed to create a fantastic arrangement that will wow year-round. Hot,
MorePhoto by Addison Geary Hive Mind by Anna Herman Most humans are cheered by spring flowers. For all the pollinating insects, these blooms are a lifeline after the nectar- and pollen-free winter cold. Honeybees and many native bees keep the foods we love—fruits, veggies, nuts, milk and even ice cream—flowing to our tables through their
MoreIllustration by Anne Lambelet Soul Farming by Charis Lindrooth When Don arrived to work with us at Red Earth Farm, I was skeptical. Now bear in mind, we employ an eclectic mix of people, but Don won the prize for the cleanest-shaved and neatest dressed. His spotless button-up was tucked into crisp khakis. His boots
MoreStalking the Spring by Peggy Paul Casella Spring hasn’t really sprung until you’ve snatched up your first bunch of asparagus from the local farmers market. It livens up any dish with its grassy, floral flavor, and the prep work—bending each spear until it snaps toward the bottom end—was one of my first kitchen tasks as
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Illustration by Kathleen White Safe to Grow? by Alex Vuocolo Jennifer Morales knew that the soil beneath her community garden at A and Indiana streets in North Philadelphia might be contaminated. But without the resources or know-how to test the soil herself, there was no way to be sure. “There used to be a
MoreEveryday Beauty by Marilyn Anthony Sisters Joy Johnston Howard and Beth Johnston launched Sistercraft in 2015 to bring “beauty and love into other people’s lives.” Their handmade brooms, blankets, quilts and afghans are symbols of a clean, warm home, but the pair also see their work as a way to push back against the cold
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Unbreakable by Marilyn Anthony Life-threatening health issues. Gun violence. Racism. All of them could have molded ceramic artist Stefani Threet into a very different person. But at every turn of fate’s wheel, she countered her challenges: with strong ties to family, friends and other potters, her love of nature and with her talent and positive
MoreMixing it Up by Marilyn Anthony East Mount Airy visual artist Paul Carpenter’s art teacher once described him as a weird mashup of an artist and a jock. Carpenter’s most popular T-shirt design, a Phanatic-inspired figure elaborately decorated with a richly imagined Philadelphia landscape, surely proves his point. Carpenter, 30, grew up in Springfield Township
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