Old-school repair shops keep stuff working longer

The more stuff you own, the more likely you are to encounter something that suddenly no longer does what it’s supposed to do. After venting your frustration, you’ve got a choice: repair it, throw it out and buy a new one, or decide you’re better off without it. Some Philly people who fix things for

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3 mins read
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Park groups take native plantings beyond the urban wilds

Building on Philadelphia’s history as the “Garden Capital of America,” conservancy groups, landscape designers, urban horticulturists and backyard growers in our region are taking part in a revolutionary shift in gardening. By incorporating native plants — the trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants that flourished here over 200 years ago — into local landscapes, these practitioners

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4 mins read
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Philadelphia businesses are trying to keep up with society’s shifting views on employment

After nine years working for a nonprofit organization, 41-year-old Erin Mattson was earning more seniority, more responsibility and more money than she ever thought possible. But she also experienced stress and anxiety levels that led to serious health problems. Her partner, Elissa Viscelli, 36, convinced her to quit her job because, far more than a

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7 mins read
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Report confirms farmers’ finances are often tight, but knowledge is power

When COVID-19 suddenly disrupted supply chains, leaving grocery shelves empty, local farmers joined the short list of essential workers. Yet, despite their critical importance, many farmers remain low-wage workers.  A report recently released by Pasa Sustainable Agriculture revealed that farmers in our region earn about $10 per hour and family farm households struggle to reach

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6 mins read
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COVID-19 precautions inspired the “streatery,” but can these outdoor dining destinations exist in a post-pandemic world?

No matter if you spell it as “streatery” or “streetery,” these improvised outdoor dining areas began popping up around Philadelphia in 2020. At their peak, an estimated 800 restaurants in the city were operating streateries to keep their businesses open while COVID-19 health concerns restricted indoor dining. Originally allowed as an emergency measure, Philly streateries

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5 mins read
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The private and public sector must work together to find sustainable solutions to the increasing demand for home delivery

In business there are two certainties: convenience is never without cost, and sudden changes — disruptions — create new opportunities. The escalating demand for “last mile delivery,” the process by which industries and companies ship goods directly to the customer, is a textbook example of costs and opportunities. Even if you are among the estimated

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6 mins read
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Project encourages community members to work together to monitor air quality and use data to seek environmental justice

Air is something we share. But clean air, it turns out, is not equally available to all. Using technology with an almost cartoonish name, the PurpleAir monitor, Christina Rosan thinks making disparities in air quality “in your face” will lead to more equitable, citizen-informed public policies. Advocating for clean air everywhere, she believes, could promote

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3 mins read

Green architectural firm adapts and evolves with each project

When Scott Kelly co-founded the Manayunk-based design firm, Re:Vision Architecture, twenty years ago, he was a pioneer in green building design. The world has changed since then. Previously Kelly felt he had to be “stealthy” about including sustainable elements in his architectural designs. These days he revels in the freedom to go deeper, exploring with

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2 mins read
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Sustainable businesses of the 2000s paved the way for the innovative ventures of today

Successful businesses always start by filling a need or relieving a “pain point” for a target market. In Grid’s launch year 2008, when sustainability and “going green” were working their way into the common lexicon and Michael Nutter was elected Philadelphia’s mayor on a sustainability platform, the pain point was really located in the consumer’s

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11 mins read