#045 January 2013

Brush It Off: Homemade toothpaste, without the toxins

Story by Leah Troiano

WHEN YOUR CHILD'S DENTIST asks to talk with you privately, it’s never good news. As my little darling finished her check up, the dentist informed me that she admitted to not brushing enough. Although I wasn’t happy about her confession, I wasn’t surprised to hear she

December 12, 2012

1 min read

#045 January 2013

Swords Into Ploughshares: An organic farming program for returning veterans

An aerial view of the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Pa. | Image via growingagreenerworld.com | Story by Liz Pacheco
Josh Brown, a 28-year-old Marine, recently found himself unemployed—a situation that’s all-too-common for America’s veterans. Before being laid off from his job as an equipment delivery driver, Brown had thought about

December 12, 2012

1 min read

#045 January 2013

Eastwick Update: Development plans on hold

Story by Liz Pacheco THE GRID OCTOBER 2012 COVER story reported on a development controversy in southwestern Philadelphia’s Eastwick community. Korman Residential has proposed building 722 apartments on 35 acres adjacent to single family homes and the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. For the City, the land holds great

December 11, 2012

1 min read

#045 January 2013

Urban Naturalist: Green City, Yellow Salamanders

Story by Bernard BrownWEST PHILADELPHIA will never be the Everglades. It will never be the Pine Barrens, or even the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. As much as the naturalist in me would like to see more greenery and less asphalt, more snakes and fewer cars, I accept that I

December 11, 2012

2 mins read

#045 January 2013

Vegging In: What I learned from my roommate’s quest to eat sustainably

Story by Colleen Davis Illustration by Adrienne Langer AFTER DECADES OF BEING A PRETTY RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN, I felt I’d traveled about as far as I could on the path to eating and living sustainably. Others around me were more zealous, but they were yoga teachers and gardeners whose extreme

December 11, 2012

2 mins read

#045 January 2013

Super Ponics: A thriving ecosystem for fish, plants and high school students

Story by Liz Pacheco IT'S 1 P.M. ON A FRIDAY at W. L. Sayre High School in West Philadelphia. Elizabeth Curry’s science classes have finished for the day, but some students remain in her classroom talking about their new aquaponics systems. ¶ “I thought the class was gonna stink. I

December 10, 2012

2 mins read

#045 January 2013

Hunkering Down: Four strong cheeses for weathering winter months

Story and Photo by Tenaya DarlingtonCOLD NIGHTS ARE IDEAL FOR CHEESE TASTINGS, and this time of year, strong flavors warm the cockles. Whenever I put together a cheese board, I aim for a range of textures and flavors. The mix below—all cheeses are made locally—reflect the bold colors and

December 10, 2012

2 mins read

#045 January 2013

Kale: How to grow, buy and prepare this hardy leafy green

Story and Photos by Grace Dickinson KALE IS FINALLY GETTING the spotlight it deserves. No longer just a garnish, the leafy green is now an A-list celebrity in the vegetable world, and everyone wants a leaf of it.
For the food bloggers, kale is the addition that sends their mac

December 7, 2012

5 mins read

#045 January 2013

Above the Fold: Sophisticated technology and inspired employees power a laundry revolution

Story by Molly O'Neill l Photos by Albert Yee ON A BRISK FRIDAY AFTERNOON, Gabriel Mandujano parks his bicycle and enters a large, clean laundromat at 48th and Pine. Three women in neon green Wash Cycle Laundry t-shirts greet him enthusiastically, though their hands never stop sorting socks

December 6, 2012

6 mins read

#045 January 2013

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