1. Donate your surplus. City dwellers in small spaces know the post-holiday routine: Assess the mound of gifts, admit there is not room for them, decide what to recycle or give away, repeat. 2. Do a safety check. Now that the heat is cranking all the time, it’s a good idea to test the batteries on your
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1. Make a holiday wreath. If you celebrate Christmas, living in small spaces in cities often means not decorating a real tree. But a wreath will fit just fine, and you’ll still get that fresh pine scent. 2. Go wassailing. You’ve got two options in the wassailing tradition: Sing for your neighbors, or head to an
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Make compost from fallen leaves. It’s not hard to gather and shred leaves from the neighborhood to make killer compost that will give your garden a boost this spring. Plant your spring bulbs. It’s your last chance before winter weather sets in, so early this month, go buy the last of the bulbs that are
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Enjoy the colorful view.Leaves are turning all over the state, so it if you haven’t been to the Wissahickon in a while, put on your hiking shoes and take the family and the dog on a walk. Reprogram the thermostat.It will only take a minute to realign your temperature settings with the season, and it
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illustrations by Nicholas Massarelli 1. September means it’s hot, hot, hot!The peppers are bursting in your garden right now. Try drying some of your chilies this year to give your winter chili fest a homemade pop of flavor and heat. 2. Enjoy a hidden river viewEveryone knows about Spruce Street Harbor Park, but the hidden
MoreIllustration by Nicholas Massarelli 1. Protect those paws August heat is hard on everyone, but if you have a dog, don’t forget that the blacktop of roads and red brick can get hot enough to seriously burn your pet’s pads. 2. Try a barbecue without the beasts! See this issue for a full plant-based menu
MoreIllustration by Anne Lambelet 1. It’s time to weed again!Even if you don’t have a garden plot, you probably have a walkway or patio that could use some attention. Don’t let the grass go to seed, or you’ll never keep up! 2. Listen to some tunesThe XPoNential Music Fest is at the end of the
MoreIllustration by Chris Bernhardt 1. Protect your petsVeterinarians recommend keeping pets on flea and tick preventatives all year round, but if you’ve fallen behind, now really is the time. Mosquitoes and ticks are out in full force. 2. Harvest your early cropsYoung potatoes and peas—direct from your garden plot—should be part of your home-cooking menu.
MoreIllustration by Anne Lambelet 1. Try out a new neighborhood spotSpring usually brings many restaurant openings, and two to try are The Lab in Fishtown and Second District Brewing in Newbold. 2. Weed grass on walkways or sidewalksThe grass has been growing since February, which means it won’t be long at all before it goes
MoreIllustration by Julia Tran 1. Say hello to your local farmersIt’s that time of year again when the farm stands are back across the city. Get back in the habit of a weekly trip to your nearby market. 2. Clean up the creekMariposa Food Co-op, Philadelphia Water, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and United By Blue
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