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Personal Essay: A Green Building Project Made A Spiritual Calling Concrete

I have a deep longing to live with reverence for the earth and all its inhabitants. Through this unexpected work, I was able to combine that longing with Quaker principles and apply them to a concrete project. 

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September 3, 2015
2 mins read

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⚠️ When a typical Philadelphian walks out the ⚠️ When a typical Philadelphian walks out the door, they’re still subject to inhaling harmful pollutants generated from as nearby as the factory next door, to as far away as wildfires on the other side of the continent. Given Philadelphia’s geographic location and big city status, its residents face more air pollution than many Americans: more than one in five children in the city has asthma, compared to only about one in 20 nationwide. The solutions to the problem change depending on the pollutant. Philadelphia residents and local officials can do painfully little to curtail wildfires and coal-burning power plants thousands of miles upwind, which contribute to particulate matter pollution. But among local sources, there’s an obvious place to focus, experts say: “The single most important thing that every citizen can do to help alleviate air quality problems in our region is to get out of your car, to stop driving.” ➡️ Learn more about the dangers in our air and what we can do to combat them at gridphilly.com (link in bio) ✍️ Kyle Bagenstose 📸 @chris_bakerevens #philadelphia #philly #phillysupportphilly #gridphilly #gridmagazine #grid #phillynews #philadelphianews #publichealth #publichealthmatters #publichealtheducation #airquality #cleanair #airpollution #airpollutionawareness #pollution #publictransit #publictransportation
Events happening in and around Philadelphia this w Events happening in and around Philadelphia this weekend! ➡️ Afro-Garden Party at @dgriot.philly: We will be hosting a Garden Party every First Friday at d’griot gallery (soon to be holistic cafe!) Holistic Vendors + Food + Teas n’ Juices + Afrobeat + Homegrown Abundance share table from local/backyard gardens. When: Friday, June 7th (5:00 PM - 8:00 PM) Where: d’griot gallery 51 Maplewood Mall Philadelphia, PA 19144 ➡️ Community Garden Walking Tour: Join @ngtrust, @feet_first_philly, @cleanaircouncil and @aarp as we visit 5 community gardens in the Point Breeze section of South Philadelphia which are preserved or soon-to-be-preserved by NGT. During the walk, participants will get a chance to learn from garden leaders and explore diverse community garden spaces in the neighborhood. FFP representatives will discuss walkability along the route, and the role that green spaces like community gardens play in the pedestrian environment. When: Saturday, June 8th (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM) Where: Meet at 15th Street Garden 1329 S. 15th Street Philadelphia, PA 19146 ➡️ Pistil & Stamen - A @voxpopuligallery Pollinator Party: Join us at Pistil & Stamen: A Vox Populi Pollinator Party! But what exactly is a “pollinator party,” you ask? We like to think of it as a celebratory gathering of Vox’s wider community aimed at raising critical funds to help us spread our mission. Picture a fundraiser-meets-garden party infused with Vox’s unique flair! When: Sunday, June 9th (3:00 PM - 7:00 PM) Where: @theopenkitchensculpturegarden 2241 North Philip Street Philadelphia, PA 19133
🏘️ Last fall, after Philadelphia announced th 🏘️ Last fall, after Philadelphia announced the release of a request for proposal to develop one of the most notoriously blighted areas of the city, the Logan Triangle, a bevy of reporters called up Charlene Samuels, chairperson for the Logan Civic Association, to get community perspective. With more than a hint of exasperation in her voice, she told them all a version of the same thing: “Just sit and wait and see.” And also: “Hope and pray.” That’s what it’s come down to in Logan, where the wrongs of a century past and decades of unkept promises have left residents skeptical anything good will come of the 40ish-acre eyesore, which drags down the name of a neighborhood many are otherwise proud to live in. ➡️ Learn more about the history of Logan Triangle and what lies ahead for its future at gridphilly.com (link in bio) ✍️ Kyle Bagenstose 📸 @chris_bakerevens
🚣 Last summer, on a small beach along the Coope 🚣 Last summer, on a small beach along the Cooper River, seventeen-year-olds Star Beauchamps and Mickey Carter-Lopes waited to pull canoes into shore. This was their typical summer weekday: paddling, teaching and comparing the polka dot tan lines on their feet thanks to Crocs and hours spent working in the sun. The friends were two of last season’s eight “RiverGuides,” high school students working to connect Camden residents back to the water that surrounds them. The program is run by @urbantrekkers, whose founders organize youth nature expeditions outside the city. It wasn’t until 2015 that they realized they didn’t have to go so far. ➡️ Learn more about the transformation of Camden’s waterways and how it has inspired children and teens to connect with nature at gridphilly.com (link in bio)! ✍️+ 📸 @kristenrharrison
🏠 Antonette Russell’s house, like many others 🏠 Antonette Russell’s house, like many others in Grays Ferry and neighborhoods across the city, has been in her family for decades. Her grandmother, community leader Irene Russell, was the first in the family to own the century-old, two-story brick row house on South Napa Street. Before she died in 2021, her grandmother had started some much-needed repairs on her house, but many remained undone. The appliances in the kitchen were falling into disrepair and the bathroom was beginning to crumble. Russell believed it would take years before she could afford to finish the job. Everything changed when she got a call from @phillythrive; her home would be the first served by the environmental justice organization’s free home repairs program. ➡️ Learn more about Philly Thrive and its mission to provide free repairs, electrification and solarization to homeowners who cannot afford them at gridphilly.com (link in bio)! ✍️ Allison Beck 📸 @kristenrharrison
Impassioned words from CM @nicforphilly at the @le Impassioned words from CM @nicforphilly at the @levphilly event on May 30 in support of appointing a Chief of Joy for the School District of Philadelphia. #philadelphia #philly #gridphilly #gridmagazine #phillynews #philadelphianews #education #educationmatters #educationforall #publiceducation #equaleducation #educationfirst
Our *brand new* Environmental Justice Issue is off Our *brand new* Environmental Justice Issue is officially here! In this issue we take a closer look at how environmental problems disproportionately affect communities of color, and particularly low-income communities of color. More than those of whiter and more affluent communities, their residents breathe air poisoned by industrial facilities like refineries or by the tailpipes of unending lines of cars and trucks. Often homes are not even a refuge, presenting hazards from flaking lead paint and exhaust from cooking gas. And sometimes the very ground sinks beneath their feet, undermining foundations and severing gas lines. Our region is also rich with solutions that can help repair the inequities. Some require the reform of government and regulation of industry, but we all can take steps to clean our air by getting around by any means other than a personal gas guzzler. We can improve indoor environments through home repair programs and we can spark joy in youth by connecting them to our restored rivers and green spaces. ➡️ Visit gridphilly.com to read the full Environmental Justice Issue now (link in bio)!
Can you guess how many birds get killed every year Can you guess how many birds get killed every year colliding with windows? It’s not hundreds and, no, not even thousands. Try MILLIONS — 600 to be exact. Here’s why our poor feathered friends suffer this tragic death and what we can do to save lives by preventing it from happening in the future. ➡️ Visit gridphilly.com to learn more (link in bio) 🎥 @andrew_the_arborist
Over here at Grid, we’ve been hard at work prepp Over here at Grid, we’ve been hard at work prepping our brand new issue (out tomorrow!). Despite our typical monthly issue cycle, we couldn’t help but share one particular story a little early. So without further ado, here’s a sneak peak of our June issue and its cover story featuring a topic heavily impacting Philadelphia today: Green City, Clean Waters. 💧 Ever since the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) created a plan to fix its archaic sewer systems in 2011, proponents have held up the resulting program — Green City, Clean Waters — as a crown jewel of the department. But more than a decade later, signs are emerging that the nationally-recognized plan might be serving as a drain on the utility’s coffers — by the billions. The program was originally pitched as an innovative, cost-effective way to deal with the billions of gallons of raw sewage that overflow annually from the city’s vast expanse of aging sewer lines and spill into rivers and creeks. While an originally estimated $2.4 billion price tag for the 25-year program is no small amount, proponents who argued for its creation said that sum would provide a major discount compared to typical alternatives…But the costs of the green program have quietly ballooned to at least $4.5 billion at its halfway mark, according to both publicly-available financial documents and PWD employees, placing it at least $2 billion over original cost estimates. Costs are primarily borne by Philadelphians, who pay via a designated “stormwater charge” on their monthly water bills. ➡️ Learn more about the current status of Green City, Clear Waters and what its results mean for the future of Philadelphia at gridphilly.com (link in bio) ✍️ Kyle Bagenstose 📸 @chris_bakerevens
“As a Philly bicycle commuter, it’s long been “As a Philly bicycle commuter, it’s long been my dream to race through the city slapping tickets on all the cars parked in the bike lanes. In the eyes of bikers, many of the everyday users of city streets — delivery trucks, contractor vans, Ubers picking up and depositing passengers, even residents dropping off groceries — are very real dangers. Riding nine miles a day on the Spruce and Pine street lanes, it’s rare I can go more than two or three blocks without having to merge in and out of car traffic to avoid obstructions. When I first learned the Philadelphia Parking Authority was adding bike patrols to assist with bike-lane parking enforcement, I was excited and more than a little curious. When I first spotted a PPA bike patrol officer in the wild, I greeted them like a hero. Yet I was surprised to learn most of my cycling friends had never even heard of the program. And I had my own questions as well: What exactly is their mandate? Have they been successful? Is this truly the best job ever? I arranged a ride-along to learn more.” ➡️ Learn about Craig’s findings with the PPA bike patrol at gridphilly.com (link in bio)! ✍️ + 📸 @phillydadcraig
🌱 There’s a buzz around the new native plant 🌱 There’s a buzz around the new native plant habitats at Wharton Square Park in Point Breeze, and it’s spread all the way to Harrisburg. On April 30, the Friends of Wharton Square Park, in partnership with the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards of Philadelphia County, received the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for the volunteer-built gardens — the only Philadelphia-specific recipient. “Our win speaks to the urgent need for more natural spaces, more native plants and more greenery in communities like Point Breeze that suffer greater consequences from climate change, like flooding, poor air quality and negative psychological and educational outcomes,” Stephanie Gregerman, project organizer and Point Breeze resident, says. In June 2023 a community event was held where over 40 volunteers prepped soil with compost, planted, mulched and watered 600 plants — 16 different species — for a network of eight native plant gardens in high-visibility areas. “It was an ambitious project, especially because we wanted to create a planting event that provided more than just a volunteer opportunity — we truly wanted to teach more about the importance of native plants and to inspire our neighbors,” Gregerman says. ➡️ Learn more about the community-driven effort to create natural spaces in the city and how those like @vicinityenergy contributed to its success at gridphilly.com (link in bio)!
Forever Chemicals and Turf. Do you or your kids pl Forever Chemicals and Turf. Do you or your kids play sports on artificial turf fields? In parks? Schools? University practice fields? What have you heard from the field owners about the risks of PFAS exposure and plans to deal with them? Email news@gridphilly.com.
On your next landscaping project, say no to plasti On your next landscaping project, say no to plastic landscaping mesh and yes to jute fiber mesh: ✅ Doesn’t snag animals ✅ Decomposes easily Its application at the Clearview Landfill superfund site remediation in Southwest Philadelphia’s Eastwick neighborhood has proven successful for both landscapers and wildlife alike! ➡️ Visit gridphilly.com to learn more (link in bio) 🎥 @andrew_the_arborist #philadelphia #philly #gridphilly #gridmagazine #phillynews #philadelphianews #urbannature #urbanecology #urbanwildlife #urbanlandscape #citynature #natureinthecity #biodiversity #protectbiodiversity #wildlife #wildlifeofinstagram #biodiversityconservation #wildlifeconservation #wildlifeprotection
📝 Editor’s Notes: What’s your carbon paw pr 📝 Editor’s Notes: What’s your carbon paw print? 📝 If you want to elicit some angry comments from readers, print something unflattering about cats. We’ve done that more than once in Grid, pointing out the devastating impact that outdoor cats have on wildlife (they kill billions of birds, mammals and other critters per year in the United States). Author Scott Weidensaul drives that point home again in our interview about migratory birds and how we can help them — but he doesn’t stop there. He adds the important point that if we want a greenspace to be good bird habitat, we need to think about limiting dogs, even leashed ones. Now we’ll have the dog people after us, too. So is it time to put Fluffy and Fido down to save the planet? Although that would arguably result in fewer total animal deaths and a smaller environmental paw print than letting them live to a ripe old age, we can still accomplish a lot with a more moderate approach. ➡️ Learn more about lessening the impact of our furry friends on the environment at gridphilly.com (link in bio) ✍️ Bernard Brown
Events happening in and around Philadelphia this w Events happening in and around Philadelphia this weekend! ➡️ Weekend Warm-up Hike: The Weekend Warm-up Hike returns to Tyler’s hiking trails! Start your Friday off right with a brisk, one-hour hike through Tyler’s gardens and natural areas beyond the deer exclusion fence. This hike is intended as a moderate cardio workout, and we typically cover 2 1/2 to 3 miles in an hour. However, we reserve the right to pause and enjoy whatever surprises nature offers. Be prepared for a mix of asphalt, gravel and natural surfaces. When: Friday, May 24th (8:10 AM - 9:10 AM) Where: @tylerarboretum 515 Painter Rd Media, PA 19063 ➡️ Bird Walks Along The River: Join us as we watch, listen, and enjoy birds along the Delaware River! A @birdphilly member will be leading the walk along the river and helping us ID birds. All ages and abilities are welcome. Some binoculars will be available to borrow/share, but please feel free to bring your own. When: Saturday, May 25th (8:30 AM - 10:30 AM) Where: Pennypack on the Delaware Park 7801 State Road Philadelphia, PA 19136 ➡️ Live @ Roots Garden 2024 Performance Series: @olneyculturelab is proud to bring back the performance series at Roots Garden in @fisherparkofphiladelphia. This new series of outdoor performances held in the lush green space of the Roots Community Garden in the Olney neighborhood of Philadelphia was a breath of fresh air for attendees and performers alike. When: Sunday, May 26th (6:00 PM - 7:30 PM) Where: Fisher Park 571 West Spencer Street Philadelphia, PA 19120
Attention Philadelphia homeowners: The lead pipes Attention Philadelphia homeowners: The lead pipes that carry water into our homes may soon be a thing of the past. According to a newly proposed change regarding its lead and copper rule, @epagov is seeking to mandate the replacement of all lead pipes across the U.S. Local implementation would require @phillyh2o to dig up 20,000 to 25,000 of its service lines. The estimated cost? Half a billion dollars. ➡️ Visit gridphilly.com to learn more (link in bio) 🎥 @andrew_the_arborist #philadelphia #philly #gridphilly #gridmagazine #phillynews #philadelphianews #water #watersafety #watersafetyawareness #cleanwater #cleanwaterforall #safewater #drinkingwater #safedrinkingwater #watersystem #watersystems
✂️ Large landscaping projects, especially with ✂️ Large landscaping projects, especially with increased local rainfall caused by climate change, require erosion-control planning. A search for products yields an array of mesh options designed to hold soil in place until plant roots can take over, but many can present an entanglement hazard to wildlife. @phillymetrowildlife handles dozens of such cases during warmer months, says assistant director Michele Wellard. Mesh might hold soil in place, but if it doesn’t yield when a trapped animal struggles, it is deadly. At the center, Wellard has seen robins with legs that have been degloved (skin stripped off) and garter snakes with cuts too deep to heal. The solution? A wildlife-friendly mesh developed by Joshua Barber of @epagov. ➡️ Learn more about wildlife-friendly mesh and what to do if you encounter an entangled animal at sites that have yet to implement it at gridphilly.com (link in bio) ✍️ Dawn Kane 📸 @mattbender
Are monarch butterflies actually at risk? Not at a Are monarch butterflies actually at risk? Not at all — in fact, some of the actions we take to help the beloved orange and black-winged creatures may be hurting more than helping. Learn more about the state of the monarch butterfly population and generally what we can do to help native insects. ➡️ Visit gridphilly.com to learn more (link in bio)! 🎥 @andrew_the_arborist
🦌 Even the most dedicated naturalists have thei 🦌 Even the most dedicated naturalists have their boundaries when it comes to cohabitating with wildlife. And for many home gardeners, deer are enemy number one. It’s possible to acknowledge that we’ve largely taken over deer habitats and, simultaneously, feel a potent ire while watching your landscaping efforts blithely munched by these creatures. According to @psuextension, there are approximately 1.5 million white-tailed deer living in Pennsylvania, including in urban and suburban areas. And deer are intensely voracious: between spring and fall, they consume between 6 and 8% of their body weight each day, mostly foliage, twigs, shrubs and wildflowers. In areas where deer have over-eaten the forests or woodlands are scarce, farms and residential gardens are a ready source of food. What are the safest and most effective ways to politely say “buffet’s closed” to the local deer population in your area? One natural, sustainable and easy method is planting your garden with deer-resistant native plants. ➡️ Learn more about deer-resistant native plants and how they can safely deter deer from getting at your garden at gridphilly.com (link in bio) ✍️ @emily_jk 📸 @chris_bakerevens
Events happening in and around Philadelphia this w Events happening in and around Philadelphia this weekend! ➡️ SWWAG Workshop - Climate Resilience as Land Justice: Learn about the importance of understanding climate justice as land justice, the causes of climate change, and some practical skills to help prepare for climate change. When: Friday, May 17th (5:00 PM - 6:30 PM) Where: Neighborhood Food Farm 608 N 53rd Philadelphia, PA 19131 ➡️ Pollinator Power: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, beetles and even some bats are pollinators! In this workshop, we’ll visit @tylerarboretum’s Pollinator Preserve to observe pollinators in action. You’ll learn about their lifecycle, why they’re important, and what you can do to help them. Then, we’ll head to the Garden Classroom, where you’ll choose a plant to make your own pollinator feeding station to take home. It’s going to be a fun, hands-on way to discover the world of pollinators and how we can support them! When: Saturday, May 18th (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM) Where: Tyler Arboretum 515 Painter Rd Media, PA 19063 ➡️ Introduction to Photography - Wildlife Edition: Join this introductory photography workshop and unlock the secrets of digital photography! This hands-on course delves into the essentials of Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO, empowering participants with a solid foundation. Explore Exposure Compensation, Auto-Focus, Metering, and more, while mastering important terminology and troubleshooting techniques. Perfect for beginners and seasoned photographers alike, this workshop cultivates the skills needed to capture images with your unique artistic flair. By the end, you’ll confidently use manual settings to photograph wildlife and diverse subjects, applicable across various camera types – DSLR, mirrorless, bridge, and superzoom. Elevate your photography journey with this workshop! When: Sunday, May 19th (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM) Where: Taylor Memorial Arboretum 10 Ridley Drive Wallingford, PA 19086
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