Grid Magazine

Radishes: Dig into every size, shape and color of these versatile veggies

A Parade of Radishes by Peggy Paul Casella This time of year, fresh-picked radishes are hard to miss at the farmers market, all piled up with their neon-colored tubers facing out. So if you’ve only ever thought of them as a garnish, now is your best chance to give these ancient brassicas a second look.

May 6, 2016

1 min read

Column/Guest Editorial

Community benefit agreements could help Philly’s public education system

Illustration by Mike L. Perry Building Up Our Kids by Dan LaSalle As a teacher in Philadelphia’s public school system, I know that deep within our overcrowded and underfunded Philadelphia schools, a hunger for glory grows loud if you listen. I watch hundreds of city chess teams turn to a nonprofit for the funding and

May 6, 2016

3 mins read

Column

Will higher ed take the high ground on divestment?

Black and White by Heather Shayne Blakeslee Forget the Lafayette vs. Lehigh football rivalry, a Pennsylvania matchup that began in 1884. The longest running rivalry in college sports is progressive students and faculty lining up against conservative university administrations—and socially conservative thought in general. Among other causes in the ’60s, it was the Vietnam War,

May 6, 2016

2 mins read

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Grid’s Picks for Spring Fairs & Festivals

Photo courtesy of Philly Farm & Food Fest Manayunk StrEAT Food FestivalMain Street will be closed off all day April 10 to accommodate the spring edition of Manayunk’s biannual fiesta. Dozens of food trucks will offer gourmet food, along with live music on Green Lane, Cotton Street and Shurs Lane. The Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival

April 5, 2016

6 mins read

Column/The Right Question

Urban gardens have many benefits. But many still run at an energy deficit

Illustration by James Olstein Victory or Defeat? by Jerry Silberman Question: How much can I grow in my garden? The Right Question: Do urban gardens have a place in a sustainable food production system? Food provides both all the materials we need to build our bodies and all the energy to run it. Any animal

March 31, 2016

3 mins read

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Tips to grow better than ever this year

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

March 31, 2016

1 min read

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Philadelphia Gardeners offer seeds of advice

Community 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

March 31, 2016

2 mins read

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How to make the perfect perennial pot

Three 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,

March 31, 2016

3 mins read

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The food we grow is a portrait of our vibrant, resilient city

Photo by Neal Santos The Urban Kitchen Garden by Alex Jones The term “kitchen garden” conjures an image you might see in a history textbook: A woman, probably of Western European descent, harvests something delicious and at the peak of ripeness from a large, bountiful patch of cultivated land mere yards from what is almost

March 31, 2016

13 mins read

Column/Homestead Acts

Tips on keeping bees and making your garden bee friendly

Photo 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

March 31, 2016

4 mins read

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