Planting A Seed at the New PHS Village

Philadelphia (January 2010) –  The PHS Village, created by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, will offer a sampler of PHS programs, highlighted by fast-paced demonstration gardens where visitors can learn how to plant vegetables, herbs or shrubs, design a small-space or container garden, or find answers to their horticultural questions. The 10- to 15-minute lessons will include children’s gardening demonstrations.

One focus area of the Village will explore PHS’s innovative program City Harvest, a component of Philadelphia Green, that addresses the need to increase the amount of fresh produce available to local food cupboards. The program trains prison inmates to plant and raise vegetable seedlings, which are transplanted in community gardens. The produce is then distributed to neighborhood food cupboards to feed under-served families. To date, City Harvest growers have produced 99,000 seedlings and 54,700 pounds of organic produce. The City Harvest network also engaged 1,600 volunteers, 32 food cupboards and provided nutrition workshops to more than 8,000 people. Recently, the program received a $300,000 grant from the USDA to add an entrepreneurial food growing component to start a growers’ alliance and resource centers across the city. The expansion will kick off this spring.

“Visitors to the Flower Show will learn how they can support City Harvest through a variety of ways, and how a small contribution can be amplified in a huge way,” said Joan Reilly, senior director of Philadelphia Green.

The new PHS Village is a mecca of inspiration and opportunities to contribute locally to this worthy cause. Along with a specially stocked Meadowbrook Farm Store of herbs and houseplants and a display of excellent, hardy trees and shrubs that have received the PHS Gold Medal Plant Award, the Village illustrates PHS’s vast array of programs and gardening resources.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s urban revitalization program, Philadelphia Green, is the largest and most comprehensive urban greening program in the nation. Started in 1974, Philadelphia Green now works with hundreds of community groups, partners and residents in neighborhoods throughout the region to plan and implement greening projects. Recently, PHS signed on as the lead partner with Keep America Beautiful to provide affiliates nationwide with training tools to improve their communities through greening. Locally, Philadelphia Green works with private and public organizations to landscape and maintain public spaces in the city’s downtown area and its gateways. Proceeds from the Philadelphia International Flower Show, along with funding from foundations, corporations, and government agencies, help to support its projects.

For more information Contact:
Alan Jaffe at 215-988-8833
Laura Hoover at 215-988-8836

           
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