Local Food gets Federal boost

KNOW YOUR FARMER, KNOW YOUR FOOD

The Redevelopment Authority of Philadelphia (RDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are working together to promote urban production of fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables for local markets, in support of USDA's new "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food " initiative. The collaboration is believed to be the first between an urban government and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and will make it easier for the City to create pilot farming and gardening projects. Check out the website to learn more about how you can support local farmers while also improving your health and protecting natural resources.

Click on poster below for better viewing...

Fall For The Arts Recycling Volunteers!

These are some of the thirty volunteers that helped to promote recycling on Germantown Ave. during the Fall for the Arts Festival. We are grateful for their efforts and while their job may have seemed silly, to guard recycling containers and make sure people knew what they could recycle and what they couldn't, it made a huge difference in what was collected. Most of all, it demonstrated the tremendous need for both pedestrian recycling bins here in Chestnut Hill and education about what is actually recycled in the city of Philadelphia. This is GRINCH's priority this coming year and hopefully will become the priority of our own community association.

Stormwater management incentive for businesses!

NEXT GREAT CITY VICTORY!		VOLUME III, ISSUE XIX Podcast Listen to the PennFuture podcast at http://www.pennfuturepodcast.org/ Includes interviews with Urban Sustainability Forum speakers and more! Questions or Comments? Email Christine at:knapp@pennfuture.org or call 215-545-9692 Don't forget to visit our website at: http://www.nextgreatcity.org/
The Next Great City coalition can check another agenda item off our list! Philadelphia Water Commissioner Bernard Brunwasser has approved a new rate structure and regulations for stormwater management that will provide incentives to businesses and institutions to reduce their water runoff. “Managing stormwater is vital to our economy, our environment and the public health,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “And this decision moves us one giant step forward in meeting the federal clean water standards and implementing our Greenworks Philadelphia goal: to make our city the greenest in the nation.” Previous stormwater charges were based on how much water a property used, which bears little relation to its contribution to stormwater runoff. The new charges will be based on the size of and amount of impervious surface. The decision will make it profitable for property owners to address stormwater runoff by planting more trees, installing a green roof or using porous pavement. PWD will also work with Next Great City on a pilot program to study expanding the credit program to residential customers.

Fall for the Arts Fest Sunday Oct 4th 11-5

Chestnut Hill's 25th annual Fall for the Arts Festival with over 150 artists and craftsmen, live entertainment on two stages, kids amusements and art activities, delicious festival foods from the restaurants of Chestnut Hill...all outdoors on beautiful, historic Germantown Avenue. Enjoy a fun-filled fall afternoon in one of Philadelphia's lovliest neighborhoods. www.chestnuthillpa.com for more info

Upcoming events at Laurel Hill Gardens

All workshops start at 11am

Saturday – Oct 10 – Composting

Saturday – Oct 17 – Wintering Tropicals/Preparing Houseplants for Winter

Saturday – Oct 24 – Putting Your Garden to Bed

Saturday – Oct 31 – Pumpkin Carving

Take a Look at Weird Waste Day in Mt. Airy

Some additional images from Weird Waste Day that didn't make it into the paper. The overall feeling from most recyclers was "How great and horrifying at the same time". This is truly a monumental problem, but here is part of the solution. Thanks to all who came out and paid to have their electronics recycled in a responsible way!
It was eye-opening and inspiring. Over 5 tons were collected!

That's Ann King-Musza with the clipboard....Good Work!

Evan and Noah Weinstein with one year's worth of batteries!

After the Rain Tour

After the Rain Tour

THE IMPACT OF RAIN & NEW STORMWATER SOLUTIONS

world-water

Watershed Van Tour
Sunday, October 4, 2009
2:00-4:30 pm

Meet at
Washington Lane Train Station
R-7 (in-bound side)

Join a guided tour of the Awbury/Cliveden Model Neighborhood and discover what happens after the rain: where does the rain go; is there any way to slow it down? The tour, led by Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF) and Fairmount Park staff, will visit some of the latest projects designed to control stormwater. See what has been done at Awbury Arboretum, Cliveden Park, Waterview Recreation Center, and learn about the newest block chosen to turn green with the Philadelphia Water Department's, "Green Cities, Clean Waters" initiative.

All welcome. Free. Due to limited van space, preregistration is strongly suggested. For registration and information call 215.685.9285.

Discover the opportunities offered by the Philadelphia Water Department and Fairmount Park to make your community a Model Neighborhood.
Visit www.phillywatersheds.org.
For information on Model Neighborhood events and opportunities in the local area, visit www.ttfwatershed.org

Green Cities,
Clean Waters

Wissahickon Environmental Center
Tree House
300 Northwestern Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
215.685.9285 www.fairmountpark.org