On the Road: Urban Agriculture in Philadelphia

Nice Roots Farm is bordered by a busy street and many buildings. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

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Henry Got Crops and Mort Brooks Memorial Farms are two sites that make up one of the largest farms (6½ acres) within Philadelphia. A partnership between Weavers Way Co-op, Saul High School, and Awbury Arboretum led to the development of this farm. Weavers Way Co-op, a for-profit community-owned grocery store model, employs staff to manage their two farms and supports the farm/farmers when economic inputs exceed outputs. Weavers Way also has a nonprofit arm called Food Moxie. Through Food Moxie the farm is used as a laboratory focused on food education. While not certified organic, the farm is managed using organic practices. Produce is marketed through a 200-member CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), one on-site market, and three Weavers Way grocery stores. Produce is also used in Saul's cafeteria and to teach teen cooking classes at Mort Brooks Memorial Farm's kitchen.

The Henry Got Crops site is on Henry Ave., across the street from Saul, on Philadelphia Parks and Recreation land. Students from Saul have hands-on opportunities to learn production and marketing strategies for vegetables, herbs, and cut flowers at the site. Nina Berryman, the farm manager from Weavers Way, showed us around.

Welcome sign to Henry Got Crops — This sign welcomes visitors and shows some of the partnerships at Henry Got Crops. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

As part of educational programming and community building, U-pick plots of various herbs and cut flowers are available for CSA members.

Plots of herbs and flowers planted for CSA members — Numerous plots of herbs and cut flowers are planted for CSA members. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

Three high tunnels are on the farm. The first high tunnel at Henry's Got Crops was built in partnership with Penn State Extension for growing a variety of crops year-round. A second high tunnel was also sponsored by Penn State Extension at the Mort Brooks Memorial Farm.

High tunnel with cherry tomatoes — In this tunnel, U-pick cherry tomatoes are being grown. Alyssum is used as a habitat plant to attract natural enemies. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

Many crops are grown on the site using high-intensity growing systems where each area is planted or used at least twice during the growing season. For example, soon early zucchini planted in the high tunnel below will be removed. Shade cloth will be placed over the tunnel and garlic will be placed in it for drying.

Early summer squash planted in a high tunnel. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

Compost used is made on-farm including manure from Saul's dairy barns and through a partnership with the Philadelphia Zoo. Excess compost is available for sale through the on-site market with the label Henry Got… Compost.

A volunteer turns compost windrows — Compost windrows being turned by a volunteer. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

Bags of compost for sale at the on-site market — Compost at the on-site market. Photo: Elsa Sánchez, Penn State

Environmental sustainability is a priority. To maintain and improve soil quality, low- and no-till systems are used. Weeds are managed in these systems by placing black tarps over planting areas a minimum of 2-3 weeks before planting.

Tarps used to manage weeds in planting areas — Tarps are used to manage weeds in planting areas. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

Screening is placed over crops to manage insects. Screening is installed over wire hoops placed side-by-side. For example, kale is covered to prevent access to cabbage loopers and other pests.

Insect screening covers rows of kale — Insect screening over three rows of kale. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

In addition to students, many volunteers keep the farm going. Nina mentioned the importance of farm managers. They are the familiar faces that offer consistent experiences to volunteers who often change season-to-season. A farm festival is held on the farm annually to bring students, employees, and volunteers together.

People hand-weeding a carrot field — A carrot field being hand-weeded by volunteers and two Weavers Way employees. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

Mort Brooks Memorial Farm is part of the Agricultural Village at Awbury Arboretum. The village includes community gardens, a pollinator garden, a dye garden, and small animals like chickens and turkeys, and goats through a partnership with the Philly Goat Project. It also houses market gardens and a permaculture orchard of herbs, flowers, and trees. Management of the market gardens and orchard is under the same leadership as Henry Got Crops and practices used are similar. Anna Herman, the director of Teen Leadership Corps (TLC) at Awbury Arboretum and Master Gardener Coordinator for Penn State Extension in Philadelphia, showed us around.

Welcome sign at Mort Brooks Memorial Farm — Mort Brooks Memorial Farm welcome sign. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

Polinator habitat garden sign — This pollinator habitat garden is maintained by Master Gardeners. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

Dye plants garden sign — Dye plants are grown and used by the Philadelphia Guild of Handweavers. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

The permaculture orchard — A view of the permaculture orchard. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

While we were there, members of the TLC were also there. They had just finished a class on aquaponics led by a member of the Pennsylvania Sustainability Growers Network. Using aquaponics as a model, students are immersed in STEM topics. They had also made lunch, with the assistance of a professional chef, using vegetables and eggs they had harvested from the village.

Teens, volunteers, and employees gather before lunch — Teens, volunteers, and employees from the TLC and Mort Brooks Memorial Farm and Penn State Extension employees gather before lunch at the site's indoor classroom and kitchen space. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

Nice Roots Farm at Share Food Program

Our last stop was to the Share Food Program, an anti-hunger advocacy, and prevention program. Through 6 programs it serves 500,000 to 700,000 people using food cupboards annually. They also take mobile food stands to senior centers and schools. The Share site is comprised of 5 acres. The main building for food storage and distribution is on 3 acres. The site also has a nonprofit farm and orchard called Nice Roots Farm. Between 15,000 and 22,000 pounds of fruit, vegetables, and herbs are harvested from the farm annually and used in Share's programs. Michelle Lawson, the Urban Agriculture Manager, showed us around the farm and orchard.

The farm is on reclaimed industrial space. Previously, a factory for making ball bearings was here. Topsoil and soil amendments were brought in to improve soil quality. Many vegetable crops are grown in raised beds filled with media suitable for farming.

Raised beds at the Nice Roots Farm — A view of some of the raised beds at the farm. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

Tomatoes growing in one of the two high tunnels on the site — Two high tunnels, built in partnership with Penn State Extension, are on the site. Tomatoes were growing in raised bed using a double stem training system. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State

The farm is also used as a demonstration and education space. Michelle said that while she focuses on growing crops that will sell and yield well in the location, she also focuses on growing a diversity of crops to appeal to diverse populations. She mentioned that her best conversations with people visiting the farm often center on a vegetable they remember from their childhood, while in another country, or from a specific cultural experience.

An orchard, including pears, sweet and tart cherries, apricots, apples, mulberries, hardy kiwi, and persimmons, among other types, was planted in partnership with the Philadelphia Orchard Project. Within the orchard are seating areas for hosting educational events.

Gathering space with benches under shade trees at Nice Roots Farm — A gathering space in the Nice Roots Farm orchard. Photo: Elsa Sánchez, Penn State

Volunteers are important to Share and Nice Roots Farms. Michelle said that, on average, 2,000 volunteers visit a month. The goal with volunteers is to design meaningful experiences while completing tasks that need to be accomplished on the farm.

Each site we visited was different depending on the neighborhood it was in, the organizations running it, and the partnerships developed. However, dedication to food and people linked all three.

Thank you to:

Nina Barryman, Henry Got Crops, 7095 Henry Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19128

Anna Herman, Mort Brooks Memorial Farm at Awbury Arboretum, 6336 Ardleigh St., Philadelphia, PA 19138

Michelle Lawson, Nice Roots Farm, 2901 W. Hunting Park Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19129

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