Mariposa Fundraising for Mill Creek Farm through September 2

Have you visited Mill Creek Farm?

Knowing how your food is grown and raised is an important part of being an informed consumer, but how often do you actually visit the farms that provide your food? Mill Creek Farm, located at 49 and Brown Street in West Philadelphia, is just a quick bike ride away. For the last 8 years MCF has hosted educational tours for volunteers, and neighbors highlighting sustainable growing practices, storm water management, and green building techniques. Look for upcoming volunteer days on our calendar and get in on the action, then find Mill Creek Farm on Facebook and share your experiences.

Can’t make it out to volunteer? Now through September 2,contribute to food justice work in West Philly by donating to Mill Creek Farm at the register. Your donations will support:

• Community and youth education on how food is grown and where it comes from.

• A market stand in the Mill Creek neighborhood where there would otherwise be no fresh food

• 100% chemical free and sustainable farming techniques

Find out more information by picking up a flier at the register or by visiting http://MillCreekUrbanFarm.org

where tax deductible donations are accepted.

Brought to you by Mariposa’s Food Justice and Anti-Racism working group, the Mariposa Board and the Mill Creek Farm community.

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https://www.mariposa.coop/events/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mill-Creek-Farm/98333010460

http://millcreekurbanfarm.org/

Wednesday, May 23rd: Understanding Food Systems and Food Justice

Join us for a workshop on Wednesday, May 23rd, 7- 8:30pm at Mariposa Food Co-op:

Milwaukee’s Growing Power Building Five Story Vertical Farm

From GROWING POWER in Milwaukee, WI:

Dear Friends,

Growing Power is undertaking something that has never been done before. We will build the first five-story vertical farm in the world. Our vertical farm will have south-facing greenhouse areas for the year-round production of plants, vegetables, and herbs. The building will provide educational classrooms, conference spaces, a demonstration kitchen, food processing and storage areas, freezers, and loading docks to further support our mission as a local and national resource for learning about urban sustainable food production. Administrative offices, volunteer spaces, and staff support areas will be closely connected to the greenhouse and educational areas to allow for active observation and participation. In essence, the vertical farm will be a hub of economic activity, community building, educational opportunities, and resource sharing for the Milwaukee community and the world.

Locally and globally, growing food naturally and sustainably has become a necessity more so than ever during these trying times. This is something we have to do in the future to be able to provide sustainable, high quality food to everyone in all situations. At Growing Power, we have proven that this model can be replicated. Ultimately, we are all responsible for making sure everyone has access to high quality food. A vertical farm will increase local food production and improve food access while creating thousands of jobs.

In Milwaukee, the Mayor and City Council support our vertical farm building and have passed the zoning requirements for Growing Power to build the five story vertical farm, which is located five blocks from the largest housing project in the city of Milwaukee. We invite you to join us. We’re in a capital campaign and asking for at least $25 or more to make our vertical farm a reality. Everyone can be a part of this solution. To show our appreciation, your name will be inscribed on a plaque that will be displayed at the vertical farm.

Learn More:

The Daily Pennsylvanian :: Youth bring local produce to West Philadelphia communities

The Daily Pennsylvanian :: Youth bring local produce to West Philadelphia communities.

Patrick Hulce | DP

 

The Youth Grower’s Market on Friday in West Philadelphia’s Malcolm X Park featured food grown by the community’s high-school students in their schools’ own farms. The market was organized in part by the Urban Nutrition Initiative, part of Penn’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships.

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This Friday, business-minded Philadelphia youth gathered at Malcolm X Park in West Philadelphia to bring healthy, local produce to their communities.

The Youth Grower’s Market was the last in the first season of these events organized by the Urban Nutrition Initiative — part of Penn’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships — which works with 75 high-school student interns to help them grow, cook and sell healthy food.

The market marked the first time different youth organizations from around the city ­— including Teens for Good and the Youth Urban Mobile Market — and UNI schools Sayre High School, Saul High School, Bartram High School and the School of the Future were brought together. The event saw about 15 high-school students selling produce they grew themselves.

The UNI works with students in Academically Based Community Service courses, as well as volunteers from Penn, to provide high-school students with mentoring and college preparation assistance. Students in the program also have the opportunity to travel to visit colleges and speak at food justice conferences.

The goal of the Youth Grower’s Market was to “bring healthy food to a neighborhood where it’s not otherwise readily available,” according to UNI Director Danny Gerber. “We found that youth farm stands have a great way of encouraging people to purchase produce, support the youth and engage in dialogue … it builds a sense of community around food,” he added.

Taj Jones, who is a manager of a YUMM bicycle-driven food cart, said that growing and selling produce at Youth Grower’s Markets has “helped [him] become a better public speaker, citizen and business leader.”

This summer, UNI also hosted a national conference at Penn that brought 150 youth leaders from over 20 states together to create a Youth Food Bill of Rights as part of their discussion of how youth can improve the food system, Tyler Holmberg, project director at Bartram’s Community Farm and Food Resource Center, said. “It was a forum for students to meet other youth doing this work … and work to increase access [to healthy food] in neighborhoods with high rates of diet-related diseases,” he said.

“This is a movement where young people are taking control of their food system,” Gerber added.

Mill Creek Farm on WHYY’s Radio Times, Sept 23rd

On Friday morning September 23rd, tune in to 10-11am EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) to Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane at WHYY (90.9 FM) to hear Jade Walker, Co-Director of the Mill Creek Urban Farm discuss food deserts and food justice.

The interview on Radio Times is following the Hunger Symposium that is being held by Philabundance on the 22nd. The other guests will likely be Mari Gallagher, a leading expert on food deserts, and Bill Clark, director of Philabundance.