growlotsGreen Centers will improve local food access and increase green jobs.

Project Summary:

History and Research:Kensington was a center of the textile industry through the first half of the 20th century. Through deindustrialization the area has suffered mass unemployment rates, population loss, economic decline, and entire neighborhood blocks have been abandoned. Parts of Kensington are going through a period of renewal such as Fishtown, the southern part of the region, which has many new construction projects. Unfortunately, this causes property values to rise, which pushes residents of lower economic status out of their homes through a general gentrification process. At this time a majority of the Kensington region is inhabited by Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, African Americans, and a declining Irish population. The region continues to harbor many renovated factories, and small shops and businesses, which instill a sense of community throughout Kensington.

Research revealed that within Kensington’s five zip code areas, 19133, which spans from N. 7th to N. Front (west to east) and from W. Allegheny to W. Dauphin (north to south), had the lowest number of high school graduates. This had a direct correlation to the number of jobs held. Approximately, only 1/5th of the residents in the 19133 are employed.

19133 Statistics Total Population- 25,786 Education- 2112 without a High School Diploma Employment- White Collar: 4591 Blue Collar: 1260 Total: 5851 Average Household Income- $25,735

Deindustrialization has left Kensington without jobs and with an abundance of blighted or unused land, especially in the 19133 area. Each vacant lot is prime for development, yet, unfortunately many of them have remained unutilized for many years. Many of these plots show vital signs of potential for plant life. It is easy to imagine how the landscape could be transformed through the expanding and maintaining of green spaces throughout the area.

Interviews and Observations

Gardeners explained many of the troubles they face each day, including their concern with maintenance and upkeep. As well as the phenomenon of public vs. private community garden spaces.

A number of organizations explained the logistices of Philadelphia’s urban gardening/ farming movement, as well as how businesses utilize local foodsheds to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.

Kensington community members gave candid responses to how they would like to see their community improved and unified. Many were interested in urban gardens and increasing food access.

We examined Mayor Nutter’s plan for a green Philadelphia. Much of the city’s Greenworks Plan is dedicated to revitalizing vacant lots and increasing access to healthy food throughout the city.

Needs of Each Audience

Increase Urban Agriculture

More Community Gardens and Farms

Local Foods in Cornerstores

Vacant Lots Turned to Gardens

Publicizing Local Food Sources

Put Local Food in Reach for Residents

Expand Neighborhood Markets

More Effective Communication

Cataloguing Info for the Next Generation

Connecting Students from Agricultural Programs to Jobs of Interest

Build Community

Better Nutrition

Create a Place for the Youth

Increase the Amount of Food Nearby

Beautification of Neighborhoods

By mapping our interview responses we were able to identify the important overlapping needs of the community, gardeners, and the city. Reoccurring needs were development of vacant lots, jobs, beautification and improved communication between people and their local food. Each of these needs directly influenced our concept development.

Phil. Eat. Able is concerned with creating green jobs while increasing nutritious options through Green Centers. These self-sustaining centers would not only distribute starters and educate, but they would also provide under-served communities with produce security.

Gardens &Agri-Programs

CommunityMembers

Office of Sustainability

Jobs

BeautificationDevelop Vacant Lots

Communication

Studio Next: Phil.Eat. Able -Team Collaborators: Megan Braley, Victoria Perez, John MacDuffie Woodburn. Kim Forseythe - (MID) Jared DeLorenzo, Elissa Meyers, John Pender, Adam Rusiski, Wes Thomas- (ID) Angela Latini- (MM) Fall 2009 The University of the Arts

STUDIO NEXT Urban Farm

Farm/Garden Supervisor

Where is a Green Center Located?

THE PIAZZA

G.C.TEMPLE

PARK Each of our interviews was insightful, but our conversation with the Urban Nutrition Initiative was most influential. They are working on the concept of green resource centers that will act as garden nurseries with educational components. We were excited by this concept and wanted to expand what the centers could be, based on the needs of the city, gardeners, and community members. UNI was interested in our discussions of expanding the potential benefits offered by the Green Centers. We have developed scenarios of where green centers would be located, who they would serve, and how they would work.

For example, the corner of 5th and Cecil B. Moore St. is a perfect location for a Green Center. The half acre vacant lot is blocks away from Temple University, Norris Square Park, the Piazza, numerous restaurants, and elementary schools. The university would be a base of support. The park could prompt and distribute information about the Green Center throughout the community. The Piazza, elementary schools, and restaurants would all be places interested in receiving food from the Green Center, perhaps in exchange for their food waste which would be converted to compost at the center, reducing the waste stream to local landfills. Schools could also visit the centers for lessons on nutrition and the local food system.

CompostPlantsTools

Volunteer

sStart-u

p

Knowledge

Knowledge

Gardening Skills

Communication

Managing Assets

Recruiting Volunteers

What is in a Green Center?

The housing used for the office and storage space is constructed with shipping containers. These crates are retrofitted with windows, doors, and an insulating barrier. The Office is a place for meetings, accounting, and payroll management.

Food produced at the Green Center’s gardens would be sold to community members, CSA shares, farmer’s markets, local restaurants, and food stands. Compost is produced on-site behind the garden, and could be sold to urban gardens and farms.

High tunnels are unheated greenhouses. They provide a longer growing season for gardeners by preventing frost in winter. High tunnels are essential for keeping the Green Centers running all year long.

The greenhouse can be used for starts prior to the growing season. Vents on the roof are capable of efficiently achieving the optimal growing temperature at all times.

Green Centers will act as vehicles for job creation and improved community health.

The Green Center will be financially sustainable after its start-up year due to the money made from the Center’s food intensive gardens. The Green Center will also sell supplies and plants, however it will not function as only a retail outlet to the community. The Green Center will offer a number of services that help build and sustain community growth and education.

The Green Center will involve the community by organizing information about surrounding gardens and supporting communities that want to start a green space. The Center will be an information hub for sharing skills and agricultural knowledge.

The Green Center will increase green spaces throughout the city of Philadelphia by restoring vacant lots. The Center will increase access to affordable, healthy, local food in all neighborhoods.

Who Does the Green Center Serve?

The Green Center will focus on spreading agricultural education throughout the community. The Center will connect with surrounding schools, offering them healthy, local food and a place to send their students for mandatory community service.

How Does It Function?The Green Center will help achieve the City’s goals of increasing green jobs by connecting recent high school and college students to Green Center jobs and internships. Young professionals will train to become either the Farm/Garden Supervisor, Information Specialist, Garden Coordinator, or Retail Manager. Students will train in groups of four to learn how to work collaboratively.

Information Specialist

GardenCoordinator

RetailManager

Studio Next: Phil.Eat. Able -Team Collaborators: Megan Braley, Victoria Perez, John MacDuffie Woodburn. Kim Forseythe - (MID) Jared DeLorenzo, Elissa Meyers, John Pender, Adam Rusiski, Wes Thomas- (ID) Angela Latini- (MM) Fall 2009 The University of the Arts