University City District launches a new third Saturday summer series on June 18 with events that range from ice cream making to a farm-to-table trolley tour.
This summer, University City District (UCD), the neighborhood improvement and economic development organization, presents “Sustainable Saturdays: The West Philadelphia Local Food Series” featuring special tours, urban farming activities, how-to workshops, unique beer and food events, and many more opportunities to celebrate local and sustainable food practices in West Philadelphia.
Events will be held on the third Saturdays of June through September – June 18, July 16, August 20 and September 17 – and will include the following unique events, to only name a few:
- West Philadelphia Homebrewing Competition and Workshop
- Urban Beekeeping and West Philadelphia Honey Tasting
- Farm-to-Table Trolley Tour featuring MidAtlantic Restaurant
- Ice Cream Tour and Tasting
- Make Your Own Worm Composting Bin
- Creating an Urban Homestead
- Stoudt’s Brewery Sustainable Pig Roast at City Taphouse
- Mead and Soda Fermentation Workshop
From country farms to urban kitchen, Sustainable Saturdays is a celebration of sustainable eating and living that will take you on a journey from seed to plate to compost. Sustainable Saturdays kicks off on Saturday, June 18 with an entire day of “Grow it Yourself” activities:
10am-2pm | Clark Park Farmers’ Market (43rd Street and Baltimore Avenue)
The Clark Park Farmers’ Market, open every Saturday all year long from 10am-2pm, will have its usual dazzling array of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh bread and baked goods and local, nutritious food. The first Sustainable Saturday falls right in the middle of strawberry season and you’ll start seeing the first of the summer vegetables: peas, summer squash, carrots, baby beets, radishes and fresh greens. Also, expect to see some cameo appearances from special vendors that day to make your trip to the farmers’ market a delicious stop on your Sustainable Saturday tour.
noon-1pm | Foraging for Edible Plants at USciences Lower Mill Creek Garden
Follow expert foragers from Wild Foodies of Philly – a group of wild foods enthusiasts – on a tour of edible and medicinal plants within steps of Clark Park.
noon-1pm | Creating an Urban Homestead at Farm 51
Curious about creating and keeping an urban homestead? Learn about what you can and can’t do in your backyard as well as the basics of keeping vegetables and animals in the city.
noon-1pm | Irrigating with Stormwater at Walnut Hill Community Farm
Learn about how the Walnut Hill Community Farm is using stormwater and solar power to irrigate its crops, and how you can use similar methods to water your own garden.
Noon-2pm | West Philadelphia Gardens Day
Take a self-guided tour of several of the beautiful community gardens and urban farms in University City, as these hidden gems open their gates and welcome visitors. Tour the gardens at your own pace, or take part in the series of workshops that will have you producing (or foraging) your own food in no time.
1-2pm | Sustainable Landscaping at Chester Avenue Community Garden
Join us for a workshop on edible landscaping by Phil Forsyth of Forsyth Gardens and the Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP). The workshop will cover kitchen gardens, backyard orchards, and exciting edible ornamental plants for the urban landscape.
2-3:30pm | Ice Cream Tour & Tasting at Bartram’s Garden
Learn more about the history of ice cream making in Philadelphia and how breweries played a role in producing this sweet summer treat during Prohibition! Then hunt for fresh wild ingredients in the Garden and hand-crank a delicious treat, made with fresh milk and cream provided by a local dairy. $10/adult.
3-7pm | Philly Homegrown™ West Philadelphia Farm-to-Table Trolley Tour
Join us for this very special farm-to-table trolley tour through West Philadelphia sponsored by Philly Homegrown™. Hosted by Paul Steinke of The Reading Termina Market, the tour will make visits to Walnut Hill Community Farm, Milk & Honey, and Farm 51. There visitors will experience the eye-opening world of urban farming and beekeeping, taste fresh foods grown in the neighborhood, and hear directly from local farmers about what makes West Philadelphia so unique. The tour will end at the exceptional MidAtlantic Restaurant & Tap Room with chef Daniel Stern, who will serve a family-style dinner using local and regional ingredients. $45/person. Tickets available online at http://westphilafarmtotabletour.eventbrite.com
While Supplies Last | Capogiro Sustainable Saturdays Flavor!
Native Mountain Mint Gelato featuring Native Mountain Mint from Bartram’s Garden
Capogiro, 3925 Walnut Street
All events are free unless otherwise noted. For complete details on all Sustainable Saturdays events visit http://www.universitycity.org.
