Join PHS for happy hour in the Pop Up Garden(on Walnut Street between 19th and 20th) on Thursday, September 13 from 5 to 8 pm. Sip wine or beer and indulge in some light fare compliments of our Pop Up Garden sponsor, Chipotle Mexican Grill. Tickets are $40 until August 30 and $50 thereafter, with all proceeds going to PHS’s City Harvest program. City Harvest grows fresh produce through a network of community gardens and helps feed more than 1,000 families in need each week.
Not only does the Pop Up Garden raise awareness for City Harvest, it has also been profiled for its role creating healthy community spaces, inspiring successful philanthropic efforts, and offering a quiet respite from city life.
On Generocity.org, the role of the Pop Up Garden as a philanthropic effort with multiple, coordinated sponsors was profiled. PHS President Drew Becher was quoted as saying, “Philanthropic efforts of companies look for three things. You have to offer employee engagement, volunteer opportunities, and employee education. The Pop Up fulfills those requirements for at least three months, providing lectures on a variety of topics, as well a need for volunteers to staff the garden,” he added.
The concept of the Pop Up Garden is important because studies show reclaimed lots lead to healthy communities. In an article on Newsworks.org, Lari Robling posted that, “Health researchers have long suspected that ‘cleaning and greening’ overgrown, vacant lots does a neighborhood good, now they have gathered mounting—and solid evidence—that transforming nuisance properties pays off in health dividends.” this article profiled how PHS’s efforts in greening vacant lots is an ongoing effort at more than 8,000 properties.
On HiddenCityPhila.org, writer Nicole Juday profiled the pop up garden and said that, “PHS has created gorgeous deep beds of ornamental shrubs and colorful herbaceous plants are interspersed with food crops like rainbow chard and hot peppers…But unlike many demonstration food gardens, a visitor will not feel the invisible hands of the designer on their shoulders, exerting her to drop and genuflect in at the base of the open-pollinated okra or the heirloom variety Indian corn. In this garden, the plants themselves are a backdrop to the centerpiece, a series of wooden tables placed end to end, lined with mismatched, brightly painted chairs. On my visits, I saw people at the table checking their smart phones, playing chess, eating lunch, and reading.”
Space is limited at the happy hour—make your reservations now at www.pennhort.net/happyhour.
Posted on September 6, 2012 by Barb
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