PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — This year’s Earth Day theme is “Invest in our Planet.”
And what better way to do that than planting seedlings in the ground? Residents in Point Breeze, Philadelphia did just that this weekend to celebrate Earth Day.
Weed whackers were busy cutting back tangled and overgrown foliage to make way for fresh fruits and vegetables that will grow at Glenwood Green Acres Community Garden at N. 18th Street and Glenwood Avenue. At the garden, residents like Louis Tillery, who has been growing vegetables there for friends and family for nearly three decades, have free spaces for growing fresh greens.
State Senator Sharif Street planted a blackberry and blueberry bush on his plot. He says these actions help “get rid of hot zones.”
“We’re allowing people to have food,” Street said. “Food that’s locally sourced. All of this reduces our carbon footprint and is good and healthy for people.”
“You’re addressing food insecurity, food as medicine, you’re reducing our health care costs … It’s great public policy, and it’s really a good time.”
Jenny Greenberg, executive director of the Neighborhood Gardens Trust, works to fend off developers who want to build community gardens like this one.
“Glenwood Green Acres is a success story,” she explained. “The garden is 40 years old. It’s been preserved since 1992, so all of the blood sweat and tears that goes into making this space as wonderful as it is is done with the knowledge that it will continue to serve the community for generations to come.”
Organizers say more than 80 people agreed to come out and help Glenwood Green Acres celebrate their 40 years, as well as Earth Day.