As work continues behind the scenes to stabilize and improve the former Greensgrow Farms, we’re excited to share what’s ahead of this year for the site!
As neighbors know, NKCDC has been fundraising to address serious infrastructure challenges at the site since we took back daily stewardship of the site in 2022, including site security, environmental challenges, aging structures, degrading utilities, and more. These challenges require significant resources, capacity, and thoughtful stabilization planning to make the space safe and usable for long-term community health and enjoyment.
As we’ve shared over the years, our goal has been to keep the land active while repairs and improvements are identified, funded, and completed. We’re grateful to the many partners who have worked with us to keep the site active, both through activities and through funding opportunities that will stabilize it for long-term use.
Over the last two years, we’re made major progress with the support from elected officials including State Representative Hohenstein and State Senator Saval. Thanks to their partnership, we have Local Share Account (LSA) grants to build a new bathroom structure, fence, gate, retaining wall, and greenhouse. The first phase of these improvements will begin soon!
We know it’s been a long wait, and that neighbors are eager to see Greensgrow take on new life. NKCDC remains committed to co-creating the future alongside neighbors and partners while continuing to raise the resources needed to stabilize the site for safe, sustainable, long-term use.
In the meantime, we have continued working with residents and community partners to keep the space open and connected to neighbors, organizations, and the land itself. Over the past few years:
- Neighbors have adopted perimeter planters to help beautify the block
- Urban farming partners have utilized the greenhouse space, including Star Apple Nursery
- Now and Then Market hosted a vendor event featuring more than 60 local artists and food service providers
- We partnered with local growers for native plant sales
- Greensgrow has become a free compost drop-off site for neighbors
- Weekly volunteer days brought dedicated neighbors and more than 100 hours of stewardship to the site
NKCDC continues to focus on long-term stability so we can more deeply plan for the future of the space together. On March 25th, from 5:30PM-6:30PM, NKCDC is hosting a meeting at the former Greensgrow Farms with near neighbors to discuss upcoming site stabilization projects this year.
At the same time, we have exciting plans to keep the site active with partners you already know and love while welcoming new collaborators to activate the site this year.
This year, we’re excited to welcome back Star Apple Nursery, Bennett Compost, Fishtown Neighbors Association, and others who will activate the space through growing, composting, and yearly traditions like the annual Pumpkin Smash and the Christmas Tree Stand. We’re also excited to welcome LandHealth Institute, who will host their nursery in the greenhouse this season.
NKCDC’s Urban Agriculture Program will continue to grow food to support our nutrition education program and welcome volunteers to help plant, maintain, and harvest throughout the year. We also hope to host educational programs such as Urban Botany and Street Tree Care workshops!
As always, we welcome new ideas from neighbors, volunteers, and partners for events or space activation and folks should reach out to urbanag@nkcdc.org anytime with questions and thoughts. Interested in staying in touch and getting monthly updates from us about the former Greensgrow Farms and other happenings south of Lehigh Avenue?
- Sign up for our newsletter here: NKCDC Newsletter
- Want to stay up to date on Greensgrow Volunteer opportunities? Head here: NKCDC GreensGrow Volunteer and Update List
We look forward to gathering with neighbors at a community meeting on 3/25 from 5:30-6:30PM to share updates on planned construction and to discuss the continued stabilization of the site with near neighbors.