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MORE GREEN, LESS CRIME: REHABILITATING VACANT LOTS IMPROVES URBAN SAFETY

logo by Stephanie McMillan

DEEP GREEN PHILLY new blog

DEEP GREEN JOBS for Philadelphia

OCCUPY PHILLY SOLUTIONS VIDEO

HOW TO GAIN SKILLS FOR A GREEN JOB by Mayor’s Office of Sustainability

HOW TO START A WORKER COOPERATIVE

PENNSYLVANIA MASTER NATURALIST TRAINING

GREEN JOBS SPIDER

RECICLAJE: UN TRABAJO VERDE QUE NO REQUIERE PAPELES
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GREEN POWER

POWER PHILADELPHIA STARTS JOBS CAMPAIGN “This model of organizing emphasizes the need to do ‘public business’ in public through large action meetings. Too many policy decisions that affect families and neighborhoods are not made “in the light of day” and are often too heavily influenced by narrowly self-interested groups and/or monied interests.  FBCO seeks to bring a broad-based and prophetic “people’s voice” to public decision-making and achieves this by gathering together large numbers of people to hold public officials, and themselves, accountable to make concrete policy changes.”

HOW TO TAKE POWER is new book by editor of this newsletter.  The title is blunt, but this is a manual for asserting and accepting power collectively, using it nonviolently to move society towards ecology and social justice. Beyond protest, to responsibly managing the better world that is happening.

HOW PHILLY WORKS: Councilmanic Prerogative, by Council of Seventy

PHILADELPHIA AREA COOPERATIVE ALLIANCE (PACA)  organizes to promote National Cooperative Development Act

NEW ZONING CODE SUSTAINABILITY ELEMENTS

OCCUPY’S NEXT FRONTIER: Taking over foreclosed homes
—FREE UNIVERSITY OF PHILADELPHIA: “new working group in formation to start a Free University of Philadelphia. Join the Google Group:  rswetman@gmail.com

OCCUPY VACANT LOTS of PHILADELPHIA “A group that initially met at Occupy Philly on October 25th to discuss a Direct Action around composting on Dilworth Plaza, has now morphed into a much larger group.”
—Facebook

GREEN TENANT TOOLKIT

JURIES MAY DECIDE VERDICTS WITHOUT REGARD TO EXISTING LAW.  All of our civil liberties have risen when juries defied unjust laws.  William Penn, for example, was aquitted in 1670 when charged with “preaching Quakerism,” by a jury which decided that religious liberty was more legitimate than the law.  The Fugitive Slave Act, requiring return of escaped slaves to slavemasters, was repeatedly overruled by juries.  Andrew Hamilton won freedom for a newspaper editor critical of the King’s governnor, by asking the jury to overrule existing law.  This is called “jury nullification,” and is permitted even though lawyers may not suggest it in court.
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MONEY AND BUSINESS

SHOP SOUTH PHILLY

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS report by SBN on low rate of business formation in Philly “explore the reasons behind the City’s low rate of small business formation and determine how the City can effectively support small business growth.”  Inquirer story

TORRENT COLLECTIVE is a group of multidisciplinary/action-minded/creative professionals that “possess an inner drive to make a change for the better in the world. We pool resources, developing & growing our networks, providing support & assistance in developing each other’s businesses, & engaging in ongoing collaborative projects. We will also be hosting classes, workshops, & events relating to a multitude of fields including: Art, Music, Psychology, Fitness, Martial Arts, Entrepreneurship, Holistic Health, Alternative Medicine, Technology, & More! In addition to live-in members.”  938 South 8th

HEALTH DEMOCRACY book describes grassroots self-financing health co-ops and how they promote Medicare for All.

THE GREAT AMERICAN MORTGAGE BOYCOTT: Hold the Money. Hold the Power.

GREENER FILM SHOOTING with Greater Philadelphia Film Office

A recent analysis by the Pew Research Center of census data found that the typical U.S. household headed by someone 65 years of age or older has a net worth that is 47 times greater than a household headed by someone under 35. This gap is more than double that of 2005.

AN OCCUPY JOBS PROGRAM by Kevin Zeese
• Raises $600 billion in annual revenues thereby achieving the deficit reduction goals in two years; shrinks the wealth divide by taxing wealth more and labor less; restores a progressive tax system; taxes speculation by investors; and taxes wealth held overseas.
• Cuts hundreds of billions in annual spending through reducing the bloated military budget and ending the wars, stopping corporate welfare and negotiating better pharmaceutical drug prices.
• Creates millions of jobs by solving the housing crisis; creates public sector jobs for much-needed work on infrastructure, transit, education and other areas; creates health care jobs as part of improving Medicare and expanding it to cover everyone in the United States; invests in the more efficient civilian economy rather than the expensive military economy; and stimulates the economy by erasing student loan debt.
• Saves and strengthens the safety net by restoring the amount of income covered by Social Security to 90% of all income as was always intended; ends poverty retirement by expanding Social Security; reduces spending on health care by expanding Medicare to cover everyone in the United States.
• Presents steps to creating a democratized economy, the already developing new economy that will replace the failed finance, corporate capitalism.

ALMANAC & ATLAS OF PHILADELPHIA 2012 is fact-filled calendar in colorful graphic format, by Kate Maskar.  From fracking to brewing to schooling to jailing, local realities are made clear.

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THE BASICS

TOUR OF VIADUCT GREEN photos by J.J. Tizou

PHILADELPHIA QUAKER TOURS “personalized permacultural, people-centric, photographable presentations, walkabouts, and events in the greater Philadelphia area.  Each presentation is different, whether we are guiding schoolchildren through the old alleyways of Southwark on the lookout for birdhouses and fire insurance plaques or we are discussing the abolitionist history of Lombard Street, we keep it real and stay in the present moment.”

FREE WEATHERIZATION WORKSHOPS  “Learn how to reduce drafts, tighten windows and doors and many other energy and money saving tips. To schedule a workshop: Colette Davis 215.609.1046

WEATHERIZATION CERTIFICATION  “As the energy efficiency industry rapidly matures, national certifications have increasingly become a requirement for participation in leading programs sponsored by utilities and government. Energy Coordinating Agency has partnered with Community College of Philadelphia to connect technical training and ultimately a college degree.”  Ashley James 215-609-1075

EDIBLE LANDSCAPING by Food System Design Group Facebook page

FOOD ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE (FORC) “organizes food growers, food workers, and food eaters in the Philadelphia region to reclaim control of our food system and build food sovereignty.”

PENNFUTURE ENDORSES  PA SOLAR JOBS BILL

POLLINATOR’S CORRIDOR graphic novel of ecological urban revival by Aaron Birk of Philadelphia

TWELVE CAR-FREE CITY ZONES (National Geographic)
—Philadelphia candidates: Walnut between 16th & 19th.
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EVENTS

1/14 GREEN ROOFS 101.  Fairmount Park Horticultural Center N. Horticultural and Montgomery Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19131.  Registration & refreshments 9am.  Workshop 9:30am.   $10.00.  Structural requirements, the building blocks of a green roof, examples of pre-fab systems, popular plant choices, and experts to contact in the area.

1/23 SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK ANNUAL MEETING

1/28  PRUNING WORKSHOP at Grumblethorpe,  5267 Germantown Ave. (at Queen Lane), by Philadelphia Orchard Project Director Phil Forsyth, 1-3pm.  Dress warmly.  A good portion of the class will be held outdoors.  Minimum donation of $10.00.  (limit 20 people, RSVP required).  Bring pruners if you have them.  RSVP Heather Zimmerman 215-837-6096

3/24-25  HOME GROWN INSTITUTE
* Free gifts - rain barrels or composters - for ALL registrants
* 50+ skills workshops and activities for adults
* Fun, Engaging and Educational Kids and Teen program
* Storytelling, Seed and Tool Exchanges
* Films, Silent Auction and Awards Reception
* Neighborhood “Community Kitchen” Incubator
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YOUR LETTERS

“It’s great to see all this important news you are spreading.  I’m looking to make a transition out of being a Realtor and into something that leverages my technical education in electronics and my masters in Management of technology.  I registered on your site today.  Any other good resources that you can think of?”  –Drew
—[REPLY] Highly recommend subscribing (free) to North American Clean Energy magazine.  Thousands of new electronic products are being developed and marketed for both solar and wind energy.
——

“Once I find a good community bank (like the one in Cuba, NY) or a good credit union, I’ll switch my checking account.  Having occupied Wall St., we now need to withdraw! Any suggestions?”  –John D
—[REPLY]  Philly has dozens of credit unions and several community banks. You can even start a credit union.  Check the National Credit Union Association.  I’ve recently written “Occupy Philly: A Green Agenda,” and “Labor: the New Gold Standard.”
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“We’ve never met but I’m an avid reader of your Green Jobs Philly News. I even found my internship on the jobs list and it has been an amazing experience!”  –Julia Dougherty
——

“I am currently working on helping individuals and families with moving from a debtor to a “secured party creditor” through the redemption process. Are you familiar with it. It basically empowers people to take charge of all and any of their commercial affairs by acting as the real “holder in due course” and not abdicating that right to corporate entities including those operating as governments. Currently i consult on an individual basis, hoping to teach classes in the near future. Part of my offerings involve teaching people how to negotiate with IRS and navigate the Internal Revenue Code. I would like to work with a “tax consultant” who is interested in helping me to offer those services to people. Can you recommend anyone, someone?
—As I mentioned, i admire your true community economic development approach and I look forward to the time where I can work with you on a more formal basis.”  –Nathaniel Bracey
—[REPLY]  It is important for anyone asserting that they are a “secured party creditor” to read the WikiPedia page.
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“Thanks for your brilliant work assisting the Philly community to transition to the Green Economy. I am writing to ask you to read the attached paper on localizing the creation and distribution of money and give me your comments.  My work is to get this cloud based, massively networked system of locally owned and operated credit clearing exchanges up and operating, hopefully before the wheels come off of the political money system. You could help me with this effort if you would be willing to endorse this approach and perhaps even lend your expertise to get it launched.”  –Frank Nuessle, Adjunct Faculty, Organizational Dynamics, University of Pennsylvania
—[REPLY] Your suggestions are clear and important.  We need to begin a national transition from dollars to HOUR-denominated money, to ensure that sufficient money is available in every neighborhood, backed by real goods and services, inflation-resistant, and controlled by Americans rather than multinationals.  I’ve written the book shown at right.
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“I wanted to reach out to you to tell you a little bit about my friend who is interested in moving to Philadelphia. She would bring with her tons of experience and would be a great benefit to Philly’s green scene.  I’m trying to point her in the right direction as to what companies she should be applying for and wanted to ask you for your advice and expertise.  She’s an amazing woman and has done a lot in Chattanooga and would like to bring her skills and knowledge more north.  Any advice or guidance would be very helpful.”  –L.H.
—[REPLY]  Your friend has fine experience that can translate here well.  I’d recommend she attend meetings of the Sustainable Business Network and read Grid magazine and read current and back issues of Green Jobs Philly News.  She can upload her resume.  Check Philadelphia Green Hospitality and my article “Prepare for the Best” which lays out a green agenda.
—Going to meetings and festivals is the best way to get hired, I believe.
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“I created a funny little cartoon to inspire people to stop using plastic shopping bags.  If you like it, and think it’s appropriate, please forward it or include it in the newsletter.  Thanks!”  –Noemi de la Puente
——

“I have been reading through your essays, and I must say I am impressed - just like I am with a few other solutions I have come across in the past 1-2 years.  Local currency certainly has a vote of confidence from me, but I would like to ask a lot of questions, if that is okay.?  This information regarding your work hasn’t traveled far enough, maybe I can help change that?”  –Derek Jones
—[REPLY]  Sure, questions and help are welcome, thanks!
——

“I subscribe to your newsletter and wanted to tell you that I find it well worth the time to read it.  Great job!”  — Gail Crane, Consultant to the Federation of Neighborhood Centers and Director, Philadelphia Office Blackstone Consulting

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Employing millions of us to protect Pennsylvania's green fields and build its green cities.

To get a green job, you need to know what green jobs are, and who offers them.  Then you need to meet the people who hire.  Applying online or by filling out a form puts you #10,000 in line.  Go to the front of the line by studying current and past issues of Green Jobs Philly News.

* ENROLL TO FIND A GREEN JOB

* ENROLL TO OFFER A GREEN JOB

DEEP GREEN JOBS FOR PHILADELPHIA: More than a Paycheck

A GOLD RUSH OF SUBSIDIES IN THE SEARCH FOR CLEAN ENERGY (NYT)

PHILLY IS #7 FOR GREEN POWER among US cities (20% green) and #35 among large corporate entities

PHILADELPHIA WOODWORKS member-owned woodshop with professional guidance, for beginners to experts, 4901 Umbria St

Factories to Incubators

GREEN BUSINESS EXCHANGE: Chicago converts one abandoned factory into LEED incubator for 100 green businesses.

FROM THE MIDDLE CLASS TO THE MUTUAL CLASS “Americans have the tools and money to create an America where all workers are employed, whose every square mile is beautiful; whose cities are safe playgrounds for children; whose food is fresh and affordable; whose waters are clean from sea to crystal sea.”

VETERANS GREEN JOBS 610-290-3990 audie@veteransgreenjobs.org
—GREEN STUDIES FOR VETS
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MONEY: THE ROOT OF ALL

650,000 AMERICANS SWITCHED TO CREDIT UNIONS in October.
—MOVE YOUR MONEY PHILLY “Don’t Give Money to Institutions Who Screw You.  Help us take away the big banks’ operating capital and put it in the hands of local non-profit credit unions.”
—BREAKING UP WITH YOUR MEGA-BANK

PUBLIC BANKING INSTITUTE PLANNING NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN PHILLY.  “Take a look at each end of the banking spectrum. On one end are the nation’s 6,900 small, locally owned, community banks.  These institutions control $1.4 trillion in assets. That’s 11% of all bank assets. They currently have $257 billion in loans to small businesses and farms on their books.
—”On the other end, four giant banks— JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank, and Wells Fargo— now command $5.4 trillion in assets, or 40% of the total. They are nearly four times as large as all local banks combined, but these banks have a mere $85 billion in small-business and farm loans current.”  —Yes! Magazine

TELL BANKS TO STOP FUNDING PAY DAY LENDERS “Right now, big banks like Bank of America borrow money from the Federal Reserve at less than 1% interest, lend it out to payday lenders at 3%, who turn around and lend it to our communities at 400% interest or more.”

CAMPAIGN FOR COOPERATION promotes the National Cooperative Development Act of 2011, introduced by Representative Chaka Fattah.  The bill would allocate federal funding to spur cooperative economic development in the communities where it is most needed, by providing loans to new and existing cooperatives, and by building local cooperative development centers.
—Says Fattah, “As we think about the economic challenges that the country faces, obviously, co-ops provide an opportunity for us to employ more people, to provide better services whether its food, housing, healthcare, recreation materials and equipment, insurance products, electricity, you name it, co-ops are providing it today and doing it at affordable rates with quality goods and services.  So we want to expand that and make sure that the federal government is a friend of the co-op movement and has a welcoming sign on the door.”
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OCCUPY PHILLY

“Confrontation of the criminal class responsible for the corporate coup of the US, is vital and long overdue. But there is also a need to take responsibility and design intelligent, local strategies, to prevent the same problems of scale  from repeating themselves. The notion of self sufficiency is key. We can only properly protest something, when we have reduced our dependency on it.” —Occupy Wall Street Permaculture

All Together Now

OCCUPY PHILLY: A GREEN AGENDA

THE “OFFICIAL” OCCUPY PHILLY SITE

OCCUPY PHILLY MEDIA

TIME FOR MILLENNNIALS TO TAKE CONTROL

ANARCHOVIEWS on OCCUPY PHILLY

HOW TO TAKE POWER

CHANGE BY US PHILLY is “a new tool that can help you make your ideas reality.”   Share ideas, join or create projects, build teams, and find resources to execute community projects that improve Philadelphia.”

SUSTAINABILITY NEXUS “accelerates our progression toward true sustainability by establishing… regional centers that coalesce the abundant but fragmented energy and talent already flowing into social and environmental sustainability goals in each region.”

TELL THE 1% WHAT YOU THINK A regional General Assembly is planned for mid-December.
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THE ORIGINAL GREEN

PHILLY GREEN WALL

PLANT ONE MILLION TREES is new project of PHS

VIADUCTGREENE plans to transform an old Reading RR viaduct into a gigantic walkers’ paradise, connecting and enriching this city as NYC has done with its High Line Park

NEIGHBORHOOD  FOODS is a new project of Urban Tree Connections

FOOD INSECURITY AND SPATIAL INEQUALITY IN PHILADELPHIA’S LOWER-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS: Analyzing the Role of Community Gardens.  By Center for Sustinable Communities Temple University

GARDEN JUSTICE LEGAL INTIATIVE provides free legal services for Philadelphia urban gardeners.  Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 2nd fl, 267-546-1300 (ex. 251)acahn@pilcop.org

CENTER FOR CULINARY ENTERPRISES RENOVATION KICKS OFF “Construction has recently begun on the Center for Culinary Enterprises (CCE) in West Philadelphia. When completed in July 2012, this project will be Philadelphia’s first and one of the nation’s most comprehensive commercial kitchen centers. The project is designed to be an engine for creating food-related jobs and businesses, and to provide resources to emerging food entrepreneurs.”

WINTER SUN FARMS provides fresh local greens all winter from its greenhouse.  Subscribe to weekly delivery

FRACKING CREATES JOBS (FOR CORRUPT POLITICIANS)

VERIZON SPIES ON YOUR WEB BROWSING:  Addresses of websites you visit when using our wireless service. These data strings (or URLs) may include search terms you have use, Location of your device, App and device feature usage.  Click to object.
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THE GREEN ARTS

THE TRUE PHILLY ART SCENE

CRED Magazine, a publication of the Village of Arts and Humanities, invites submissions from artists, poets, designers, art schools, journalism schools, writing workshops, galleries and performers.

THE SCULPTURE HOUSE shows what can be done to a Philadelphia rowhome with recycled materials provided by friends and neighbors.

PATCH ADAMS FREE CLINIC SEEKS LAND in low-income Philadelphia neighborhood.  When you switch to PA Wind and Solar for your electricity, the clinic gets $35:

PHILADELPHIA YOUTH ORCHESTRA’S TUNE UP PHILLY PROGRAM isnow PLAY ON, PHILLY! (POP). Seventeen musicians are teaching 110 children every weekday after school for three hours a day. “Each child selects a standard orchestral instrument and receive a group lesson, small ensemble experience, and large ensemble rehearsals every day. The program has a full symphony orchestra, string orchestra, and wind ensemble, while offering jazz, composition, choir, and percussion.”
—Based on Venezuela’s El Sistema, which has taught over 500,000 barrio children.  One of their students is now chief conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.  Stanford Thompson, Executive Director 215-531-4876
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EVENTS

11/14, 17, 28 & 12/1, 5 HOW WE FISH “a creative forum to tell your story and contribute to the design of this new city-wide mural project about what work means, honoring the rich history and exciting potential of Philadelphia’s workforce.”

11/15 BARTRAM’S ORCHARD PLANTING by Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP), 5400 Lindbergh Blvd, 1pm.  “Help out with our most ambitious planting yet! Up to 50 fruit and nut trees will go in the ground at Bartram’s Garden.” Total 120 planned.  A partnership between POP, Bartram’s, UNI, PHS, and Parks & Rec. RAINDATE: Wed, 11/16 @ 1pm.

11/17, 10am-2pm; 11/19, 9am-4pm. SAVE WYCK’S CHICKS WORK PARTY.  6026 Germantown Avenue Move chicken coop to higher ground.  Hot drinks, big pot of chili or soup, desserts.  “Check out our little farm, our historic rose garden, and take a tour of a 300-year-old Philadelphia house. BYO work gloves, and your enthusiasm for urban chickens.” RSVP emorrow@wyck.org

11/17 NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION 99% March from City Hall to Market Street bridge, which is “structurally deficient and in need of repair.  It is now a symbol of our leaders’ failure to pass a jobs bill or do anything to help the 99%, while the richest 1% keep getting richer.”  4pm.

11/18 & 19 SOCIAL VENTURES INSTITUTE

11/24 VEGAN THANKSGIVING “Meet others who choose a lifestyle based on compassion for all beings. Participate in a community ritual to express gratitude for human and nonhuman animals. Bring a potluck vegan dish to share (no animal products). Non-vegan friends and family are welcome to attend. 4-7pm, Chestnut Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church, 8700 Germantown Ave.  $5 donation requested RSVP required:  lisa@publiceyephilly.org, 215-620-2130

12/3 GROW STRONG: BENEFIT PARTY FOR MILL CREEK FARM, 7-10pm, Yard’s Brewery, 901 N. Delaware Ave.  “Brewery tours, djs, light food and desserts from local restaurants, cash-bar, raffle and silent auction.” Tickets $20 online or at door
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YOUR LETTERS

click to enlarge

“I’ve been working on a system for renovating Rowhouses for solar and conservation.  I need to talk with someone and I need to find funding.  My project is basically a large jobs program with benefits.”  –Bill 215-473-4564
——

“Just a note to say thank you for Green Jobs Philly NEWS.  Keep up the good work.”  —Betty Turner, President, Germantown Community Connection
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“Increased automobile congestion continues to be a major problem in the Philadelphia area, especially within the city limits.  Although many alternative commuting options exist, many people continue to drive alone to work, resulting in ever-increasing automobile congestion and pollution.  Clean Air Council would like to work with you to offer you and your employee’s alternative commuting options.
—”Clean Air Council is working with local businesses to promote sustainable commutes to work.  Shortage of bike racks in Philadelphia is growing as our bicycle ridership numbers climb every year.  More than 11,000 bicyclist commute to work every day and seventy percent of bicyclist say they would bike more if secure bicycle parking was available. Secure bicycle parking encourages not only employees but customers to feel safe commuting by bicycle.
—”Clean Air Council is working with businesses that recognize that the installation of bicycle parking racks, especially of innovative and aesthetic design, improves Philadelphia’s transportation infrastructure. As a business owner you can provide the much needed parking for the more than 300,000 Philadelphians who bike every month. Attracting the increasing number of people who choose bicycling as a transportation option is as easy as offering bicycling parking.  This encourages “green commuting” and separates your business from surrounding competitors. Installing a bicycle rack at your business enhances your relationship with the bicycling community by encouraging people to choose a transportation option that regards bicycles as a permanent and important part of Philadelphia’s transportation infrastructure.  Furthermore you can help create a symbol of our city’s livability that will continue to gain positive attention locally, regionally and nationally as a great bicycling city. ”  –Will Fraser wfraser@cleanair.org (215) 567-4004  x110.

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GOT NEWS?  paul5glover@yahoo.com 215 805-8330

Donations are tax-deductible when made to Community Health Collaborative (GJP),

431 W. Walnut Lane, Philadelphia PA 19144

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Green Jobs Philly News has been published for three years.  Hundreds of new local initiatives display Philadelphia’s creativity.  Regardless whether Philadelphia’s baseball and football teams win, Philadelphians are All-Stars when we push together for a greener city.  Go Phillies!  See ALL BACK ISSUES with links

VIEW 1,684 TALENTED LOCALS SEEKING WORK.  REGISTER TO JOIN THEM

REGISTER TO OFFER A GREEN JOB

EARTHQUAKE HURRICANE TORNADO FLOOD OF GREEN INFO

SOUTH PHILLY GREEN JOB READINESS PROGRAM “To help residents of South Philly move to the top of the line for newly created jobs in the green industries!”

PHILADELPHIANS ORGANIZED TO WITNESS EMPOWER AND REBUILD (POWER) is “pledged to connect 10,000 Philadelphians with living wage jobs by 2015.”  Representing 40 houses of worship and 25,000 individuals and clergy members.

GREEN JOBS PHILADELPHIA

GREEN JOBS: OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED
—DECARCERATE PA rallies “to call attention to the state’s focus on incarceration, while cutting resources from schools and important services we need in our communities.”

HALF OF PHILADELPHA COLLEGE GRADS 20-29 ARE UNEMPLOYED

RAISE THE VIBRATION about “is a gift of love to the city of Philadelphia. A celebration of all various cultures, groups, and individuals to synergize goals, aspirations, education, and social consciousness.  Our goal is to create a space in which community groups can offer support, resources, and information focused on the idea of social consciousness.”

PHILLY NETSQUARED “Remixing Philadelphia for Social Change” hosts monthly gatherings to share information about new web tech.  Join them to discuss, or join them via livestream

ENERGY JUSTICE NETWORK of Philadelphia supports “communities threatened by polluting energy and waste technologies.”
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CITIZEN PLANNERS

PEDESTRIAN PLAZA: The City of Philadelphia, the Office of Transportation & Utilities, and the Department of Commerce are accepting proposals to install Pedestrian Plazas on underutilized street segments.  These will feature benches, tables, chairs, bike parking and landscaping. krystal@southstreet.com

GREEN CITIES CURB CARS: Major european cities exclude automobiles from center city.  “Store owners in Zurich had worried that the [street] closings would mean a drop in business, but that fear has proved unfounded… because pedestrian traffic increased 30 to 40 percent where cars were banned.”
—Philadephia could, for example, prosper by excluding automobiles from Walnut Street, from 16th to 19th.

BEYOND BIKE LANES, PHILADELPHIA is “committed to using the critical mass as a nonviolent organizing tool in solidarity with labor, environmental, anti-war, and civil rights causes.  Biking is the fastest growing form of transportation in Philadelphia, and bikers as a group are some of the most active in our communities. We believe it’s time to organize as a constituency for a broad variety of causes.”
—WASH CYCLE LAUNDRY DELIVERS ON BICYCLE.

EYES ON THE STREET invites Philadelphians to write and network about local planning issues.

DEPARTMENT OF ALTERNATIVE AFFAIRS is more official than City Hall

100 USES FOR WOODEN PALLETS

PHILADELPHIA SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION CONGRESS The mission of the PSRC is to fund and implement community projects based on creating a more livable and comfortable existence for the peoples living in Philadelphia that are on the low end of the socio-economic ladder. This goal is a necessity because of the neglect that has been directed towards civilians of urban centers that live in poverty, and by equalizing neighborhoods, we can truly create an equal society.”

SEVEN INNOVATIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS

PHILLYECOCITY.COM “a virtual meeting place for  anyone interested in Sustainability.”

THE ABANDONED CITY explores Philadelphia’s vacant lots and what we can do with them.

PROPERTY RESEARCH FORM is available from Zoning Matters.  Download and email it to learn “whether the draft zoning code as sent to City Council in May 2011 could result in changes at a particular property” such as “Dimensional standards such as height, lot width, required open area, or setbacks.  Permitted uses.”
—DRAFT REGULATIONS OF THE ZONING CODE

SUSTAINABLE 19125 VIDEO

HOW TO MAKE A TOYNBEE TILE

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES CONSULTING
—GREENPLANNERS CONSULTING
—PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS (SWEP) is seeking nominations for our annual Touchstone Award, which is given to a woman… who has made active, special contributions to her chosen environmental field and… community activities.”
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GOOD EATS

CLOUD 9 ROOFTOP FARM being planned at SHARE

PHILLYLOCALGOURMET.COM offers “a growing collection of locally made, unique gift-giving options.”

YOUTH FOOD BILL OF RIGHTS drafted in Philadelphia

URBAN SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY  “urban sustainability with a focus on sustainable agriculture, horticulture and recycling.”

VERTICAL FARMS “Will City Hall green the building permits?”
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GOOD MONEY, AFTER BAD

FRESH CASH FOR PHILADELPHIA “There’s no budget problem. There’s an imagination problem.”

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND WARNS U.S. ABOUT ITS ‘FRAGILE’ ECONOMY

LABOR: THE NEW GOLD STANDARD

AIRBNB KEEPS TOURIST MONEY IN OUR CITY by allowing visitors to stay in private homes for far less cost (as little as $25/night) than at hotel chains. Philadelphia has 177 listings so far.

SOCIAL POWER AND THE COMING COPORATE REVOLUTION: Why Employees and Customers Will Be Calling the Shots, Forbes Magazine 9/26/11

PHILLY SOCIALISTS “We fight to extend and deepen democracy– to transform our political and economic system into one befitting basic human dignity.”

SAVE MONEY THIS WINTER.  Install a solar box heater

SAVE MONEY NEXT SUMMER: HAVE YOU NOTICED IT’S 10-20 DEGREES COOLER IN YOUR BASEMENT?  Make it habitable.
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EVENTS

PHILLYSPACEFINDER “Find a creative space for your next special event, rehearsal, performance, audition, meeting, etc… You can search by purpose, location, rate, size” etc.

10/5 GRID MAGAZINE LAUNCH PARTY, 1218 Arch Street, 5-7pm

10/6, 20, & 11/3, 26 CLASS WARFARE IN PHILADELPHIA

10/8  APPLE HARVEST FESTIVAL at WOODFORD ORCHARD 10am, NW of 33rd & Dauphin, East Fairmount Park.  “Join us for this fun community celebration of the fall harvest with ciderpressing, apple dessert contest, bean bag toss, and tours of the orchard and historic Woodford!  We’ll start the fun with mulching, weeding, and planting new trees and perennials!”  RAINDATE: Sunday, 10/9 @ 10am.

10/11 SOUTH PHILLY TEEN ORCHARD PLANTING, 2015 S. 8th St, 4:30pm “In partnership with youth from the United Communities Center, we’ll be planting new fruit trees, berry bushes, perennials, and groundcovers. RAINDATE: Tuesday, 10/18 @ 4:30pm

10/12  CREATIVE ECONOMY GATHERING by Young Involved Philly, 3700 Walnut.

10/15 PEACE FEST, Independence Mall, 6th & Market, noon-6pm.

10/17 ECA ENERGY CONFERENCE,  PECO’s Energy Hall 2301 Market St. 8:00am-4:30pm

10/21 GREEN YOUR SCHOOL WORKSHOP, Energy Hall, PECO, 23rd & Market St, 9am-1:30pm, free

10/21 CARROTMOB PHILADELPHIA· 4-7pm “West Phillie Produce, 16 S. 62nd St.  “West Phillie Produce wants to expand its reach through partnerships with other corner stores. The proceeds from the event will enable the storeowner to provide fruit salads and fresh produce to other local stores.”

10/22 SHARE ORCHARD PLANTING, 10am, 2901 Hunting Park Ave.  RAINDATE: Sunday, 10/23 @ 1pm
—10/22 ROXBOROUGH HS ORCHARD PLANTING, 10am, 6498 Ridge Ave.

10/23 PEOPLEHOOD PARADE AND FESTIVAL 1PM-5PM by Spiral Q Puppet Theater

11/5 EARTH’S KEEPERS ORCHARD PLANTING, 10am, 51st & Kingsessing Ave, RAINDATE: Sunday, 11/6 @ 1pm.

11/12 TEMPLE PC ORCHARD PLANTING, 10:30am, N. Franklin & W. Thompson, RAINDATE: Saturday, 11/19 @ 10:30am.
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YOUR LETTERS

“This is the greatest news about community around.  I am not sure how I got this newsletter but I like it!!  I am a Historical interpreter living in Philadelphia.  I portray six historical women, including BESSIE COLEMAN, MARY FIELDS, SOJOURNER TRUTH, HARRIET TUBMAN, PHYLLIS WHEATLEY, HATSHEPSUT. I am a retired science teacher.  I have always liked the environment, recycling, saving the earth, etc.  I have developed a character called “Mother Earth”.  So wherever there is a gathering and some type of positive entertainment is needed about the earth, I am available.”  —Dr. Daisy Nelson Century
——

“I’d like to get involved with moving philly greenward…but i’m not exactly sure how yet.  I’m aware that there is alot of work to be done, and looking for something practical/genuinely progressive to help along. As I’m out of school and not working too steadily, I have some time to devote to worthwhile initiatives. I’m open to volunteering/interning in some capacity (not even seeking a ‘green job’ necessarily)..like i said, just haven’t zeroed in on anything specific yet. I’m interested in local media/culture, transition, alternative economics/currencies, urban farming & grassroots organizing. I realize this is pretty broad, but any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated!”  –Julian H.
—[REPLY] Your whole generation is scrambling to fit into a system that’s failed their future, so your desire to help build new paths is just what’s needed.
—Best way to start I think is to review current and back issues of Green Jobs Philly News is to find groups with which you’d like to work.  There are hundreds of links from the past 3 years.  Find out when they meet, show up, ask for a broom, offer a tune.
—My own efforts are focused on the Patch Adams Free Clinic.  Right now this involves getting the word out, tabling in public places, hosting potlucks.
——

“I started subscribing to your email newsletter shortly after my daughter started attending Temple. Very impressive work you do. Thanks for that.”  –Kurt
——

“I have looked at your web page and I am very impressed by your achievements and advocacy for urban community development and empowerment, especially in Philadelphia. I grew up here in Philly and I want nothing more than to take what I have learned and bring it back to this city. I also noticed you taught at Temple in Urban Studies. I am looking at Graduate programs and would love to hear what you think about Temple’s curriculum and strengths in terms of graduate programs in urban studies.
—”The third reason I am writing is to ask if I would be able to meet you and discuss Philadelphia and the different roles you have played, what you think is most important currently for community development and what organizations you see as leaders in this cause. I would also love to be of help in anyway that I can in your efforts whether volunteering in the field or in an office, wherever there is need.
—”Thank you so much for being so inspirational and committed to Philadelphia. I hope to hear from you soon.”  –Allison Gibson
——

“The future is green—to choose not to green is to forfeit our own future. However, the harder question is, How do we get there? Ironically, the present global economic and global warming crises have actually come to our rescue. The combined effects of both the global economic and warming crises demand that we look for innovative ways of behaving and thinking that will solve or alleviate these problems while preserving ourselves, our families, our communities, our cities, our country and our planet.
—”Consequently, building a green economy here in Philadelphia that has the capacity to employ the majority of our unemployed and underemployed residents will be critical for our future thriving as a city. Green jobs are certainly important, but without green businesses, there can be no green jobs. Workforce development people in Philadelphia will tell you that training people for jobs in the absence of businesses that will hire them is less than a zero sum game. In fact, workforce development funding has been cut drastically at every level because of this reality.
—”A new workforce development mindset and model are required: training programs must lead trainees to join forces where appropriate and start new enterprises that will focus on the triple bottom line: making a profit, developing their people and conserving our planet. But it is even more important that people currently looking for work change their mindset as well.
—”We must all ask ourselves: What good consumer-friendly product or service do people need and want that I can see myself providing? The mind switch from seeking a job to creating a green business has the potential to single-handedly bring our entire nation back from the brink of economic ruin. To behave and think differently, or not to behave and think differently? That is the real question, the answer to which will decide the future we create for ourselves.”  –John Churchville, The Coalition

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GREEN JOBS PHILLY ON FACEBOOK

PHILLY PHULLY EMPLOYED: New Money, New Jobs, New City

Claudio and Dibruno Houses of Cheese copyright © 2011 Erin McGee Ferrell

FUTURE HISTORIES OF PHILADELPHIA
—FAST FORWARD VIDEO CONTEST

YOUTH TENNIS CAMPS via Arthur Ashe, 7 weeks, 4 locations in Philadelphia, scholarships available.

YOUTHADELPHIA GRANTS by Philadelphia Foundation to total $125,000 for vocational preparation and other needs.

PHILLY’S JOBLESS MEN:
—BEYOND PRISONS special issue of Yes! magazine : drug war is “the moral equivalent of Jim Crow.”  New book “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander
—MURAL ARTS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAM

RECYCLED ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCY (RAIR) is “working to connect art and sustainability. We provide artists with salvaged materials and comfortable workspace while increasing awareness about the waste stream.”  article in Next American City

HOW TO MAKE IT AS A MUSICIAN IN PHILLY
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FUTURE FUEL

ENERGYWORKS CONTRACTOR DIRECTORY by Delaware Valley Green Building Council lists energy-efficiency contractors and consultants.

PENNSYLVANIA INTERFAITH POWER AND LIGHT facilitates energy conservation among congregations and faith-based organizations.

Green Jobs Philly BOOK explains how Philadelphia’s low-income neighborhoods can employ themselves to build and install simple technologies that lower the costs of heating, cooling, eating and healing.

VETERANS GREEN JOBS at Bucks County Community College has partnered with Gamesa Wind USA to train and hire Veterans as Wind Technicians.  Gamesa seeks Veterans with technical Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) in electrical, mechanical, aviation maintenance, nuclear maintenance, communications, engineering,systems operation, explosive ordinance disposal, and other similar trades or a civilian equivalent/education.  audie@veteransgreenjobs.org

GENEROCITY.ORG features news stories about civic-minded individuals, nonprofits, large and small, and socially-responsible businesses addressing the critical issues in the five-county region. Organizations and companies can share information on events and volunteer opportunities, donate, run online fundraisers and organize online networks.

MID-ATLANTIC RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION “Many hands make solar work” 610 682-4300 bill.hennessy@themarea.org

SUSTAINABLE URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS (SUN)

PHILADELPHIA’S FIRST LEED ® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) PLATINUM ROW HOME is certified, in Fairmount
—FIRST SOLAR POWERED CHARTER SCHOOL IN U.S. in Arizona

SEPTA Gets Tough

TRANSIT VIEW gives you the approximate location of your ride. See a route map, the vehicles in service, and information about where the service is and where it’s going. Available for all 116 bus routes, three trackless trolley and eight trolley lines.

DELAWARE VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF RAIL PASSENGERS on Facebook

FUKUSHIMA: IT’S MUCH WORSE THAN YOU THINK. Time to close Three Mile Island and Limerick, while replacing fuel dependency with fuel efficiency. Most U.S. nukes are leaking radioactive tritium.  Nuclear power is not a green job.
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EAT YOUR GREEN

COMMON MARKET GET $1.1 MILLION GRANT TO PROMOTE LOCAL FOODS

MAP YOUR COMMUNITY people and prices

LIVING CITY BLOCKS

CHEAP COOKING FUN: Sonja Firehazard of Philadelphia explains how she spends $100/MONTH for food for herself and her son, and eats well.

CITY HALL PREPARES TO TRANSFER VACANT LOTS TO AGRICULTURE.  Council’s 5/12/11 resolution authorizes Council’s Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless to hold hearings “concerning the public benefits created by community gardening and urban agriculture, and the need for the City of Philadelphia to develop policies to promote and facilitate the use of vacant land for gardens and agriculture.”

HIGH TUNNEL ASSOCIATION (at left) provides greenhouses for Philadephia farms and gardens, to extend harvest year-round.

PHILLY SHARING BACKYARDS links people with unused yard space with those looking for a place to grow food.  ”Landowners post a pin on a Google map showing where they have unused space and aspiring gardeners can contact them directly.  Or, if the gardener doesn’t see any postings in their neighborhood, they can put a pin on the map where they live to indicate where they want space.”

CAMPAÑA PARA OBTENER LOTES BALDIOS en FILADELFIA

COBBLESTONE KRAUTERY local organic saurkraut made on Broad St.

SHOPPING MALL CONVERSION TO GREENHOUSE, YEAR-ROUND FARMERS’ MARKET, LOCAL FOOD EDUCATION CENTER in Cleveland

900,000 BEES MAKE WEST PHILLY HONEY “Enjoying a flight radius of 2 miles, each bee has a varied diet from flowering trees  in Clark Park to ornamental flower boxes in Queen Village.”

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EVENTS

6/23 SUN city-wide sustainability network. The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, PennFuture, Northern Liberties Neighbors Association, and the New Kensington CDC invite you to continue this conversation at a social hour at the New Kensington CDC’s Garden Center (Frankford and Berks) at 6:30pm. (Rain date 30th).

6/24 FOOD ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE (FORC) pushes for Community control of food and land. Kingsessing Recreation Center, 5100 Chester Ave.  6-8pm.  Accessible by 13 trolley or 52 bus.  Free food and refreshments.  RSVP phillyforc@gmail.com A project of the Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP)

by James Kennedy

6/25 BIKERS SUPPORT SICK DAYS LAW: demonstration at City Hall, noon.

6/25 WYCK FOOD SYMPOSIUM featuring African American food historian Michael Twitty; Kellogg Foundation/IATP Food and Society Policy Fellow and Huffington Post blogger, Rose Hayden-Smith; co-chair of the Slow Food USA Biodiversity Committee, Ben Watson; food historian William Woys Weaver; and Geechee Girl Rice Cafe chef, Valerie Erwin. Buffet lunch. Tickets include buffet lunch. for PUFN members are $40, a savings of $35.

6/29 & 30 PHS Green City Teachers Build-a-School-Garden Training, 8:30am-1pm, Science Leadership Academy, 22nd & Arch.
—How to design, build and maintain a school garden year ’round, Relevant classroom activities, Involving the community, Gardening and testing, Working with administrators.  Act 48 credits available. greencityteachers@pennhort.org Sally McCabe 215-988-8846.  Pre-registration required.  Fee $25.

7/4 VEGGIE PICNIC! Public Eye: Artists for Animals hosts board games for adults & children, frisbee, facepainting, coloring pages, crafts, lawn games, live music. ”Bring your own veggie picnic (no grilling), blankets, and instruments. Meet in front of Nonnie’s (sorbet & water ice shop), noon-12:15pm (or call to find picnic spot). Details at RSVP: Lisa Levinson lisa@publiceyephilly.org 215-620-2130

7/16 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 through September.

7/16 PHILADELPHIA ORCHARD PROJECT MUSIC FESTIVAL, 2pm-8pm, Liberty Lands Park, Northern Liberties.  Bands include Zillions/Blood Like Mine, Faux Slang, Coppertonic, Eric Carbonara/Jesse Sparhawk, and Pile of Girls.  Beer, food vendors, POP nursery plant sale, more!  RAINDATE: Sunday, 7/17 @ 2pm.

7/17 PHILLY STAKE SUMMER EDITION is a local foods dinner raising money for creative  community projects. Community members become grantors and creators.  “A stake in the Philadelphia community,  the arts and in creative thought, local organic food, in local economy.”  Bartram’s Garden, 54st & Lindbergh Blvd.,  5-8pm

CHEAP DATE PHILADELPHIA: STREET FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
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YOUR LETTERS

“I stumbled upon your greenjobsphilly site, and your Philadelphia Regional & Independent Stock Exchange (PRAISE)  proposal. I LOVE it! This is precisely the specific kind of plan I’ve been trying to gather others to brainstorm about regarding local communities across the states and how to start to turn things around on a grassroots level. Bravo!
—”Is there any progress regarding your PRAISE idea?  I’ve always wanted to launch local initiatives, many similar to what you outlined in PRAISE, which can be replicated throughout the country to create healthier communities on all levels. Your outline was one of the most well developed I’ve seen– awesome!
—”Gathering to discuss such initiatives is one of my primary goals at Wishadoo!, so I’m trying to find others interested in such alternatives. wishadoo.org —Dena Patrick
—[REPLY] PRAISE is a concept ready to happen, when enough people are ready to pioneer.  I’ve put you on the list, thanks!
——

“Rachel and I are really happy about the work that the mayor has done to open up bike lanes in the city, but we are also sick of bike lanes being an easy progressive score for an otherwise tory administration.
—”Mayor Nutter opposes the sick time bill that passed City Council last week, and plans on vetoing it. The bill would allow workers to earn up to five days of paid sick time after working at a job for ninety days, and up to seven days in larger businesses like Walmart. Employers with fewer than five workers on payroll would be exempt.
—”We think it’s time that bikers stop being such cheap dates!  We need to organize a Critical Mass demonstration to connect our need for complete streets with our need for complete jobs. The demonstration will have to target the mayor, city council, and even ally groups like the Bicycle Coalition to take a broader view of the public welfare.”  –James Kennedy and Rachel Playe and article.
—[REPLY] San Francisco’s paid sick days law has proven good for their economy

_______________________________________________

DONATIONS are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE when made to:

Community Health Collaborative, 431 W. Walnut Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19144

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Kelly Drive, photo by Glover

Published monthly to 7,717 Philadelphia residents.  Subscribe: paul5glover@yahoo.com

GREEN TRAINING INDEX is an online catalogue of all green job training programs serving the Southeastern Pennsylvania region.  It will be a great resource for potential students, business, and employees.  Currently, we have over 60 programs from various training providers that span from Community Based Organizations, Non-Profit, Apprenticeship, and even 4-year Universities.  Please contact Pratik@sbnphiladelphia.org if you have questions or would like to post your free profile.

ENERGY COORDINATING AGENCY and PCC GREEN TRAINING CATALOG Energy auditing, weatherization, insulating, lead safety, retrofit, customer service.  Each course 1-5 days.

GREEN JOBS TRAINING GROWING IN PHILADELPHIA AREA Business Journal

CALL TO SUPPORT PENNSYLVANIA SOLAR

GREEN LOCAL JOBS– PHILADELPHIA
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GENUINE PROGRESS

TRANSITION PHILADELPHIA is a movement of people making their communities more resilient in the face of peak oil, climate change and plain old economic hard times.

NEW SCHUYLKILL BANKS WEBSITE includes interactive map.  New composting toilet south of Walnut Street.

Route 15

SEPTA 2012 PROPOSED BUDGET shows biggest single items are $330 million for 120 new Silverliner cars, renovating City Hall station (Suburban) for $100 million.  Repaying bankers for loans: $53 million.  Wayne Junction $34 million federally-funded. Total capital funding through 2013: $8,647,441,000

LOCALLY-MADE RAIN BARRELS by ECA “Rain up to an inch can produce 600 gallons of water from a 1000 square foot roof. This water normally flows into storm sewers, creating combined sewer overflows (CSOs). These CSOs cause raw sewage and other pollutants to flow into our water ways. Rain barrels can capture and store water for uses like watering grass or plants or washing your porch.”  Save 55 gallons per rain event.  $45-$200 (prices vary depending on gallon capacity and design)

• Creates green jobs - barrrels made in Philadelphia contribute to our community and increase employment in the expanding green jobs sector.  Aarons@ecasavesenergy.org

STREETS THAT DRINK WATER: 19,654 acres of paved street here can be repaved with porous surfaces, preventing puddles and ice, and reduving basement flooding.  FIRST POROUS STREET is 800 S. Percy St.
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EATING THE CITY

STREETS THAT GROW FOOD in CARFREE PHILADELPHIA: saves money, gas, taxes, health.  metroeco@gmail.com

STREETS THAT GROW BICYCLES AND CLEAN AIR  Streetfilms show street designs that “strike a better balance by providing more space for walking, biking, and transit.”

TENNIS COURT THAT GROWS FOOD in Germantown

DEVELOPERS WHO EAT GARDENS: Garden of the Arts (Broad and South) threatened is moving forward quicky with an unwanted development scheme for this parcel, for another luxury condo with empty shops that ignores the Avenue of the Arts. FOTGA and the surrounding community is advocating strongly for a theatrical or artistic venue on Broad street with affordable housing above and a significant green space attached, with a heavy environmental ed component.”

CAMPAIGN TO TAKE BACK VACANT LAND “A City-Community partnership to transform blight into jobs, homes and parks.”  Inquirer story and video
—ADVERSE POSSESSION LAW can put pressure on absentee owners to step up or step out.  The time is 20 years in PA, but there’s law pending to reduce that.

PHILLYTREEMAP.ORG enables the public to collaboratively map and inventory Philadelphia’s urban forest.  Add and edit information to the current database of 175,000 trees

UC GREENS ORCHARD partnering with Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP) to plant EDIBLE STREET TREES:

Better uses for tires: planters, housing at Emerald St Urban Farm.

THE CITY THAT ENDED HUNGER

COMPOST COOP, a new community composting facility in the heart of Fishtown.   At Garden Center (Frankford and Berks) the.compost.coop@gmail.com
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GREENING SOCIETY

ADDRESSING CRITICAL ISSUES AMONG BLACK MALES IN PHILADELPHIA more than 50% of Philadelphia’s black males are unemployed.  by Father’s Day Rally Committee addresses !”  Rampant Joblessness and the need for Economic Development, Educational Depravation and Decline (48% dropout rate), Violence and the Impact of Gun Availability and Homicide (2400 Black Murders between 2000-2009), Ex-Offender Issues and the Disproportionate Impact on Black Males (approx 65% of all ex-offenders), The Erosion of the Black Family.

GREEN JOBS PHILLY BOOK shows paths out of poverty that rely on local talent more than formal capital.

FORECLOSURE PREVENTION GUIDE

THE JUNTO, REVIVED, based on Ben Franklin’s discussion group, talks sustainability.

WIKIDELPHIA BRINGS IT ALL HOME

ALL-WOMEN PAINTING is “Eco-Friendly, Woman-owned Business based in Philadelphia.  We use only No VOC paints and non-toxic materials.  Most paints emit toxic gas for months or even years after the paint has dried.”

PHILLY WATCHDOG: ANTI-CORRUPTIONS IPHONE APP Corruption diverts wealth from the free market to the feed trough.

PHILADELPHIA IS AMERICA’S MOST TOXIC CITY according to Forbes magazine.  They cite the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines toxic substances as “chemicals or compounds that may present an unreasonable threat to human health and the environment.” In terms of toxicity, the EPA’s goal is to “identify and reduce the risks from toxic substances,” collecting a plethora of toxicity-related data as it relates to land, water and air.  Local blog says it ain’t so.
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EVENTS

5/16  FARM FOR THE FUTURE : A PERMACULTURE FILM AND SKILLSHARE EVENT “Learn how Permaculture is working with nature to grow food while building soil, supporting habitats, and reducing oil dependence.  After the film, learn how to garden in the city the Permaculture way with a skillshare on sheet mulching and planting polycultures, guilds, and perennials.”  Potluck at 6:30pm, film at 7pm.  South Philadelphia Older Adult Center, 1430 E. Passyunk Ave.

5/18 NATURAL FABRIC DYES SKILLSHARE· “Natural dyes have been used throughout history and the first written record of natural dyeing is thought to date back to around 4,500 years ago in ancient China. Natural dyes were used exclusively right up until 1856. This skillshare will go through the step by step process of dying fabric using natural dyes. Where to collect and how to use various natural dyes, the equipment needed to dye fabrics at home and any other questions people may have about natural dyes.”  7-9pm, Wooden Shoe Books and Records, 704 South St.

5/19 WE ARE OUR WATER: HOW TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH, COMMUNITIES, AND POCKETBOOKS BY USING WATER WISELY “Not managing water wisely can have grave public health consequences, cause havoc in our homes, and affect the bottom line of businesses and consumers alike.  Join representatives from the Philadelphia Water Department, major builder owners and operators, and community groups to find out how Philadelphia is leading the way on water, and what you can do to help.”  Waterworks, 6-6:30pm. Reception, 6:30 Program.  Register: http://weareourwater.eventbrite.com

5/21 2000 TRENTON AVENUE ARTS FESTIVAL, 2000 block of Trenton Avenue (b/w Norris & Dauphin) and KINETIC KENSINGTON SCULPTURE DERBY

5/22 RAISE THE VIBRATION DAY 2011 will take place on Independence Mall lawn on May 22nd, 2011 starting at 2pm. “a gift of love to the city of Philadelphia. A celebration of all various cultures, groups, and individuals to synergize goals, aspirations, education, and social consciousness. We believe in the power of connections, that there is strength in unity, and that by coming together as one we can work towards becoming the change we wish to see in our world.  Live music, workshops, education.

5/23  LOCAL FOOD - SAFE FOOD:  BRINGING IT TO MARKET: “Many people support the idea of purchasing local, sustainably grown food, but the current system for distributing and regulating food production makes it difficult for local growers to get their products out to the public.  Safety regulations, in particular, are designed to protect the public from issues in large-scale industrial food production, and in many cases do not address the issues of local, sustainable food.” Program seeks “to increase availability of local food while still ensuring consumer safety.”

5/23-27  PHOTOVOLTAIC DESIGN AND INSTALLATION CLASSES.  Solar Thermal and Solar PV Design & Installation classes, $3700.  “You will perform 4 live installations.”  Ivan 215-464-6460

5/24 REVOLUTION RECOVERY TOUR: MAKING CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT WORK FOR YOUR COMPANY AND/OR MUNICIPALITY Tour and panel discussion at Revolution Recovery, “Philadelphia’s premier construction waste recyclers.”  Panel of developers, builders, contractors and municipalities5-7:30pm.  Revolution Recovery, 7333 Milnor St.

5/31 SPIRAL Q OPEN HOUSE OPEN HOUSE “Fresh paint, fresh faces, fresh spaces… Activists, artists, students, families.”  Puppet collection has doubled and so has  warehouse: “7,000 square feet of inspiration, art and activism.”  215.222.6979

6/5 HIGH POINT SUNDAY MARKET celebrates Local Crafts and Urban Farmers every Sunday, 10am - 4pm through October. Outside High Point Café at Allens Lane Train Station, R8 Chestnut Hill West.  Music Concerts first Sunday of month.

6/10 JOBS FOR PENNSYLVANIA’S GRADUATES FRIENDRAISER GALA  “Investing in Pennsylvania’s Youth for a Prosperous Future”  The African American Museum, 7th & Arch St.  6-10pm.  Open Buffet , Cocktails, & Dancing – Business/Semi-Formal Attire.  Tickets:  $65 (in advance) or $75 at door.  RSVP for Tickets at Apowell.jagpa@gmail.com or  Carlene Gregory 215-854-6359

6/13 PARK(ING) DAY 2011 organizing meeting, Center for Architecture, 1216 Arch St, 5:30pm Listserve

6/18 LOCAL CURRENCY BREAKFAST AT WHITE DOG CAFE. Paul Glover, founder of Ithaca Hours will discuss “local currencies throughout the U.S. and how local cash is both legal and smart, a safe bet against the ‘funny money’ now being printed by the Feds.”  Breakfast $15 at 10:30am.

MODE SHIFT: PHILADELPHIA’S TWO-WHEELED REVOLUTION report shows Philadelphia has, “per capita, twice as many bicycle commuters as any other big city in the US.”  Center City and South Philly have among highest rates in nation, thanks to bike lanes.

6/26  THE ENVIRONMENT RIDE: SUSQUEHANNA TO SCHUYLKILL RIVERS has been extremely well-received.  Individuals committed to enhancing Pennsylvania’s environment will demonstrate their commitment by riding 160 miles from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania to the Fairmount Waterworks in Philadelphia.  To date, more than $7,000 has already been raised in support of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s trail and greenway development work.  Start in Downingtown, end at the Fairmount Waterworks in Philadelphia– 50 miles.  Picnic lunch scheduled in Valley Forge National Historical Park.  Closing ceremony at Fairmount Waterworks.

7/23 URBAN FARM BIKE RIDE
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YOUR LETTERS

“I’m a fellow Philadelphian, living in Bella Vista, and I’m hoping I can participate in a local economy via a local currency.  Are there any in my neighborhood or nearby?”  –Christopher Yasiejko
—[REPLY] PANADELPHIA has been interested in promoting.  They’re in South St neighborhood.  Contact Natalie Felix
——–

“How can I donate $ to the cause? esp. since I’m not living in the area right now.” –Andrew Miller
—[REPLY]  Donations to Green Jobs Philly are tax-deductible when made to:  Community Health Collaborative, 431 W. Walnut Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19144 Donations also accepted via Paypal to this address paul5glover@yahoo.com Thanks!
——

RE: Vacant lots story in Philadelphia City Paper:
— “I have been counting vacant parcels and Blight for over 40 years, many years before I started selling Real Estate.  Let’s see: You have got the vacant parcels of my childhood in Strawberry Mansion, as a result of the so called Model Cities program. Some vacant Parcels are over 50 years old and no development has been planned.  When developments are planned, they are not implemented.  Vacant parcels and whole blocks are available.  Add to that bunch the L& I demolition over the past 40 years, throughout  urban  low income areas  where  “Model Cities “Condemnation, suppressed values  and Eminent Domain  has been declared.  Ongoing from 1950 - 1990’s . All and only the areas of the city  that could get a condemnation certification. (Check with City Planning)
—”Add the PHA vacancy scam , RDA, PHDC, City of Philadelphia (public property ) ,Vacant Properties Review Committee, Sheriff Sales, ongoing over many years, with many scam $$$ to move it along.
—”Then we  have “The Select Committee on Land Management and Reuse,” 1998.  Next comes Mayor John Street, former Councilman of the 5th District where the ‘Model Cities’ started . He introduced the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, $380 Million in the name of demolition. Had we not pushed back there’d be even more vacant parcels.
—”Surely with all of these efforts over all of these many years , someone was keeping count of what  being demolished to create the Vacant Parcels.  I was!  That is why I invite you to come take a tour and I will provide for you a full count of vacant parcels every where.  Please do not believe anyone who tells you that they do not know how many vacant parcels there are . They may not want to face the facts.
—”All of the folks(officials past & Present )  who claim to not know the count are disingenuous!   How about all of the ‘vacant land studies? I have copies.  Surely the PHS Land care program would have a count of what is being maintained. Along with the Managing Director’s office.
—”In order to deal with this issue and really get a true count ,racism, gentrification and other funky issues will have to be confronted.  With Philadelphia’s large African-American population, where are the African-American developers?  Or input from African-American professionals?  All that has to happen is for black folks to request to purchase vacant parcels, or to request a large parcel like 27th &  Master, where Marathon Grill Foundation is setting up  an agricultural enterprise.
—”Some smart person said charity starts at home, so I agree the City and all of the agencies should set a good example. Please, let us start  now to create a transparent disposition program, using fair and clear criteria.  Without the racist, back door, political conditions. Let’s start with PHA and City agencies that have been a blight to where I reside for over fifty years.  –Judith Robinson, Real Estate Professional /Broker

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DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE when made to Community Health Collaborative, 431 W. Walnut Lane, Philadelphia, PA. 19144. See also Paypal at top right.  Thanks!

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JOBS

Green Jobs lead the field

SEE PHILADELPHIA GREEN JOBS OFFERED

REGISTER TO GET HIRED

OFFER A JOB in PHILADELPHIA

HIRE EACH OTHER by starting new businesses.

Lower your costs of living by starting mutual aid organizations

BOOK REVIEW: TIME TO GET HIRED
This is the finest job-finding book I’ve read.  Yusuf Wilson, our neighbor in Delaware, covers all the bases with fewest and best words.  He explains how to network– that it’s who-you-know.  He then dedicates nearly half the book to green jobs,mm where most new jobs are emerging.
—He is also clear that the Great Recession has led to a jobless recovery.  So he teaches the reader how to hustle.  He prepares you to step to the front of the line.
–Even more than hustle is needed when Wall Street does not produce enough jobs, particularly for black men, seniors and discouraged workers.  We need to explore beyond the for-profit sector into the for-people sector.  Mutual aid programs and worker-owned co-ops directly reduce living costs, while employing all neighbors.  For this, check my book Green Jobs Philly.

PHILADELPHIA STARTUPDIGEST emails “the best startup events, job opportunities, and educational content.”

GREEN LIMBS new green blog

IT’S WHO YOU KNOW: A NATURAL AFFINITY “new Dating & Social networking site for folks in the Greater Delaware Valley who are interested in health & wellness, personal growth, sustainability, community, arts & culture.”
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MONEY

GREEN JOBS INNOVATION FUND by U.S. Department of Labor supports job training in green industry sectors. DOL will award $40 million to support five to eight grantees.  Eligible applicants include national and statewide organizations with local affiliates that have existing career training programs.

START A REGIONAL STOCK EXCHANGE Hawaii is considering enabling legislation for regional stock exchanges.

WACHOVIA BANK WAS PRIMARY MONEY-LAUNDERER FOR MEXICAN COCAINE CARTELS.  They paid $160 million fine for transfering $378 billion drug profit.  According to the Guardian of London Wachovia providing three services to 22 CDCs in Mexico: wire transfers, a “bulk cash service” and a “pouch deposit service”, to accept “deposit items drawn on US banks, eg cheques and traveller’s cheques.” Wachovia is now owned by Wells Fargo.

MOVE YOUR MONEY into locally-owned banks
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FOOD

UC GREEN AND PHILADELPHIA ORCHARD PROJECT (POP) TEAM UP TO PLANT EDIBLE STREET TREES IN WEST PHILLY.

COMMUNITY  SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE: FIND A FARM
—NEW CENTER CITY CSA

CAMPAIGN TO TAKE BACK VACANT LAND demands that City Council establish a Land Bank to clean vacant lots and transfer them to Community Land Trusts. 267 746-1373   Marcus Presley and Nashanta Robinson 267 233-8761

CITIZENS PLANNING INSTITUTE

UNITED SLUDGE-FREE ALLIANCE of Kutztown opposes spreading sewage sludge on farmland because it contains toxic heavy metals.

WALNUT HILL COMMUNITY FARM

PRIORITY FOODS COOP in Wister neighborhood opens Early Spring at 5245 Germantown Avenue

NEXT GREAT CITY VACANT LAND AGENDA

PHILADELPHIA URBAN FARM NETWORK moves from listserve toward organization: “We want to begin constructing a guide to navigating the city for land access. The creation of Marathon Farm has opened up an amazing dialogue with the Mayor, Councilman Clark and Public Property. We are hoping to meet with Mayor Nutter to discuss Land Access in the coming weeks and I hope to deliver good news at the Soil Kitchen and a start for a guide to land access.”
—Gathering at Soil Kitchen featured “discussion on ideas for creating more connections and collaboration between active urban farms/community gardens and support of less active or unsupported gardeners in the city (will be contacting FORC for more on this agenda item).”

HAZARD FOR REGIONAL AGRICULTURE: TEN MOST DANGEROUS NUCLEAR REACTORS include 3 near Philadelphia. Limerick (21 miles northwest of Philadelphia) and 8. Peach Bottom (17.9 miles south of Lancaster, PA)
—RADIOACTIVE IODINE IN PHILADELPHIA WATER AND RAINWATER (3300% above federal drinking water standard). BOTTLED WATER IS NOT A SOLUTION since most is tapwater that is less regulated than tap water.

THE ENERGY CO-OP
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EVENTS

4/19 TOUR of PECO GREEN ROOF

4/21 AGRICULTURE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Modern agriculture techniques have given us unprecedented amounts of food. However critics note the large amounts of water, energy, and chemicals required for these yields have uncertain impacts on long-term soil fertility and the health of both humans and the environment.  Some growers are working to address these issues by practicing cutting-edge techniques that incorporate ecological principles. Join us as local experts discuss organic and sustainable agriculture, the comprehensive technique known as permaculture, and growing trends in agriculture. Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 6pm.

4/21 CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

4/26 CHEMICAL FREE GARDENING with Mike McGrath, Valley Green Inn, 6:30pm, Mike McGrath is host of the weekly, nationally syndicated Public Radio show You Bet Your Garden, which airs every Saturday morning on WHYY-FM (90.9) in Philadelphia.

4/27  ROXBOROUGH HS ORCHARD PLANTING, 3pm, 6498 Ridge Ave “Help students from Roxborough High School in mulching and planting their new courtyard berry garden!”  Please RSVP

4/28 HARVESTING RAINWATER FROM URBAN STRUCTURES: EARTHSHIPS OFFER SOLUTIONS, Methodist Home For Children, 4300 Monument Rd.  7-9pm.  $10 if registering online, $15 at the door

4/28 GREENFIELD ORCHARD PLANTING 1:30pm, 23rd & Sansom “Help students of Greenfield with a small planting of asparagus and strawberries in their little edible forest garden.  Please RSVP

4/30 HAPPY HOLLOW ORCHARD PLANTING 10am, Happy Hollow Rec Center, 4800 Wayne Ave, RAINDATE: Sunday, 5/1 @ 1pm. Please RSVP

SEEDS FOR LEARNING ORCHARD PREP, 1pm, Awbury Park, E. Haines & Crittendon ”Lend a hand with the student farmers of the Seeds for Learning program at MLK High School. We’ll be spreading a mountain of mulch and compost in preparation for a new orchard.”  Please Please RSVP RAINDATE: Sunday, 5/1 @ 1pm.

5/2 GREENING YOUR OFFICE 101 , 2446 Coral St, noon-2pm.

5/3 SEEDS FOR LEARNING ORCHARD PLANTING 4pm, Awbury Park, E. Haines & Crittendon, “Help plant a new orchard with the student farmers of the Seeds for Learning program at MLK High School.”  Please RSVP RAINDATE: Thursday, 5/5 @ 4pm.

5/7 NATIONAL TRAIN DAY, 30th Street Station, 11am-4pm
The Great Migration: This keynote exhibition tells how railroads played a part as African Americans moved from the south in the early 20th century.  Equipment Tours: Acela Express, sleeping car bedroom.  Dining the Rail Way: live cooking demonstrations and sample.  High-speed Rail Display.  Memorabilia and Model Train Displays.  AmtraKids Depot: Magicians, crafts, games, and gifts for young passengers.

5/7-10 REFUGEE URBAN FARM PROJECT WORK DAYS.  Main Lot at 732 Emily St . But  also other vacant lots around the neighborhood.  Adam Forbes 609-577-1471 forbesfarmer@yahoo.com

5/15 WALNUT HILL ORCHARD PLANTING 1pm, 4610 Market St.  “Join in with a new orchard planting at Walnut Hill Community Farm, an exciting collaboration between Philly Rooted, the Enterprise Center, UC Green, and POP!”  Please RSVP RAINDATE: Sunday, 4/22 @ 1pm.

5/22 RAISE THE VIBRATION FESTIVAL. “Non-profits, groups, small businesses, artists and musicians who work to make Philadelphia a better place will come together to provide a day of celebration, education, and unity on the common ground of social consciousness & positivity. We invite your participation.”  Independence Mall Lawn
—”Over the last few years there has been an enormous build up momentum in organizations, groups, communities, and projects that have emerged, ranging from Humanity, Sustainability, Education, Spirituality, Consciousness, Art Communities, Musicians, and social activist efforts. Our vision is providing an open free environment for you, whether you are a group (or representing one), project or solo individual to expose yourselves to the wide open public and build relations with other existing groups that share the same spirit. This is a mutual environment where we invite groups / projects (big or small), relevant Local businesses, as well as Individual entrepreneurs/practitioners to mutually collaborate before the event or show up on the day of.”
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YOUR LETTERS

“I read the latest Green Jobs Philly News, it was full of information. I even registered for the Brownfields Conference next month. THANK YOU!! I am reaching out to you for possible assistance or lead on planning an impromptu event to host a discussion on Fair Trade and the Chocolate Industry at my place of employment. Brief background: While working in Financial Aid, I established an environmental club, titled Go Green at Mercer County Community College in 2009 and currently serve as the advisor for the club.
—”I’m in the middle of planning some events with the members for Earth Month and week; and one event I would like to present is showing the film: The Dark Side of Chocolate with a panel discussion afterwards.
—”Do you happen to know of anyone who can be a panelist or are you interested?  The tentative date is, Thursday April 21 at 6pm. Secondly, I wouldn’t mind even hosting a speaker for other environmental topics during the week.  Any advice is appreciated also.”  –Bilquis Zaka
—[REPLY]  Within our region there is a small army of fair trade chocolatiers, many of whom would be glad to be on a panel.  Here’s a sampler: phillyfairtrade.com.  See also Ten Thousand Villages.  Media PA is officially a fair trade town.  Fair Trade Resource Network, Philadelphia Mugshots coffee uses fair trade chocolate as does Betty’s Speakeasy and  Vegan LoveBars and B.T. Bakery in Lansdowne
——

“I thought this link on thermal solar power might be of interest, and perhaps you would like to include it in your next Philly Green News.”  –Caryl Johnston
——

“I am putting together a Sub-Urban Homestead Sampler program and I am looking to connect with people who are knowledgeable or involved in the following activities on a small scale (home-scale) basis. The ideal connections are people who are actually doing these things at home in an urban or suburban setting in the Philly metro area, such as aquaculture (fish and greens system), mushroom growing, residential water/rain catchment, residential solar systems, residential green roof/garden roof, earth oven, medicinal herbs.”  –Sarah Gabriel
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“I work for a recycling company in Philadelphia that focuses on construction and demolition waste.  I am interested in hiring an intern in the near future once I solidify the right timing for us.  I was hoping you would send me some more information pertaining to your internship program and how I can list a position when the time is right.”  –Keyur Shah, LEED AP 215 333 6505.
–[REPLY]  Thanks for your offer.  At this time our greater needs are for website design, CAD design,
——

“I got sheriff sale notices today after I spoke with you. I dont know why im trying and they have to ruin my day. I got sidtracked from looking for a job. Now I really got to get a job. Thanx for putting my resume on your site. I think i will try and go to the functions you mentioned and if you know anybody else that will hire me.  –LMK thanks BRuce
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“We spoke a few months ago about the clinic in Philadelphia. I am sending you a few photos of a tiny home on wheels that I made and of which I am looking for a place to call “home” for this tiny unit  in the vicinity of Philadelphia. (Check out Dee Williams tiny home or Jay Schafer’s tumbleweed homes).  I designed and built the tiny home for many reasons, one being a belief in living simpler.  So I thought you might be a good community contact for me to get the word out.
—I am wanting to be within 20-30 minutes from south jersey/ Phila. area, in a private area (i.e. out of public view, in someone’s yard that has some land and high fencing for privacy and where I can garden with grey water collection from the hut). I am happy to pay a small rent  to park it and access to electrical hook up.  If you know of anyone who may be interested, please do let me know. I am a Buddhist nun, a  grandmom. I spend a lot of time in retreat and study.  I am also a retired psychologist and obviously I am involved in alternative living situations.”  –Lisa equityedu@aol.com
—[REPLY]  I’d recommend making a poster and putting it up at Weaver’s Way co-op, in Mt Airy and in Chestnut Hill.  Specify whether you’d be willing to help do yard work, housesit, babysit, etc.
—The clinic was ready to announce 8 months ago but I’ve waited until our public website is ready. Help welcome.
——

“I just happened to read the interview with you on Reality Sandwich.  I went to Wharton at UPenn– had some truly wonderful years around West Philly–  and I’m stoked to hear about all the fresh ideas you are putting into play there.  Definitely wishing you continued success.”  –James

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MONEY

PUBLIC BANKING, STARTED BY PHILADELPHIA QUAKERS, is now the PUBLIC BANKING INSTITUTE expanding the North Dakota model.  Such banks exist for community benefit rather than investor benefit.

PHILADELPHIA LOCAL ECONOMIC TRADING SYSTEM (LETS)

PHOENIXVILLE TIME BANK

WIKIDELPHIA being organized by Stan Pokras and, maybe, you.

GREEN SPACE PHILLY is workspace where entrepreneurs can have a full-time desk, part-time desk, meeting or event space. Seeking sustainable businesses and social entrepreneurs for this co-working community. info@greenspacephilly.com

BOOK REVIEW: “ONLY THE SUPER-RICH CAN SAVE US!”  novel by Ralph Nader
—Some of America’s fattest cats woke one day realizing that their greed was strangling their nation, this planet, their grandchildren.  Owning everything, they wanted something stores don’t sell: a good future.  Therefore they began to shift their wealth from Wall Street to Main Street, via community-based businesses: local food, renewable energy, health co-ops, etc.  Nader’s billionaires, movie stars and celebrities take aim at Wal-Mart, to set an example of constructive revolt.
—Their main policy weapon is legislation that shifts corporate rights to average citizens, while curbing multinations’ power.  This is Nader’s key narrative, too: rich people move congressmembers like chess pieces.  Within these 500 pages there’s no romance, car chases or explosions, so this very important novel is likeliest to be read by investors and legislators.
—But Nader gets the ball rolling.  My own novel-in-progress, begun 11 years ago, is astonishingly parallel– good super-rich challenge bad super-rich.  Yet its heroes feature the sexier grassroots folks who take that ball and run.

PHILADELPHIA2035 PLAN DRAFT by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC) for public review and comment. Printed copies at local branch libraries.  Comments to phila2035@phila.gov

HOW PHILADELPHIA MOVES celebrates our love of dance.
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FOOD

GREEN JOBS TRAINING PROGRAM for Philadelphia youth ages 20-24 who are unemployed or underemployed and qualify as “low income” according to WIA regulations. They may be high school graduates or dropouts and may have had some college but may not be college graduates.  Focused on local and sustainable food systems and food preparation. Trainees gain the skills for “entry-level jobs in restaurant and other commercial kitchens. They will also obtain special knowledge of organic growing methods, urban and small-scale farms.”  March 21-May 5.  Sign up for an information session: Natalie Lucas 1-888-977-KIDS (5437).

GREENER PARTNERS offers The LOST ARTS SERIES: Workshops “to educate and inspire communities in the greater Philadelphia area to lead more self sufficient and sustainable lifestyles” including “cooking, cultivating, preserving and self-care.”  Wed. evenings and Saturday mornings.  Register: Amy Johnson, 260 Spring Road, Malvern, PA 19355  610.316.5671

PHILLY HOMEGROWN is a project of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation intending to “inspire consumers to shop from within the 100-mile foodshed, broaden the market for local food, amplify the work of the local food movement of Greater Philadelphia.”  According to the Hunger Coalition, nearly 1/3 Philadelphians go hungry, while 40,000 vacant lots sit empty.

LOCAL FOOD PRACTICES AND GROWING POTENTIAL: MAPPING THE CASE OF PHILADELPHIA
Peleg Kremer and, Tracy L. DeLiberty combine remote sensing and GIS techniques to estimate land potential for urban food production. “The results of the NDVI analysis for the whole city suggest that 46% of the city’s 91,237 acres are bare or vegetated (including bare soil, low vegetation, shrubs and trees), while the built area covers 52% of the city.”  Includes 7,618 acres of treeless yards.

WALNUT HILL FARM ACCEPTING FOOD SHARE MEMBERS  Fresh food grown near 46th St station  of Market-Frankford El, for the March 2011 to February 2012 growing season.  “Selected applicants will spend about 15 hours per week cultivating crops, attending farmers markets, and attending to other co-op business.”  Erica Smith, 4725 Osage Ave.

LEGALIZE CHICKENS IN PHILADELPHIA

GO-GREEN INITIATIVE JEANS DONATION FOR HAITI recycles your jeans, primarily to Haitians.
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MINI-EDITORIAL by Paul Glover

ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS THE ALTERNATIVE TO NUCLEAR POWER
—There’s no fuel like less fuel. Any job done with less fuel liberates fuel for other jobs and other generations. More clean fuel can be extracted from fuel efficiency than any source. Modernization of the nation’s industrial motors would replace energy produced by 70 large nukes, and switching to energy-efficient illumination would save the energy of 40 nukes, while new efficient household appliances will put 22 nukes to rest.  New and retrofit superinsulated housing are estimated able to reduce residential heating needs over 75 percent. Every step in the direction of efficiency strengthens our future.
—Efficiency is the next shift of national gears. The continent’s once-limitless open spaces and cheap resources made growth a headlong race for wider highways and taller buildings. But this style of ‘progress” has led us to decayed cities, hot Greenhouse summers, drug escape and crime, dying forests, carcinogenic water, toxic garbage, the invasion of foreign-controlled capital.
—Consuming lots of oil and metal was long seen as essential to making big profits, but the opposite is now true.
—Philadelphia’s efficiency champion and pioneer is Energy Coordinating Agency
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WHY I LOVE PHILLY

GREEN JOBS PHILLY INTERNSHIPS
There’s a lot of work to do, to help move Philadelphia greenward.  We’re networking and news reporting– finding the neighbors, skills, tools, teachers, raw materials, buildings, land and credits that are the basis for green jobs, green businesses, green industries, green organizations and green finance.
These resources are published to enable Philadelphians easily to find green jobs, green grants and green loans.  We meet people at festivals, parks, events, garage sales, churches.  We search the web, flyers, kiosks.
We’re even starting new organizations that reduce the costs of living, create energy efficiencies, energy alternatives, urban agriculture, and make this city great again.
Green Jobs Philly assumes several things:
1) Philadelphia is full of beautiful children who deserve a city as beautiful as they.
2) Poverty is a lack of networks more than a lack of dollars.
3) Fuel costs and shortages will change this city entirely.
3) Powerful solutions to city problems begin within neighborhoods.
As a self-starting intern you’ll learn about grassroots organizing and community economics, urban environmentalism, and online media.  While this internship is unpaid, we’ll provide certificates according to your skill development. paul5glover@yahoo.com

PHILADELPHIA EARTHSHIP BIOTECTURE

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EVENTS

3/15 GREEN– THE NEW BLACK:  A Conversation on Social Activism and Environmental Justice.” Featuring Van Jones, President Obama’s former Green Jobs leader, environmentalist and co-founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights; Color of Change and Green For All and John Francis, Ph.D., environmental activist and author of “Planetwalker: 22 Years of Walking. 17 Years of Silence.”  $20-$75

3/15 FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE HEALTH CARE: From Global to Local.  Thomas Jefferson University Hospital- Jefferson Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust St.  5-7:15pm.  Register

3/19 ARE YOU READY TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR? Community College of Philadelphia, Winnet Student Building, The Coffee House 17th Street between Spring Garden & Callowhill, 8:30am-noon

3/19  FREE SEED AND PLANT EXCHANGES  by Philadelphia Seed Exchange.  Bring seeds/plants to swap or come with empty hands.We have heirloom seeds to distribute. Weavers Way Coop, 2-5pm, 559 Carpenter Lane.
—Earth Cup Cafe, Sunday, April 3, 2-5 pm 405 S. 45th St. (45th and Pine)
—Essene Food Market, Saturday, April 9, 10a-12:30pm, 719 S. Fourth St

3/23 GREEN JOBS TRAINING and EDUCATION FAIR FOR WOMEN, Community College of Philadelphia’s Center for Business and Industry, 1751 Callowhill St, 8:30am-noon.

3/24 Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods (SUN) organizational meeting.  6:30pm, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 100 North 20th St.  Survey to “help us design the initiative around your needs”

3/27 PRIORITY FOOD CO-OP 5245 Germantown Ave “Community Creates Solution to Food Desert.” Every last Sunday of month.

3/29 VAN JONES: THE GREEN COLLAR ECONOMY, Temple Performing Arts Ctr, 7pm, 1837 Broad St.  Free.

4/1-6 SOIL KITCHEN is a wind-powered event that trades free soup for your backyard soil samples.  Second St and Girard, 11am-6pm.  Bring a scoop to get some soup.  Coincides with:

4/3-5 NATIONAL BROWNFIELDS CONFERENCE at Convention Center, which features an Equitable Development during pre-conference.

4/28 LA FERIA DE EMPLEOS Philadelphia Convention Center anam@aldia.com

5/1  INTERFAITH GREEN FAIR Germantown Friends Meeting, 47 Coulter St.  “Learn how to green your home, communities, and world.  Visit vendor booths w/ products, services & programs.  Participate in an array of workshops. Make the connection between values & environment.”

5/7 LAWN MOWER TRADE-IN EVENT gives “significant discounts on electric mowers for first 250 registrants.” who trade in gasoline-powered lawn mowers.  Springfield Township High School parking lot, 1801 East Paper Mill Road , Erdenheim.  Pre-register

5/7 INTRODUCTION TO EDIBLE FOREST GARDENS, workshop  “Edible forest gardens produce delicious food while imitating natural forest ecosystems. Trees, shrubs, herbs, vines, groundcovers and fungi can combine to form healthy edible ecosystems. Design and plant selection help provide fertility, control of weeds and pests, and more.”  9am-5pm.  West Chester.   SUNDAY5/8 ADVANCED EDIBLE FOREST GARDENS

5/28  PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE: 8 Saturdays and 3 Sundays from May-December, 8:30am-5:30pm, Bartram’s Gardens.  By Philadelphia Orchard Project & Susquehanna  Permaculture.  Upon completion students will be certified as permaculture designers. Hands-on workshops, field trips.  Phil Forsythe, Benjamin Weiss, and Brandon Tennis.  Cost: $1000 or $900 if paid in full before April 1st, 2011.  Register
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YOUR LETTERS

“I very very much appreciate getting the GreenJobsPhilly e-newsletter.  There are always many links I follow and inspirations to build on.
—”I am a writer, educator, gardener, cook, beekeeper, chicken owner…..who is hoping to collaborate on an market garden education center somewhere not too far from my Mt. Airy home.  I imagine growing an wide array of crops in an array of urban agriculture methods - to sell, to cook, to add other sorts of value to and as part of a demonstration and teaching locale.  Workshops and publications would be an  income source, as would sales from honey and other products of several beehives.”  –Anna Herman
——

“Thanks,  I’ve registered two late adolescent kids w/ their job search.”  –Risa
——

“Note that several states, most recently S.Carolina, are researching the legality of their own gold/silvercoin…  Your thoughts?” I don’t recall any of the 400 local Depression-era currencies being state-issued… The good news:  N. Dakota has its own state bank, and is doing better than most other states - financially- of course for only a few thousand folks!  State Senator Lee Bright has called for a study researching state currency for S. Carolina, to be released Nov.1.  Va. and other states have also looked into it.” –John Dowlin
—Best source for state-by-state currency legality is book by Lewis Solomon: Rethinking our Centralized Monetary System.   You may be familiar with the Public Banking Institute
——

“I really love Green Jobs Philly and I was wondering who is the best person to email for volunteer opportunities?  Have an amazing day.”  –Jamie
—[REPLY]  See the Internship section above.  Thanks!
——

“In thinking, writing, and beginning to participate in local community currency exchange programs, one question continues to nag me.  One of the objectives to introducing a community currency is to prevent the extraction of wealth by creating a money that cannot be spent at businesses that are not local.  Let’s assume for a moment that one member of a time bank or LETS system provides oil changes to people in community.  this means that people are no longer going to Jiffy Lube or Pep boys as much.  but isn’t it people in the community that are working at these Jiffy Lube oil change shops?  Isn’t there some potential for harm to the jobs of local people and income of local people by not spending money at the corporations that employ those local people?”  –Adam Molner
—[REPLY]  Certainly any shift of jobs from one business to another requires people to find new work.   Since small businesses hire more people per million dollars income than do chain stores, the shift to local businesses increases the job base.  It also increases the democracy base, since local businesses are more readily influenced by citizens.
—Reluctance to move our job base from old tech to green tech slows essential change to a prosperous future.  The single biggest problem confronting America is that we’ve built an economy that, without bold vision, merely manages disaster.  It profits by destruction.  Most of us are employed within it and depend on it.   So our institutions resist change.
—Seems to me that most of America’s institutions no longer serve America, existing instead primarily for maximum bucks.  For example, health insurers are not in business primarily to give us peace of mind. Mortgages are not issued primarily to shelter us.  Commercial banks do not exist primarily to keep our money safe.  Electric companies do not exist primarily to brighten our lives. Gas companies do not exist primarily to keep us warm.  Grocery stores do not operate primarily to nourish us.  School districts do not operate primarily to excite children about learning and prepare them to create the best communities they can imagine.  Prisons do not operate primarily to deter crime or prepare people to return to society.  Government does not exist primarily to balance competing interests or fairly distribute resources.  Our military does not exist primarily to defend America from invasion.  Television shows do not broadcast primarily to entertain us.  News media do not exist primarily to help us comprehend our world and become effective citizens.  These institutions exist to keep themselves alive, make some people rich, and control the rest of us.
—The good news is that all skills can rotate greenward. America needs at least 20,000,000 green-collar jobs to rebuild, retrofit, plant, harvest, manufacture and repair the homes and tools of the future.

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PENNSYLVANIA GREEN JOBS SURVEY estimates total statewide green employment of “183,029 across the six green core areas composed of the following: energy efficiency; resource sustainability/renewable energy; pollution prevention; education/training or compliance; environmental clean-up; and harmful emissions reduction.”

PHILLY BUYING POWER is a new program endorsed by the City of Philadelphia that aggregates demand from many businesses in order to get the best deal on electricity rates.  All businesses qualify and the program has had proven success in other cities.

Vacant lots will grow the green economy

ABANDONED CITY “The City of Philadelphia is the largest owner of abandoned properties in the city. The City Paper, working with PlanPhilly.com and TechnicallyPhilly.com, will compile the first publicly accessible master list and interactive database of these properties and examine how they came to be owned by taxpayers and why they are not being sold or redeveloped.”  After this announcement, City of Philadelphia announced it would compile a master list of abandoned properties owned by the city.

PHILADELPHIANS FOR ETHICAL LEADERSHIP “MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ANYONE WILLING TO MAKE A CHANGE: “Republican or Democrat, Tea Party or Independent; you are welcome to join with the following caveat: Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Rhetoric, arguments, and distractions are what the “machine” has used for years to keep us divided and stay in power regardless of how poor their performance has been. Our group represents the moderate, common sense thinker who wants common sense solutions and hard work to the problems facing the city. Join us, and let’s make our voice heard.”

YOUR TIME IS MONEY in Phoenixville

PHILADELPHIA TRANSITION MEETUP
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FOOD NOOZ

GOOD FOOD JOBS CSA INTERN WANTED.  JUST ONE SEED CSA in upper Bucks County, seeks 2 new interns for 2011 season. Part-time. Some horticultural background necessary. Work in trade for share and training.  info@justoneseed.com

PHILADELPHIA WHOLESALE PRODUCE MARKET and story

YOUTH BEEKEEPING PROJECT is Philadelphia’s Community Supported Apiary, located in Woodlands Cemetery.

WEST PHILLY GROWN BLOG

ROOFTOP FARMING in PHILADELPHIA by Phil Forsyth.  ”The potential for rooftop food production in cities is tremendous.  GIS data from PASDA reveals that there are 162,000 buildings in Philadelphia with a total rooftop area of over 16,000 acres.  According to Peleg Kremer, who is completing a dissertation on food production in the city, if even 0.5% of this area were adapted for food production, it would ‘exceed all the urban farms and community gardens currently in use.’”

EDIBLE PARKS Here’s how they do it in Wisconsin: channel3000.com/recreation

FOOD SYSTEMS DESIGN GROUP “We are passionate about building that new food system and believe that through edible ecological design, landscapes from homes to institutions can produce an abundance of delicious food while improving taste, ecosystem, and experience of place.”  FoodSystemDesign@gmail.com (978) 810-0548

MARATHON GRILL PLANTS AN URBAN FARM to serve farm-fresh food

ASPHALT TO ECOSYSTEMS: book  “transforming typical, prison-like schoolyards into places full of wildlife and nature, living environments that improve our children’s health and education.“
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AND SO FORTHWARD

NURSES SAY, “STAND UP, PRESIDENT OBAMA!”

ARETE MAGAZINE launches in Philadelphia to feature “Generosity as a Lifestyle.”  They tell the stories “of cause, change, culture & charity. We spot the trends, support the movements, and highlight the impact of Savvy Do Gooders.

from conservation to green jobs

Student Conservation Association Philly “provides hands on service opportunities both in parks nationwide and locally in Philadelphia. SCA opened a regional office in 2009 and has managed conservation crews of high school students in local Philadelphia parks for the last two summers.
—In 2011, SCA will pilot a school year conservation leadership program for up to 24 Philadelphia high school students and will continue to provide 50 students with summer jobs working on projects in area parks. SCA also places college-age interns with local agencies and non-profits to provide assistance on projects with a sustainability focus.

SERVEPhiladelphia is City’s new one-stop-shop for finding volunteer opportunities.  Register your organization: http://www.phila.gov/volunteer

PATCH ADAMS FREE CLINIC AT PHILADELPHIA on Twitter

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MINI EDITORIAL

in Tahrir Square

Egyptian Muslims and Christians have united to demand the rights that Philadelphia raised 235 years ago.  They herald a worldwide revolution against corrupt authority that’s led by young people fed up with poverty and police.
—When any government tramples liberties and destroys hope, to protect the greed of an elite, it loses legitimacy.  Which brings us back to Philadelphia.  Green jobs and green investment are nonviolent alternatives to revolt which would otherwise consume even the rich.
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EVENTS

2/12 GREEN ROOF WORKSHOP  ”The focus will be on the municipal labyrinth of zoning and code enforcement, and engineering realities of old buildings.”  N. Horticultural and Montgomery Drive, 9-11am. $10.00 fee.

2/12 FRUIT TREE TENDERS: a workshop on Pruning Fruit Trees, by PHS’ Tree Tenders and the Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP).   10am-1pm.   Starting at the John Street Community Center at 12th and Poplar streets (inside session) and continuing at Teens 4 good Farm at 8th and Poplar (hands on session).  RSVP to Christine Willeford cwilleford@pennhort.org. Session limited to 30.

2/20 URBAN ORGANIC GARDENING WORKSHOP.  Mishkan Shalom, 4101 Freeland Ave, 2-3:30pm.  Sponsors: Neighborhood Interfaith Movement & Mishkan Shalom.  Registration required or mlenzi@comcast.net 215-247-9169

2/23 PHILADELPHIA ORCHARD PROJECT (POP) HAPPY HOUR, 6:30-8:30pm, Yards Brewery, 901 N. Delaware Ave.  Featuring beer from Yards and food from Whole Foods Callowhill.

2/28 SERVSAFE® FOOD SAFETY TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION to satisfy the Philadelphia Department of Health requirement for Food Service Professionals.  $175.  Greensgrow Philadelphia Project.  8am-7pm.  Coral Street Arts House, 2446-68 Coral @ Hagert.  Deadline to Register 4pm Fri, Feb 11th.  This course requires 8 hours of home study, and 8 hours of in-class training on the test day.

3/6 METRO PHILLY PERMACULTURE DESIGN Certificate Course with the Eastern Pennsylvania Permaculture Guild!  ” Learn Urban, Farm and Eco-village Scale Permaculture Design with hands-on projects, myco/phytoremediation techniques for urban or coventional ag land, coppicing/pollarding techniques, ecological restoration theory and practice, organic and biodynamic farming, beekeeping basics, water harvesting (keyline design), keeping small livestock in the city or suburbs, edible forest gardening, vermiculture, aquaponics, appropriate technology, natural building techniques, financial and social permaculture and more!”  Fees on a Sliding scale.
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YOUR LETTERS

“My friend has forwarded an e-mail about the green jobs in Philly.  I am really interested in keeping up to date with jobs and projects in Philadelphia since I work at Temple University Computer Recycling Center.”  –Fady Isleem
——

“Philadelphia City Council just adopted a resolution calling for the Delaware River Basin Commission to maintain its shale gas drilling moratorium; to extend the March 16th DRBC deadline on public comment on fracking in our watershed, and to hold a Philadelphia public hearing on the issue.  That’s positive news you should print!  Irreversible damage will result if we don’t keep that moratorium in place.
—Health and environmental impacts of shale gas drilling deserve more serious coverage.  Shale gas drillers illegally injected tens of millions of gallons of diesel underground for years.  Health impacts from shale gas drilling are increasing. The EPA says that methane leaks from shale gas operations are 9,000 times greater than they’d estimated, poisoning our climate.
—Instead of putting down the few leaders we have who are actually standing up for our watershed and public health, provoke more leaders to do the same…and quickly.  We can and must build a renewable energy economy with safe jobs that do not poison our water, air and climate.”
—“I recommend sending letters to Send your letter to views@phillynews.com and Inquirer.Letters@phillynews.com” –I. M.B.
——

“In the middle of next month, Metropolitan Career Center, a grantee of a federal Pathways out of Poverty grant intended to prepare individuals for jobs in the new green economy, will be graduating 30 students from a 12 week green jobs program that introduced them to weatherization, energy auditing, green roofing and basic construction techniques. Now our challenge is to find them employment placements that can help them use and build upon their skills. Your help, and those in your network, in identifying and sharing job opportunities no matter how modest or seemingly unrelated will be most appreciated.”  –Jim Wallerstein, Metropolitan Career Center
——

“Do you know recycling resources, or can you help me brainstorm how to improve recycling efforts on our campus, from the resident/consumer standpoint?  The facility has a recycling contract.  The fact is, we the residents could practice better recycling, and I’m looking for ways to educate and motivate us to do so.  I am not authorized by the facility owner or management, I am only seeking suggestions to present as resident activities.
—”I think if we could do something separate with newspapers, aluminum cans and plastic water bottles we would make a good dent in the matter and still have plenty left over for the contract one-stream recycling  pick-up.  Perhaps you know someplace that uses used newspaper and would pick it up?  Ditto aluminum cans, ditto plastic water bottles?
—”I’ll check with Boy Scouts to see if they want aluminum cans, for example.  Any ideas?  Thanks for the regular issues of Green Jobs Philly.”  –RY
—[REPLY]  You are seeking local upcycling alternatives to single-stream recycling.  These materials should already be recycled via the City.
—For recycled newspapers, for example, I’m proposing the Philadelphia Insulation Factory (PIF), which would manufacture cellulose insulation.  Would lower our heating costs while creating jobs manufacturing and installing.
—The best way to recycle plastic bottles, of course, is to not purchase them.  And that’s an important part of an educational campaign, like “The Story of Bottled Water”   Some colleges ban them.

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1.  LEARN about green jobs
2.  Register to offer or seek green jobs
3.  Attend Events (see below) to meet others offering and seeking green jobs.
4.  Join your skills with others’ to create new businesses and organizations that feed, fuel, house, heal, teach or finance with less cost to public.

WORKER-OWNED GREEN JOBS: How Cleveland does it.   Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson says: “In these tough economic times, our cities need not only good jobs, but ways for working people to build up their family assets and wealth. Why shouldn’t all of our citizens have access to meaningful jobs in workplaces where they can own a piece of the company and participate in the company’s direction?” Ohio Employee Ownership Center

PENN FUTURE JOB BOARD

267,331 JOBS IN CENTER CITY DISTRICT (CCD) –almost 50% of all salaries earned within Philadelphia

MANAYUNK TIMBER is “Philadelphia’s only green sawmill” offers sustainable lumber for restoration, renovation, custom woodworking, and new construction. Keystone Edge article

GOODBYE STARVING ARTIST, HELLO CREATIVE ECONOMY “The city’s creative economy is vibrant and growing, employing almost 18,000 workers in fields from fine arts to graphic design. In fact, according to a 2008 study commissioned by the City’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Philadelphia’s creative sector is 70 percent stronger than the national benchmark.”

HANDMADE BY THE HOMELESS

PHILADELPHIA GREEN HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION

ENERGY COOPERATIVE members can purchase 100 percent renewable fixed-rate electricity for 2011 for 9.78 cents/kWh or can choose 20 percent renewable EcoChoice20 for 9.28 cents/kWh, as compared with PECO’s regular residential rate of 9.92 cents/kWh.

HIGH SPEED RAIL FOR PHILADELPHIA

RECYCLE ELECTRONICS NEAR YOU

HOW GREEN IS MY CITY?
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PROMETHEUS RADIO PROJECT of West Philly LEADS SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS  Low-power neighborhood radio will make it easier for neighbors to connect to help one another, enjoy one another and employ one another.

PHILLY COMPANY ENABLES WIKILEAKS DONATIONS “While people may or may not agree with WikiLeaks, we at XIPWIRE believe that anyone who wishes to support the organization through a donation should be able to do so,” they say on their site. While the publicity advantages are obvious, there’s also the threat of backlash. One of the founders told the tech blog BaltTech, “We’re fully aware that not everyone likes what Wikileaks is. But we are prepared to accept the consequences.”

BOOK REVIEW: The Woman Behind the New Deal, by Kirstin Downey
—During the Great Depression, when both capital and jobs evaporated, the federal government saved capitalism by saving labor.  FDR’s New Deal revived the economy by establishing Social Security, Unemployment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation, public works, minimum wage, and ending child labor.
—The New Deal’s principal architect was Frances Perkins, a social worker appointed Secretary of Labor by FDR.  The inside story of Perkins’ political idealism is masterfully told.  It teaches political courage to everyone with authority.
—At the same time, Downey reminds that the federal government embraced Perkins’ agenda because an angry hungry public would accept nothing less.  As the Philadelphia Declaration later said, “Poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere.”
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CITY CHICKENS

PHILLY FIGS IN WINTER

PHILLY STAKE is a locally sourced, recurring dinner in which money is raised for creative & relevant community engaged projects. As a micro granting program, community members become creators.
* A stake in the Philadelphia community
* A stake in the arts and in creative thought
* A stake in local organic food
* A stake in local economy

PHILADELPHIA VEGAN RESTAURANTEURS talk about the ethics and economics of running niche eateries.

FARMER ON THE ROOF: Philadelphia Rooftop Farm (PROOF) seeks “farmers, builders, designers, organizers…doers!  We need your ideas, your organizing abilities and your expertise.”  jay@fundamentalchange.net 215-913-2679

click to enlarge

FOOD AND ENERGY SYSTEMS CURRICULUM provides enough instruction for 6-9 weeks.  Sample lessons: * Community Food Systems Map: Students map elements of the food systems, identifying local-global connections behind food production, processing, transportation, etc.
* Energy Transfer in Food Chains: Through a simulation, learners experience the 10% energy transfer among tropic levels in a food chain.
* Biography of Three Potatoes: Students compare and contrast the energy, resources, and wastes involved for three potatoes, each grown and processed in a different way.
* Life Before Ketchup: Learners map the geographic origins of common foods to gain an overview of how trade has shaped food systems over time.  To explore this more deeply, learners research and document significant events in “food history” such as Columbus’ voyage, the introduction of synthetic fertilizers, and the “green” revolution.”

HEALTHY CORNER STORE INITIATIVE 1,000 stores in Philadelphia being trained to promote healthy food.

PHILADELPHIA REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM ACCESS PROJECT receives $50,000 grant  “to work with community organizations and institutions to find the most efficient and culturally sensitive ways to get food into the hands of those who need it most.  Many of these communities are considered ‘food deserts’ and it is in these places we will work to build community capacity to develop new models of food distribution.  Our goal is to create a ‘whole systems’ approach to making farms more viable and communities more self reliant and food secure.”
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1/3-6 GREEN JOBS TRAINING PROGRAM 20-24 years age, Out of work and/or Out of school.  Paid on-the-job training in landscaping and landscape design, Job readiness training and job search support Information sessions at PCAT, 2111 Eastburn Ave, 9am.  “Be prepared to stay until 2pm for testing and interviews.”  Bring driver’s license or state ID, Social Security card, Birth certificate, Proof of income (paystubs or welfare benefits letter), Résumé.  Register: 215-527-5602.

1/6 FARM TOGETHER NOW: A portrait of a new food movement: people, places and ideas for a new food movement with author Daniel Tucker, Wooden Shoe Books, 704 South St, 7-9pm

1/8 RECYCLE CHRISTMAS TREES: City will not recycle Christmas trees left at the curb. They’ll go into landfills.  Volunteers from EKNA, ORCA, and FNA will be joining NKCDC to chip trees.  BEFORE - Drop off your trees anytime 12/26-1/8 at Greensgrow Farms (2501 E. Cumberland Street) or NKCDC Garden Center (Frankford & Berks).  On 1/8 Bring your tree to the chipper 9am-noon behind Port Richmond Plaza (Girard Ave at Richmond St).  Noon–3pm (SW corner of Dauphin and Emerald).  $5 suggested donation. Please remove tinsel and decorations.  sustainable19125@gmail.com.

1/18  SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING Academy of Natural Sciences, 5:45 - 9:00pm

1/26 PHILADELPHIA ORCHARD PROJECT (POP) WINTER FUNDRAISER! 6:30-8:30pm at Yard’s Brewery 901 N. Delaware Ave.  POP on NBC

1/30 PHILLY STAKE “Philadelphians are invited to the First Uni to enjoy a seasonal, locally-sourced meal and vote for the project they deem most worthy of funding.” First Unitarian Church at 22nd & Chestnut St.  5-8pm.  “The presenter garnering the most votes will leave with the dinner proceeds.” Tickets $10-$20 (sliding scale), cash only.

2/1 GERMINATING PARTNERSHIPS: Connecting Seniors with Community Gardens, Noon – 2 p.m. City Hall’s Conversation Hall.  RSVP by January 26. Limited to 60 people. Pizza will be served.
—BREAK OUT GROUPS: ASSETS AND RESOURCES IN YOUR COMMUNITY

2/8-10 GOOD JOBS, GREEN JOBS NATIONAL CONFERENCE Washington, D.C.
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“I wonder if you have any suggestions about how I might go about finding a vacant lot in Mt. Airy to buy, remediate, and  use as a small organic urban market garden farm?
—”Any leads would be appreciated.   If you had an email contact to the “no vacancy” folks that might be a great start.”  –Anna Herman
—[REPLY]  Contact Kim Miller in Mt Airy.  Blogs seldom include contact info.  For “No Vacancy” you’ll see an email when you subscribe via Actions
——

“Just wanted to say Congratulations on your recognition in the Metro paper! Very well deserved!  Hope to bump into you around town again soon!”  –Kirsty Halliday
—[REPLY] Thanks!  Having met thousands of Philadelphians, I’m impressed that this city is full of heroes.
——

Are you interested in having the EPPG host a speech/discussion?  I have some real “issues” with what some people are considering to be “green jobs” - lots of greenwashing going on out there, so I am up for hosting something to promote a discussion about REAL green jobs.”  –Melissa
—[REPLY]  Sounds good.  Like every other social movement, parts of it get co-opted and corporatized.  Green guided missiles, green nuclear power plants, etc.  My book Green Jobs Philly emphasizes neighborhood power and neighborhood-based production/installation of green technologies that lower the costs of living.
——

“I would like to know more information about the Patch Adams free clinic and what you might be able to do for me and my husband. I have problems with gallstones and lately (the past 3 weeks) I’ve had pain from it almost every day. My husband falls asleep at any second even after he has slept for the night. We are on welfare and our two young boys have medical insurance and we receive food stamps but my husband makes too much money for the two of us to have health insurance. I would also like to help. What is there for me to help with?”
—[REPLY]  Thanks for writing.  Good to hear from you, and sorry about the pain you and your husband endure.  The Patch Adams Free Clinic is seeking land on which to build.  We hope to create a vast network of local healers who can provide services free and for barter.  What part of town do you live in?  There are several free clinics in Philadelphia.

DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE: 431 W. Walnut Lane, Philadelphia PA 19144

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CURRENT AND BACK ISSUES LINK TO HUNDREDS OF PHILADELPHIA GREEN JOBS INITIATIVES.

Sign up to offer or request green jobs in Philadelphia.

tending a North Philly orchard

WORK FORCE GOES GREEN: two South Philly community centers train through Neighborhood Green Job Readiness Partnership

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS MEASURES GREEN JOBS

GREEN JOBS ACADEMY FOR VETERANS at Bucks County Community College, for Solar/Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program. Bristol, Pennsylvania. Apply by 12/3

PENN FUTURE’S GREEN JOBS STRATEGY

GREEN ECONOMY TASK FORCE PHILADELPHIA REPORTS

by Frank Noler © Jeffrey Smith

GERMANTOWN GREEN BUSINESS DISTRICT PROPOSAL “to create ‘green collar jobs, unique Green Businesses as models for economic development, and the development of urban housing rehabilitation and weatherization projects that integrate Green building and historic preservation standards that are both practical and affordable to low and moderate income homeowners.”
—They cite “manufacturing jobs related to large scale production of a wide range of appropriate technologies (i.e. solar panels, bike cargo systems, green waste bins, etc.)  Materials reuse/producing products made from recycled, non-toxic materials.  Non-toxic household cleaning in residential and commercial buildings.  Parks and open space maintenance and expansion.  Printing with non-toxic inks and dyes and recycled papers.  Public transit jobs.  Recycling.  Solar installation and maintenance.  Tree cutting and pruning.  Peri-urban agriculture.  Water retrofits to increase water efficiency and conservation

Philadelphia ready to roll

PHILADELPHIA’S BICYCLE INDUSTRY
ENGIN CYCLES,
ELITE BICYCLES
BILENKY CYCLE WORKS
RELOAD BAGS
PRINCETON TEC EMPLOYS 95-140 Bordentown NJ

MAPPING YOUR SHORT ROUTES: CommonSpace promotes “environmental and economic sustainability in Philadelphia by helping its users discover neighborhood destinations that they can get to by walking, biking or taking public transportation.” BETA CONTEST through 12/15. Four who complete the survey win a $100 gift certificate to one of four local restaurants.

SEPTA COMMENT LINE:  Nearly every metro rail system in the world color coded routes to make use easy for visitors.  Philadelphia’s new schedules and routes are grey.   Tell them what you think

SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA FIRST SUBURBS PROJECT (SEPA) is “coalition of community organizations and institutions focused on solving common challenges facing the older, developed suburbs of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. These communities share conditions of diminishing economic investment, declining infrastructure, struggling school districts, and social services lagging behind the needs of their residents.”

SAVING ENERGY IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES The Energy Coordinating Agency and its Neighborhood Energy Centers reach low-income people in Philadelphia

SUSTAINING CREATION COMMITTEE at Neighborhood Interfaith Movement.  “Our traditions call on us to be good stewards of the earth and to work together to preserve our environment.  We would like your input into what the Committee can and should do in the year ahead.”  Eric Wilden

GREEN VILLAGE PHILADELPHIA

UNIVERSITY CITY OFF THE GRID “Your guide to sustainable living in University City.”

Logan Triangle: 35 empty acres

NO VACANCY PHILADELPHIA RE-IMAGINING VACANT LAND USE

THE ABANDONED CITY. The City of Philadelphia is the largest owner of abandoned properties in the city. City Paper and PlanPhilly and TechnicallyPhilly.com will compile the first public “master list and interactive database of these properties and examine how they came to be owned by taxpayers and why they are not being sold or redeveloped.”
—NEARLY 20% OF PHILADELPHIA PROPERTIES ARE TAX DELINQUENT. This project will develop a searchable database and examine how unpaid taxes have cost the city more than $1 billion in lost revenue and thwarted development. By freelance investigative journalist Patrick Kerkstra with the Philadelphia Inquirer and PlanPhilly.com See study by Econsult

Philadelphia’s New GREEN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM DATABASE charges non-residential property owners for stormwater based on  the impervious surfaces on their property, rather than the amount of water they use. Website enables property owners to see their property in high resolution and displays the Impervious area of their property, Gross area of their property, PWD account information, credits on their account.

PHILLY END THE FED seeks to return control of money from banks directly to the public.

PHILADELPHIA INDEPENDENT NEWS PROJECT AWARDS

WXPN URBAN ECOLOGY RESOURCES
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FOOD

PENNSYLVANIAN’S 150 WINERIES ARE 4TH MOST NUMEROUS AMONG ALL STATES.  “Everyone in Pennsylvania is no more than 45 minutes from a winery,” says Christopher Boyd, owner of CARDINAL WINERY in North Wales, PA.  His wines include mead and fruit wines.

CONSERVATORSHIP PROTECTS PHILADELPHIA URBAN AGRICULTURE

Build a simple backyard leaf bin

KEEP YOUR LEAVES– trees are minting real gold.  When piled leaves decompose they become food for food next spring.

PHILLY FOOD FEED “the blog with all the info on the Philly local food scene as well as sustainable eating in general.”

LOS ANGELES BANS PLASTIC BAGS: “No store shall provide to any customer a plastic carryout bag.”

ATIYA OLA RESTAURANT ON FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

WOMEN’S PRACTICAL FARM/GARDEN SCHOOL Tinicum, PA. Teaching backyard homestead to small agricultural enterprise.  “Learn to grow organic and biodynamic vegetables, fruit, flowers, and herbs while experiencing the flow of the growing season. First Saturday of the month March-October.  114-acre organic horse farm.  $100/per workshop (6 hours of instruction plus lunch).  Eve Springwood Minson, 267-614-3695 info@justoneseed.com

PHILLY FOOD FORESTS “working in South Philadelphia to establish a large collective food garden and public space with the intention of feeding, educating, and building culture…”
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MINI-EDITORIAL: Mutual Aid is the new Middle Class agenda

Life controlled by dollars

Life connected through solidarity

Times are tough.  Yet Philadelphians have the power to fix everything.
—Americans took power to establish this nation, to end slavery, to demand shorter work days and social security, to demand votes for women and blacks.  During the past 60 years we gave much power away to large companies which promised us shopping malls and bargains; we gave our power to big government, which promised to protect us from enemies; we gave our power to big medicine, which promised to heal us; we gave our power to big education, which promised to prepare us for better futures; and we gave our power to Wall Street, which gambled with our greed.
—The joyride is over.  Wall Street accepted our power and sent our jobs overseas, bankrupted our Treasury, enlisted us, evicted us, jailed us, polluted us.
—We got what we wanted and now pay what it cost.  The price will get bigger, more will suffer, until we take power again, the American way.
—Merely changing names at the top does not restore democracy.  Central authority, whether capitalist or socialist, can trample us.
—We take power over our lives, to make life good again, by taking ownership of the economy as voting members of regional co-operative banks, regional money and trade systems, co-op health plans, co-op farms, co-op housing, clean energy systems, diplomatic defense systems.
—Through these mutual aid programs it is possible for us to fully employ one another, to reduce the costs of heating and eating, to create a secure world. –Paul Glover

How to start a co-op
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EVENTS

11/21 PHILLY TREE PEOPLE FALL TREE PLANTING 2771 Jasper St between Somerset and Lehigh, Frankford and Kensington, 10am. Tools provided, BYO gloves.  Over 100 trees, free lunch afterward at Philadelphia Brewing Company. PhillyTreePeople@gmail.com

12/3 PHILLY CAM VIEWING PARTY: learn to broadcast your show on local cable TV.  Community Access Media

12/5 MILL CREEK FARM’S ANNUAL BENEFIT PARTY

12/6 PHILADELPHIA URBAN FARM NETWORK POTLUCK 7:30pm,1434 South 21st. Discuss new cooperative effort by West Philly CHGA to organize our growing operations into a Co-op. Also, I know the Urban Tree Connection would like to give an update of their big conservatorship win, and I can think of about four or five projects gearing up for this spring that I’m excited to hear about. Also, a rep from Fairmount Park has committed to coming to this meeting.

12/7  GREEN 2015: AN ACTION PLAN FOR 500 ACRES OF NEW PUBLIC OPEN SPACE, Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway, 6:30pm.

12/8 PENN FUTURE PARTY 1500 Walnut St, 4-8pm RSVP
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YOUR LETTERS

“l teach in a vocational high school for adjudicated youth in Philadelphia. Could you point me in the right direction as to how l can offer training in energy retrofit to possibly get my guys certified?”   –CJ Petermann
—[REPLY]  Best local action is by Energy Coordinating Agency.  Check also Connection Training Services
——

“The St Louis Business Council has provided our graduate school a grant to study green jobs websites.  Yours is one of the best in the nation because it has an easy interface making it easy to connect employers and jobseekers.  Your newsletter is so impressive.”  –Kate Kozlowski
—[REPLY]  You’re welcome to adopt our template.  It’s available to anyone seeking to start a regional green jobs site.
——

“I am a former community organizer, a West Philadelphia resident, an attorney, and recent graduate of Penn Law, currently clerking for a judge in federal court.  I am now seeking funding to create an initiative to provide comprehensive legal support for urban agriculture and gardening in Philadelphia, particularly for folks who are using urban ag to get at issues of blight and food security, and to create food and financial resources for their communities.  As you all know, there are a host of legal issues involved, even just looking at securing land tenure and my hope is both to be able to help individual projects negotiate these issues and to create some toolkits/workshops so knowledge can be shared.   This city also has an ever-changing political and legal landscape. One of my major goals will be to ensure more voices are heard at the city level.
—”The project would be housed at the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia and would start sometime next fall.  However, I’m very interested in meeting with farmers/gardeners now to talk about current legal needs, build relationships, and strategize about possibilities.”  –Amy Laura Cahn
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“Thank you for your email and for the links showcasing the projects and movements with which you are involved. I found the work being done by The Patch Adams Free Clinic to be inspiring and very important. Thank you for educating me on these issues.”  –Elizabeth
——

“Please sign my petition and spread it around to anyone you know who lives in the Philadelphia area:petitions/PhillyFoodForests There are currently 8 abandoned lots on the 500 block of Mercy Street (near 5th & Snyder) in South Philadelphia that are owned by The Philadelphia Department of Public Property and 11 that are privately owned, overgrown, and neglected. With enough support from residents of the city and surrounding area, Councilman Frank DiCicco’s office will write a letter to the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) granting the neighborhood permission to start a large collective garden in these lots.
—”The current vision is to turn this largely vacant block into a beautiful, productive, and self-sufficient green space for the surrounding community. Perennial fruit trees, bushes, shrubs, herbs, and food crops will be planted, along with vibrant flowers that attract bees and birds to pollinate. Part of the space will be kept open for gatherings of people, and all food that is grown will be shared among the people who volunteer their time to maintain the land. Composting, rainwater harvesting, and creatively repurposing discarded materials (such as wooden palettes, bricks, cinderblocks, and tires) will also be employed.”  –Robyn Mello

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