Community of Gardens

Description

Nestled amid the concrete jungle of North Philadelphia, the half-acre green space of Brewerytown Garden provides vital relaxation and nutrition to the gardeners’ neighborhood. Originally a restaurant-owned urban farm facing neglect, Brewerytown neighborhood gardeners organized around the plot in 2013. The community officially turned the land into a community garden in 2015 under the auspices of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation’s Farm Phillly program. Notable garden features include a greenhouse, community composting, and a sensory and healing garden, all in addition to raised beds of vegetables. But gardening makes up “the least amount of time in the garden” for garden steering committee chair Sharon Hildebrand. Other activities include a farmstand, movie nights, concerts, and health and wellness programming. Fall provides festivity with a fall celebration, trick-or-treating for neighborhood children, and a Thanksgiving market. “It’s just a very active space,” Hildebrand says, proudly noting the gardens’ focus on families and bringing gardening to children. The garden has been preserved since 2022 by the Philadelphia Neighborhood Gardens Trust.

Story contributed by Joe M.