PHS’s commitment to the environment extends beyond parks and gardens through a variety of programs that tackle some of the region's toughest challenges.
We’re working to make the Philadelphia region more sustainable, so that future generations can enjoy all that the area has to offer.
The PHS City Harvest program taps the skills and energy of urban gardeners to make fresh produce more widely available in under-resourced neighborhoods by growing and donating more than 20,000 pounds of produce each year, helping to feed about 1,000 families per week during the growing season.
PHS Garden Tenders is a training course for groups and individuals in Philadelphia who are interested in starting community gardens on vacant lots, in parks, around schools and churches, or other locations.
The PHS Green City Teachers program provides Philadelphia educators of all types with the skills to integrate horticultural and environmental education into curricula, after-school programs, and service-learning projects.
PHS supports small-scale growers in their efforts to bring fresh, locally grown produce to urban areas, often thought of as food deserts. Participants in the Growers Alliance are empowered to sell their output at farmers markets and local restaurant, while donating a portion to the City Harvest program.
The PHS LandCare Program is a comprehensive approach to managing abandoned land by creating park-like settings that not only improve the appearance and livability of communities, but also contribute to public health and safety, raise property values, and stimulate new investment.
The Neighborhood Gardens Association plays a critical role in preserving, protecting, and promoting community gardening throughout Philadelphia. With a portfolio of about 30 gardens, NGA is a leader in sustaining neighborhood green space and advancing community gardening.
PHS works in partnership with city agencies to make neighborhood parks vibrant destinations for Philadelphia residents and visitors. PHS provides design services, promotes sustainable landscape practices, and trains volunteer community stewards through The Green Machine initiative.
Plant One Million is a regional partnership led by PHS to plant one million trees throughout 13 counties in southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware. The goal is to restore the tree canopy cover—the area of land shaded by trees—in the Greater Philadelphia Region to 30 percent.
PHS Pop Up Gardens are temporary gardens that transform vacant spaces in Center City Philadelphia, creating beauty, providing gathering places for all to enjoy, and serving as a showcase to re-use elements of the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show.
PHS creates, restores, and manages high-profile public landscapes in Philadelphia in partnership with city agencies and other nonprofit organizations. PHS experts assist in landscape design, construction, and sustainable management using organic practices to maintain plantings and build soil health.
PHS Roots to Re-Entry provides job-skills training and placement assistance to inmates of the Philadelphia Prison System who participate in City Harvest. The support services offered through Roots to Re-Entry help those involved transition to life outside the prison system.
The PHS Tree Tenders® program teaches the basics of tree planting, tree care, and how to rally communities around the importance of trees. The class is offered several times throughout the year in Center City Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.
The Civic Horticulture conference will examine Philadelphia’s use of horticulture and what that portends for the future of the city and in other cities. We will examine issues through multiple lenses – health/lifestyle, environment, economy and sense of place – but this conference is unique in putting plants first as a tool for developing holistic stewardship criteria.
The annual City in Bloom event emphasizes the cooperation between organizations, business, schools, and local government and the city’s support for urban greening programs.
PHS Fall Garden FestivalThe annual PHS Fall Garden Festival takes place each September and offers music, food, plants, shopping, workshops, gardening tips, and children’s activities at the beautiful Philadelphia Navy Yard.Sep 21, 2013 10:00 AM
PHS Tree Tenders Training - PhiladelphiaHelp plant and care for trees in your region, your community, or your own back yard. Become a PHS Tree Tender! This program offers hands-on tree care education in the five-county Philadelphia region.May 8, 2013 5:45 PM