WHEREAS,
Urban agriculture has deep roots here in Philadelphia, long before the recent national renaissance; and
WHEREAS,
Municipal support for farming dates back to the Vacant Lot Cultivation Association established in the late 19th century; and
WHEREAS, Regarded as one of Philadelphia's largest and most dynamic community gardens, Glenwood Green Acres can be found on the 1800 block of Glenwood Avenue in North Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, The garden encompasses the entire 3.67 acre parcel and today there are almost 90 active gardening plots; and
WHEREAS, The idea for Glenwood Green Acres was first conceived in 1983 by James Taylor, an African American who resided directly across West Glenwood Avenue from the garden, after a fire caused a former whiskey factory to be demolished along the street. Mr. Taylor moved onto the 1800 block of West Glenwood Avenue in 1954; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Taylor and other African American men of southern heritage initially brought with them knowledge of plantation techniques and traditional crops, such as collard greens, peanuts, okra, mustard greens, corn, tobacco and cotton; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, the Neighborhood Gardens Trust, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society whose mission is to acquire and preserve community gardens and shared open space in order to enhance the quality of life in Philadelphia neighborhoods, purchased the property through the City's Sheriff Sale, as a permanent open space; and
WHEREAS, More recently, gardeners from communities all over the city, from South Philadelphia to Mount Airy, have planted in the Glenwood soil. There are now more women and more young people involved and a more diverse group of nationalities represented, including gardeners from the Caribbean and South America; and
WHEREAS, Glenwood Green Acres acts as a monument, memorializing its eighteenth-century agricultural condition before industry came and went, celebrates the southern heritage of those who began the garden, and serves as a vehicle to pass on an agricultural tradition unknown to today's urban youth; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia hereby recognize, honor, and celebrate the 30th anniversary of Glenwood Green Acres.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the farmers of Glenwood Green Acres as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
End