If you’re one of the thousands of Philadelphians who started a garden for the first time in the midst of the pandemic last summer, you already know: it’s life-giving. Taking care of plants relieves stress; it’s a real, live activity in a world of excess screen time; and you get to enjoy exceptionally tasty, fresh produce.
Growing even a small amount of the food you eat—and inspiring your friends and neighbors to do the same—can also help mitigate climate change.
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Agriculture and forestry generate 24 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Whether you can convert your lawn to a garden and grow enough to share, deck out your rooftop with pots and containers, or plant a few herbs to keep on your windowsill, you can make a difference by tending a small patch of earth sustainably. It’s a step towards self-reliance that will also help you eat more plants—crucial because the production of livestock generates the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions of all food production.
But before we all start fantasizing about eating melons and tomatoes in August, a quick reality check: Growing food in the city is not easy. You’re battling the unpredictable elements all farmers deal with—pest pressure, weeds, deluges and droughts—plus limited space and limited time to tend to your crops.
“Try not to be too hard on yourself,” says Urban Tree Connection (UTC) lead farmer Nat Agoos. “There’s a never-ending amount of obstacles that can get in the way, but that’s part of the fun.”
We’re lucky here in Philly, because we’re home to organizations like UTC, run by folks who have long understood the importance of feeding ourselves and our community—and have been doing it.
They shared their hard-won knowledge to help you get a head start.
Keep reading for their spot-on tips on how to grow food in Philly, or skip ahead to one of these sections:
- How to properly assess your space
- Getting set up on patios, rooftops, windowsills and more
- What foods are best for gardens in Philly
- How to get started so your seedlings thrive
- How to get rid of weeds in your garden
- How to control urban pests like insects and squirrels
- Best ways to save seeds for future growing seasons
- Ideas for cooking with the foods you’ve grown