I’m a big fan of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation compost, available free of charge to Philadelphia residents, at the city recycling center on Ford Road in Fairmount Park. When it’s open from spring through fall, I drop by once a month or so and shovel many pounds of the stuff into heavy-duty trash bags in the trunk of my car.
The Parks Department, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, is now offering another service to Philly urban farmers: space in a greenhouse in Fairmount Park where you can start your own seedlings. A 3-foot by 8-foot table in the greenhouse costs $50 per season, spring or fall—water and potting mix included. You’ll need to sign up for an orientation session, and kick in five hours of volunteer work to help maintain the greenhouse. For serious gardeners, that seems like a good deal, and fun, to boot. Here’ s a Philadelphia Parks & Recreation memo with the details.
UPDATE: Read about my adventures in the greenhouse here and here.