Young Involved Philadelphia

4th Annual Urban Farm Bike Ride

75 bikers of all ages and abilities saddled up last July for a tour of urban farms in Philadelphia. As usually, they were amazed and delighted by the diversity and ingenuity of the farmers they met … and got a kick out of rolling through neighborhoods they’d never visited on their own.

Th...is year we expect an even larger group to join up at Weavers Way Coop Farm when the ride kicks off at 8:30 am on Saturday, July 18th.

We’re requesting a donation of $15 per rider, payable on the day of the ride, to cover the cost of snacks, drinks and pizza—with some left over to support the community outreach activities of Weavers Way Farm … and to help get a new bike co-op in Mt. Airy up and running.

A Google map of the route is available at:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=118146489894790826029.0004690b579fcb3758ee1&ll=40.002109,-75.142021&spn=0.142016,0.362549&t=h&z=12

For more details about the ride, and for descriptions of the farms we’ll be visiting, go to http://weaversway.coop/index.php?page=300.

This year we’ve added a new stop: The Orchard at Woodford Mansion in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood—a site developed by the Philadelphia Orchard Project on the grounds of this historic mansion.

Other stops include:

* Weavers Way Coop Farm, at Awbury Arboretum
* The farm at Martin Luther King High School (near the Coop Farm),
* Mill Creek Farm at 49th and Brown in West Philadelphia
* Spring Garden Community Gardens, overlooking the city skyline at 18th and Wallace
* The Teens for Good farm at 8th and Poplar
* Greensgrow, the grandmother of urban farms in Philadelphia, in Kensington.
* Philadelphia Brewing Company, just a short 5-minute ride from Greensgrow, where we’ll finish up with beer and pizza in it’s great old tasting room.

A screening of Faces From The New Farm, a video produced by a group of women from Washington, DC about their three-month bike tour of urban farms from DC to Montreal, will be held at the Brewery at the end of the ride, for those who are interested. The video has a local connection: The women from DC came up for a private bike tour of farms in Philadelphia to get inspiration for their ride, and have attended the ride for two of the last three years. (This year, they’re off in Upstate New York and Maine, working on farms, and can’t make the ride.)

KEY THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE RIDE:

* Any questions: Contact Chris Hill at chris@chrishillmedia.com.

* RSVP as soon as you can so we can plan the ride more effectively.

* Pay your $15 fee on the day of the ride.

* Be at the Co-op Farm at 8:30 am, sharp (or earlier), so we can get the ride started on time. If you want, you can join the ride at Mill Creek Farm in West Philadelphia, at approximately 10:30.

* We will be riding, rain or shine.

* Helmets are required.

* This is a fully supported ride, with a “SAG” van available to repair tires and provide other technical support when necessary. However, if you have extra tubes, repair kits and pumps, please bring them along.

* There will be route “cue sheets” for those who want them.

* The ride will end at approximately 2:30 pm at Philadelphia Brewing Company, where you’re welcome to hang around (closes at 5).

* We will be organizing groups at the end of the ride for return trips to West Philadelphia and Germantown/Mt.Airy. There is also information about public transportation options on the Weavers Way Co-op web page:
http://weaversway.coop/index.php?page=300


The Weavers Way Farm Committee, which is organizing this ride, would like to thank folks from the Young Friends of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and from Young Involved Philadelphia for helping plan and promote the event.
Read More

It's time to explore and interact with your Philadelphia! Join Young Involved Philadelphia as we announce our Summer Event Series. With a line-up of walking tours, happy hours, and summer fun, we want you to discover and preserve Philadelphia with us.

In partnership with Preservation Alliance and Hidden City, this event... will also anticipate Hidden City Philadelphia, kick off Young Involved Philadelphia’s Summer Event Series, and The Preservation Alliance will be offering discounted membership at this event.

Free admission, with happy hour food and beverage specials at cash bar. Open to all 21 and over.Read More

The unstable economy has made life difficult for all. Not immune, the City of Philadelphia is faced with sinking revenue, a budget deadline, and a table of decisions. It's widely understood that today's tax rates will be changed to support the City's budget, and while nothing is certain, these potential changes would h...ave a major impact on all who live and work in Philadelphia. Yeah...that means you.

It's imperative to understand how these changes will affect you and your personal budget. City leadership is joining Young Involved Philadelphia to discuss the forthcoming budget and answer questions about the future of Philadelphia's taxes. How would a sales tax hike impact weekly spending? What will Philadelphia rent prices look like if a property tax increase is enacted in combination with full assessment? Why would legislators target a wage tax raise, and how will this new budget influence our daily lives?

It's your money. It's your chance to be heard. With major tax decisions looming, policymakers are listening to people's concerns: this is an opportunity to voice yours.

Confirmed panelists for the forum include:
* Councilman Bill Green, At-Large
* Derek Green, Special Counsel to the Majority Leader
* Professor Robert Inman, Professor, Finance and
Economics, University of Pennsylvania
* Representative from Mayor Nutter's
administration

* Moderated by Ben Waxman, It's Our Money

**Co-Hosted by The Center for Progressive Leadership, The Committee of Seventy, The Institute for the Study of Civic Values, and UrbanPhilly.com Professional Network (UPPN)Read More