Preston's Paradise

We're excited to announce a few new partnership this spring, the first of which with ALAW, a local organization putting Philadelphians with autism in permanent supportive housing.  They're building a new facility for young adults in our neighborhood and have agreed to install a fruit orchard as part of the landscaping plan.  Our friends at the Philadelphia Orchard Project are going to help with installation, and then Preston's Paradise will be working with the residents to maintain and harvest the fruit.  A community vegetable garden is also in the works!

If you have experience working with autism, we'd love to have your help and hear your ideas on how to grow this partnership.

We're also excited to be installing an orchard and hopefully a garden two blocks away at Calvary St. Augustine Episcopal Church.  Pastor Renee MacKensie has been a big supporter of our work, and we like what she does in the neighborhood providing safe and educational spaces for kids young and old.

These two orchards will add to what we're starting to call the "Edible Belmont" neighborhood plan, locating a community food project on every block.  With 8 OURfarms gardens, several established community gardens, and now 5 orchards, we're getting pretty close, thanks in large part to our neighbors who grow all kinds of food to share.  Make sure you stay in touch so you know when the harvest is on!

Check out our progress on the Edible Belmont map!

View Edible Belmont in a larger map