POP Summer Newsletter

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A flyer for Strawberry Day, which includes graphics of cartoon strawberries in masks

Summer Newsletter & Spring Event Summaries

The city continues to lift pandemic-related restrictions, and gathering together in person has become more safe. While we recognize that there is still work to be done to ensure that all members of our community are taken care of, we are grateful that in-person volunteer and social events can be held, and hope you enjoy the write-ups from these spring events and milestones.

In May, members of the POP team and the Junior League of Philadelphia Inc (JLP) carried out a ceremonial planting and took a tour of the POP Learning Orchard, nursery, and site of the future high tunnels and greenhouse. JLP has been the lead sponsor to date of the orchard, nursery, irrigation systems, deer fencing, and solar shed construction. This spring, POP was honored to receive support from the PA Department of Agriculture; those funds will be matched by remaining grant funds from JLP, allowing POP to build its high tunnels this fall.

Also in May, POP held an Open House & Plant Sale at our headquarters at The Woodlands. In early June, we were fortunate to be able to hold a celebration of the spring harvest, with Strawberry Day returning after a year's hiatus. Read more about both events, and see photos, at this blog post. See additional photos and follow POP on Instagram to see frequent orchard and program updates!

New on the POP Blog

POP's blog has remained active, with a number of new posts this spring by POP staff and outside contributors. We are also trying to include write-ups of workshops, like May's herbal salve event, so that even those who can't attend in person are able to learn with us. We hope you'll check out some of the updates below!

June orchard task list
Herbal salves: workshop re-cap and how-to
Spotted Lanternfly update
Kousa dogwood: edible flowers and fruit!

Nyambi Royster stirs a double boiler to melt wax for the herbal salve, while workshop attendees look on.

Goumi: a nitrogen fixing fruit

Goumi Berry (Elaeagnus multiflora) is a deciduous, shrubby perennial plant with origins tracing back to China, Korea and Japan.

A bountiful blueberry bush weighed down with ripe blue fruit

Spotlight on blueberries

A lot of blueberry history is steeped in South Jersey, which continues to be the blueberry highbush production capital today.

An orchard sign with a photo of and information on the hardy almond

Partner Survey Summary - 2020

Insights into orchard successes and challenges, yields and distribution methods, and how to improve the services POP provides.

School kids in white tops and khaki pants lift a bare-root crab apple tree. Its mostly bare branches have red fruit from the prior fall.

Growing Together: Historic Fair Hill

In the latest partner feature for POP's Growing Together campaign, guest contributor Kyle Hiller shares the abolitionist history, and current-day activities of North Philadelphia's Historic Fair Hill cemetery, both within and outside of its gates on Germantown Ave.

Support Historic Fair Hill in their community engagement, greening, and literacy efforts by making a gift today: donate to Fair Hill here.

Thanking our community & supporters

We appreciate all of the members of the wider POP community who heeded Orchard Director Alkebu-Lan Marcus' call for support. His campaign for a new truck was successful, raising the needed funds in less than a week -- WOW!

Through the summer, Riverwards Produce will continue its collection of donations to POP- just "round up" at the register and support POP's ongoing work! Follow them on IG for market updates.

Mariposa Co-op selected POP to be its Roundup for Change partner in July 2021. Donations collected at the register will go to support POP's Lead Orchard Volunteer program and partners in West Philly.

Weckerly's and Funky Fresh Ferments are working on some delectable treats created with foraged juneberries and mulberries, and Lil Pop Shop created some beautiful mulberry hand pies. Funds donated to POP via these partnerships will support the propagation and redistribution of native plants to regional indigenous / BIPOC-led groups.

Urban bee-keeping company Alvéole has partnered with POP through the 1% for the Planet program which encourages environmental philanthropy.

POP sends its thanks to Council President Darrell Clarke and 3rd District Councilmember Jamie Gauthier for their support of POP's applications to the Philadelphia Activities Fund.

Upcoming Orchard Care Days!

POP updated its safety guidelines for in-person events in June, and we will continue to monitor public health recommendations and make further changes as needed. We still strongly encourage pre-registration but mask use is no longer required outdoors for fully vaccinated people. At most events, POP and volunteers will help partners complete tasks in the monthly orchard task list. See all available events on the POP Events Page, including a wineberry harvest event that we will be posting soon!