Plants are selected based on their compliance with Philadelphia’s USDA hardiness zone ranking of 7A. Starting in late February, preparations for the spring and summer garden begin with seed starting in the Temple Tiny House. After ensuring that the needs and interests of the surrounding community are met, seeds are obtained through a variety of sources in preparation for the start of the spring season. During this period of dormancy, a list of all the plants that TCG intends to grow is compiled and reviewed. Planning for the garden typically occurs during the winter season, when not much is growing in the garden. In taking these steps, TCG seeks to create a garden that contains all the varieties and types of plants that best serve community members. Similarly, interactions with local community members are used as an opportunity to engage them with the space, and gauge what they would like to see growing. Weekly club meetings held during the semester are used as planning sessions in which interested students can advocate for what they want to grow in the garden, and learn the skills necessary to cultivate those plants. To achieve this, months of planning and preparation go into creating a bountiful garden that incorporates the tastes and preferences of the surrounding community. URBAN AGRICULTURE IMPERATIVEĮach year, the Temple Community Garden (TCG) student organization cultivates a fruit, vegetable, herb, and flower garden that serves to benefit the surrounding community and ecosystem. Informative site signage helps to foster a living-learning environment. The low-maintenance plants add a splash of color and provokes interest along the front of the site. The design had to consider the compacted ground conditions, the harsh urban site environment, a limited budget and plantings that have been used successfully in other areas of campus. Site landscaping around the structure was designed by Temple Landscape Architecture and Horticulture students under the direction of faculty and the Temple Grounds Department. The Temple Tiny House, conceived in 2014 as an interdisciplinary student project, was sited at the garden to allow for increased community programming. The site also provides composting to serve the surrounding community and the student-run campus café. Food harvested from the garden is available free of charge at TCG’s weekly summer farm stand. The organization aims to provide insight into sustainable agricultural methods while actively playing a role in enriching the surrounding community. The garden is a public space focused on the development of practical gardening skills and serves as an educational environment where community members and students are encouraged to come and participate in the gardening process. TCG cultivates a fruit, vegetable, herb, and flower garden that serves to benefit the surrounding community and ecosystem. The garden is situated on a greyfield which consists of three parcels of land that were purchased as vacant lots by Temple University in 2010. TCG was relocated to the site at Diamond and Carlisle Streets in the fall of 2014. TCG’s mission is to combat the issue of food insecurity within the urban environment by providing the local North Philadelphia community access to sustainably grown produce. The Temple Community Garden (TCG) is a student run organization that acts to provide an outlet for innovation and experimentation within urban agriculture. PLACE PETAL Photo Courtesy of Temple Tiny House 01.
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