Tour a High Tech Urban Food Lab

Posted by on April 16, 2012

Tour Philadelphia’s Newest High Tech Urban Food Lab During Earth Day 2012 Weekend Events.

An anticipated 500 people will participate in the Earth Day Weekend of Community Events hosted by The Partnership CDC in collaboration with local public officials, 60th Street Business Owners and other organizations in the West Philadelphia/Cobbs Creek area.

On Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 10a.m. to 2p.m., The Partnership CDC will host a community open house of its new Urban Food Lab, highlighting a weekend of Earth Day 2012 community events. The Urban Food Lab is located in West Philadelphia at 203 S. 60th Street between, Walnut and Locust Streets on the 60th Street shopping district.

The Urban Food Lab demonstrates an aquaculture system that is sustainable and capable of producing large quantities of high quality food in a small urban space. Using proven technologies, the Urban Food Lab will produce tilapia, spinach, bell peppers, collards, tomatoes, romaine lettuce and more, all available for local distribution. Additionally, the Urban Food Lab will offer project based learning and real life scenarios that will expose youth to S.T.E.M. – science, technology, engineering and math disciplines.

The Urban Food Lab Open House is one of the many sponsored community activities in the West Philadelphia/Cobbs Creek neighborhood organized for Earth Day. Activities include the 2nd Annual 5K Run/Walk for the Kids of Cobbs and the 60th Street corridor clean-up. All funds raised from the race are dedicated to outdoor recreational activities within Cobbs Creek Park for children and youth. In the spirit of National Community Day on Saturday, The Partnership CDC will sponsor 7 runners and organize 50 volunteers for the events. The Earth Day Weekend is to encourage residents to get connected with West Philadelphia’s beautiful Cobbs Creek Park and trails in addition, promote healthy living and community pride on National Community Day.

All of these events are supported by local public officials, 60th Street West Market Street Business Association and business owners, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, The Neighborhood Advisory Council, St. Joseph’s University volunteers, Team Pretty’s Beautiful Women With a Purpose, Christian Compassion Church, Taylor Tabernacle and Majid Mujahideen members as well as youth from the West/Cobbs Creek neighborhood.

The headquarters for The Earth Day Weekend of Community Events is located at 203 S. 60th Street between Walnut and Locusts Streets. The event activities will take place on Saturday, April 21st starting at 8a.m. and ending at 2p.m. The 2nd Annual 5K Run/Walk for the Kids of Cobbs begins at 8a.m. To register: http://cobbscreek5k.com/registration/ Immediately following the race award ceremony The Urban Food Lab open house begins at 10a.m.

About The Partnership Community Development Corporation:

The Partnership CDC is dedicated to addressing affordable housing and economic development in West and Southwest Philadelphia. Since 1994, The Partnership CDC has developed or co-developed over 380 units of affordable housing; created 93 new jobs of which over 40% have been filled by welfare-to-work participants; and invested $64 million dollars in West Philadelphia over the past twenty years. The Partnership CDC continuously strives to fulfill its mission of “Rebuilding Philadelphia—One Block at a Time.” Urban Food Lab is centerpiece of the TPCDC’s efforts to revitalize the 60th Street commercial corridor which includes plans to rehabilitate 23 commercial and residential spaces in the area.