Garden Programs

City Garden Becomes a Classroom

For nearly 15 years PEP consumers have helped plant and maintain PEP's courtyard garden and prepare it for competing in the annual Philadelphia Horticultural Society City Garden Contest.  In the process they have learned to appreciate and identify a variety of plants and trees, to start plants from seeds, and transplant and cultivate them.  They have also created a refreshing oasis for themselves, PEP staff, and visitors.  These  efforts have not gone unnoticed, PEP received first place honors in the 2003 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society  - City Gardens contest and Second Place honors again in 2006.

To extend these opportunities to others in the community, PEP is expanding this program to host garden tours, education, and activities for neighborhood preschool and elementary school children.  The goal is to enhance classroom science and environmental education for children who have minimal exposure to nature.  In addition, the children will have the opportunity to integrate with PEP consumers who have developmental disabilities as they work together on garden projects.

Teachers from a nearby Head Start Program have been the first to bring their students to experience the garden classroom.  In May, about 150 preschoolers participated in the garden planting day by touring the garden, observing the planting process and planting seeds.  Some of the classes returned to observe how the garden was growing and one class brought butterflies to release onto the garden's butterfly bush.  The preschool classes will participate in garden projects each month based on a  curriculum that PEP staff and the preschools collaborated on.

Garden Renovation Project

To prepare the garden for the increased number of people it will serve, PEP plans to replace broken and unsafe concrete walkways and build raised garden beds that are accessible to handicapped individuals.  As an in-kind donation, the Community Design Collaborative (CDC) of AIA Philadelphia created a design for the garden renovation and PEP is currently seeking funding for the project.  If you would like more information about the garden restoration project or would like to contribute financially to the project please contact our Development Office.

For more information, please contact:

Michele Cheng, Office Manager 

1200 South Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA 19146

215-952-4266

Michele.cheng@pepservices.org

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