Project Description
Program
Philly Earth
Philly Earth is our STEAM-based environmental education, urban farming, and agricultural workforce development program for young people. Philly Earth operates out of a teaching farm built on The Village’s campus; the curriculum focuses on Permaculture and Appropriate Technologies.
Overview
Philly Earth operates based upon three core principles:
EarthCare – caring for all living and non-living things, be they plant, animal, soil or water; PeopleCare – caring for one another to meet basic needs of food, shelter, education, employment and social support; and FairShare – contributing time, money and energy to achieve the goals of the first two principles.
Philly Earth students range from ages 9-19. Students can earn sustainability badges by participating in after-school and summer classes in Permaculture (composting, companion planting) and Appropriate Technologies (rocket stove construction, rainwater collection) taught by Philly Earth faculty. Students help maintain the Philly Earth Demonstration Farm, create organic home and beauty products and work at the Philly Earth Farmer’s Market.
Philly Earth Guardians Say
“How can we take care of each other if we can’t take care of the earth?”
— Mikal Watson, 14
Philly Earth addresses this question head-on: teach young people to be good stewards of the earth and they will become good stewards of their neighbors, their families and themselves.
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