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Scenes from Greensgrow Farms, including a truck painted by the Mural Arts Program.
(All photos by M. van Ogtrop)

Traveling down an unassuming stretch of Cumberland Street in Kensington, Greensgrow Farms comes upon you like a breath of fresh air.

And it’s fresh, alright: Greensgrow, which consists of a farmers’ market, nursery and City Supported Agriculture (or CSA) program on 1+ acres of land, specializes in growing organic, sustainable food and reselling fresh, locally grown meat, dairy products and produce. It’s open May through the holidays.

If Halloween odds-and-ends are what you seek, Greensgrow has lots of treats (no tricks!).

Under the direction of Mary Seton Corboy, the farm has been operating since 1997 — but with the recent “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” movement, more people than ever are turning to Greensgrow’s fresh products. As Mary told us, “(People) want to eat locally, they want to eat sustainably, they want to eat organically…and we believe in providing fresh food to a full spectrum of people.”

The locals love Greensgrow, sure, but some of the Farm’s most devoted clients are local restaurants: Standard Tap, Honey’s Sit ’n Eat, Johnny Brenda’s and Rittenhouse BYOB Mémé all stop by to pick up ingredients, later to be whipped into amazing meals in their kitchens. (They don’t make it much fresher than that!)

It all makes for a delicious mix of people rummaging through the Greensgrow — and its popularity is only growing. Says Mary, “Greensgrow on Saturday is definitely the place to be.”

A Greensgrow employee tends to the harvest.

Greensgrow’s CSA program is a great deal — not to mention one that’ll keep your meals fresh and constantly inventive. The summer CSA program lasts 25 weeks, costing about $32 per week. (You can pick up your CSA weekly or biweekly). That’ll get you a selection of humanely raised meat and dairy products from local farmers and tofu made in Fairmount, along with Greensgrow’s own vegetables and honey from its “Honey From the ‘Hood” program. You can also opt for the Winter CSA program, which runs for nine weeks, every other week.

The greenhouse at Greensgrow, plus some plump tomatoes and a handmade sign.

Greensgrow is pretty clutch during the holidays. If you’ve yet to get your Halloween pumpkin, they’ve got lots (plus tasty apple cider to get you in the fall mood). Looking for ingredients for Thanksgiving? The Tuesday and Wednesday before the holiday, Greensgrow opens a special farmers’ market selling Thanksgiving dinner staples like butternut squash, pies and fresh turkey (which you must pre-order).

And that would traditionally end Greensgrow’s season. But there’s something very magical about the Farm in the winter season — imagine it covered in snow and holiday lights — so the two weekends before Christmas, Greensgrow takes part in “A Very Kensington Christmas,” in which local businesses like Memphis Taproom and Philadelphia Brewing Company set up festive light displays and offer holiday specials, while Greensgrow opens its greenhouse to artists in the InLiquid community to sell their work (perfect for last-minute gift-buying).

Delicious honey (they -- rather, their bees -- make their own); a Philly-style pumpkin; and a nice place to sit.

There’s a lot to say about Greensgrow: It’s beautiful, it’s sustainable, it’s tasty and, most of all, it’s good for Philadelphia. We suggest you take a trip over to Kensington yourself and get fresh at the farm.

Greensgrow Farms
2501 E. Cumberland Street, Philadelphia PA 19125
www.greensgrow.org