Check out Honeyfest this weekend
Whenever I see Philadelphia represented poorly in the national media, I try to remember how awesome our city is at sustainability. And now that we’ve all survived scorching heat, an earthquake, and a hurricane, it’s time to welcome the unofficial start of fall with a plethora of eco-minded events. These are tops on my list of places to go over the next few weeks. Check them out!
Philadelphia Honey Festival – 9/9, 9/10, Various times and locations, Free
The smell of honey is in the air at the second annual Philadelphia Honey Festival. You can find everything and anything you want to know about beekeeping or honey bees at this festival. It’s sponsored by four organizations: Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild, Bartram’s Garden, Wyck Historic House and Garden, and Wagner Free Institute of Science. And there’s something for everyone.
Skip out of work early on Friday to catch the program, “So You Want to be a Beekeeper?” This program at the Wagner will cover all the basics of beekeeping and even let you take a peek into a working hive. If you can’t play afternoon hooky, then you can check out Honey Happy Hour from 5-6 p.m., where you can sample local beer made with local honey.
Then, on Saturday, in opposite parts of the city, you can check out various bee events. In the northwest, find out how honey comes out of the comb at Wyck where you can see honey extractions. Wyck is also sampling Capogiro Gelato made with Wyck honey.
And if you’re closer to the southwest, check out the events at Bartram’s Garden, where kids can “Celebrate the Bee” with science discovery stations and musical performances.
Greenfest Philly – 9/10, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Headhouse Square, Free
Saturday is a busy day for eco-events. Also going on is the 6th Annual Greenfest Philly. At this event, you can check out more than 50 vendors and fill your belly with local and organic food. Whether or not you’re in the market for a new car, you can take a spin in the new Chevy Volt.
And, now’s the time to clean out all of those old electronics you have lying around your house and recycle them responsibly. Electronics have toxic heavy metals inside them. If these gadgets aren’t recycled responsibly, they are often sent to developing countries for disassembly, often by children.
E-Waste Experts – partnering with the Clean Air Council – is offering FREE E-waste recycling at Greenfest. Most electronic recycling events usually ask you to pay a dollar or more a pound to offset the cost of recycling. If you’d like to donate some money, the Clean Air Council will certainly take it to help them cover the costs of recycling large objects such as televisions.
PECO Green Roof Tour– 9/20 – 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – 2301 Market Street – $5 members, $10 non-members
Led by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, you can take a tour of PECO’s Green Roof. It’s 45,000 square feet of lovely green, and maybe you’ll get some ideas of how to green your own roof. These tours are offered every third Tuesday of the month. This month, though, you can get the added bonus of checking out PHS’ new pop-up gardens nearby and learn how PHS is taking the lead in greening vacant land in the city. They ask that you register on their Website if you’d like to come along.
Manayunk Eco Arts Fest – 9/24, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., 9/25, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Main Street in Manayunk between Levering St. & Lock St., Free
Looking for some new art to adorn your office? Or how about some eco-friendly crafts? The Manayunk Eco Arts Fest is the place to do your shopping. The second annual event features recycled and upcycled hand-crafted wares. The festival will also feature eco-lectures and an eco-car show.
PHS Fall Garden Festival – 9/24, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Philadelphia Navy Yard, Free
If you’re looking for something more kid-friendly or more agriculturally focused, check out the Philadelphia Horticultural Society’s Fall Garden Festival. This festival will feature music, food, and lots of kid’s activities. And, if you’re over 21 and thirsty, from noon to four you can check out the new Young Friends Biergarten, featuring local brews from Yards.
Subaru Fall Festival at Greensgrow Farms – 10/1/11, 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. – 2501 E. Cumberland Street, Free
Philadelphia’s premiere urban farm will bring in fall with their annual festival at their urban farm in Kensington. The festival will of course feature food! You can also check out their weekly farmer’s market to make some harvest-style delicacies. The festival showcases organic gardening workshops as well as crafts and kid’s activities. You can also make your own straw person and learn the art of making homemade apple cider.
