UCD

University City District (UCD), in partnership with Farm to City, is pleased to announce the inaugural Farmers’ Market at The Porch at 30th Street Station every Wednesday from 11am to 2pm beginning May 16. Adjacent to the second busiest train station in the country, between two magnificent historic buildings and within 1,200 feet of over 16,000 jobs, The Porch now features a fun and convenient opportunity to buy fresh produce and healthy foods from local farmers. At least eight unique vendors will participate. Read on for details.

Mark your calendars for 4-6pm on Wednesday, June 20th, to celebrate the grand opening of The Dirt Factory, University City’s new community composting facility. The Dirt Factory will transform University City food waste into high quality organic compost, by combining it with the fallen leaves that cover our streets and sidewalks every fall.

"The fact that UCD from its start was a true partnership of anchor institutions, business owners and civic associations has been the single most important factor in our success," said Matt Bergheiser, UCD's executive director.

If you’re looking to take a stroll this weekend, head for 30th Street Station and the Porch public space that was created by the University City District last autumn. Thanks to the mild winter, it’s already become a hangout of choice for travelers as well as students and passersby. Along with funky, colorful café tables and chairs at which you can sit and savor a latte or iced tea from one of the eateries inside the station, the plaza has glorious views of the river and nearby historic buildings as well as first-class people-watching.

I’d heard rumor of the UCD walking escort service, but this is the first time I’ve actually given it a try. When I called they asked for my location, destination, first name, and phone number, and in just a few minutes my knight with shining bicycle had arrived.

Recently, UCD and the City of Philadelphia’s License and Inspections department entered into a partnership that resulted in saving 938 S. 49th Street from demolition.

Philadelphia’s next great public space will be home to a variety of concerts, fitness programs, a weekly farmers’ market, street performances and much more.

UCD’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI) is meeting the needs of the underemployed with programs designed specifically by our institutional partners.

Mark your calendars for the 2012 Mayor's Philly Spring Cleanup! We encourage everyone to step outside and clean up where you live, work, learn or play.

Progress continues on UCD's new community composting facility, where the two Earth Tub composting bins are now in place. We're still looking for a great name for the site though, and to sweeten the pot, the person who submits the winning name will receive 6 months of free compost pickup and delivery to the new facility via The Pedal Co-Op, a $60 value.