Father, son turn guns into garden tools in North Philly tonight

Reuse, reduce, recycle. We’ve all heard the rhetoric. But it’s more than just a slogan. For many Philadelphians it’s a way of life. Communities all around the city have embraced the mantra, turning plastic bags into fashionable accessories and vacant lots into community gardens.

This evening, a father and son team from Colorado will bring their vision of repurposing to North Philadelphia with RAW Tools: Forging Peace by Turning Guns into Garden Tools.

The mission behind RAW Tools and tonight’s event, which begins at 5 p.m., is to repurpose fully functioning weapons into hand tools to be used in the creation of something new, preventing the weapon’s use for violence and creating a cycle of peace.

The evening of non-violence is being held at Simple Cycle, a non-profit community bike shop in the Hunting Park section of North Philadelphia.

Both RAW Tools and Simple Cycle are faith-based organizations, which aim to inspire their communities.

Check out the video below for a preview of the forging process.

RAW Tools: Sat. Sept. 14, 2013, at 5 p.m. at Simple Cycle, 4455 N. 6th St. Phila., Pa.