Northwest Weekender: Spring concerts, open galleries and farmer’s markets

Looking for something fun to do this weekend?  Here are our top picks. 

Backyard composting workshop at Awbury Aboretum – 1 Awbury Road Food scraps have other uses besides garbage fodder. Mainly, they can be converted into nutrient-rich compost, which is super food for soil to grow trees, shrubs, vegetables and flower gardens. Philadelphia County’s Horticulture Department leads a $5 workshop on composting from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, with door prizes for attendants. Call 215-849-2855 to register.                             Rose Symposium at Wyck – 6026 Germantown Avenue The Wyck house boasts of having the oldest rose garden in the United States, and their fourth annual symposium dives into the myriad uses of the delicate and sweet-scented flower. Rose and botany experts Tom Carruth, Tara Krause and Stephen Scanniello will lead discussions, while workshops will tackle subjects like roses in cooking, photography and climbing arrangements. Admission to this event is $115 for non-members and $85 for members. It runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and includes a free lunch from Geechee Girl Rice Cafe. Tom Steigerwald’s “A Season to Remember” at the Chestnut Hill Gallery – 8117 Germantown Ave. Saturday will be the last chance to see the works of the late painter Tom Steigerwald, who taught drawing and anatomy at Moore College and Drexel University. His Masonite flora paintings possess a staggeringly lifelike quality through their vivid colors and crisp detail, and might remind some of Ernst Haeckel. Steigerwald passed away in June 2011. The Chestnut Hill Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Weavers Way Co-op Fresh & Local fair – 8242 Germantown Avenue Honoring the adage that you are what you eat is Weavers Way, and their afternoon fair on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. is a celebration of local, fresh and real food. Vendors like Calkins Creamery, Philly Cow Share, Bobbies Hummus; John & Kira’s Chocolates; Reanimator Coffee; Sun & Earth; My House Bakery; Real Pickles will be on hand, among others.

Farmers markets at Gorgas Park and East Falls Chef Lila’s Brulee Bakery creates delicious treats with sustainable and locally sourced treats. Her motto “dessert with a conscience,” – although, she also bakes breads, croissants and quiches to compliment her tarts and cakes. Her first farmer’s market at Gorgas Park begins today from 2 to 6 p.m. and will continue every Friday at that time. East Falls will also host their first Farmer’s Market of the summer this Satruday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. beneath the twin bridges at 4100 Ridge Ave, featuring the fruits, vegetables, herbs and butters of McCann’s Farm, from Elk Township, NJ.

Roxborough Symphony Orchestra’s free spring concert at Levering Presbyterian Church – 6301 Ridge Avenue The music of Vivaldi, Beethoven, John Philip Souza and Rogers and Hammerstein will be performed for the Roxborough Orchestra’s annual spring performance, this Saturday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

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