Growing Home

Producer: Monica Rogozinski

At 2500 Reed Street in South Philadelphia, a 7,000 square foot community garden emerges among the predominantly gray buildings around it, bringing its users – refugees from more than 20 different countries- a connection to their roots.

Since 2011, NSC (National Service Center) manages two community gardens in the area: Growing Home focuses on producing crops that the refugees were used to consume in their country of origin, and Growing Together promotes integration between the newcomers and the original community members.

The gardens host together around 200 plots, each producing about $600 worth of vegetables per year. They also provide ground for a beginner farmers training program that helps NSC’s clients to learn about farming and business development. The ultimate objective is to create revenue streams for refugees experienced in farming and urban agriculture.

Lisa Mosca
Lisa Mosca, Community Food Systems Director for the East Park Revitalization Alliance, talks about her work at the Strawberry Mansion gardens as well as both Nationalities Service Center gardens in Philadelphia; Growing Home and Growing Together.