Weavers Way's 9th Annual Bike Tour Features Farms All Over Philly

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
PHILADELPHIA, PA, Sept. 17, 2014 — For the ninth year, Weavers Way Co-op sponsors its famous Urban Farm Bike Ride, celebrating Philadelphia’s dynamic, diverse urban farming community. 
 
This year's ride is Saturday, Sept. 27, and tickets are still available.
 
Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Weavers Way Community Programs, which provides children's programs at the Co-op’s two farms, while also running a farm and nutrition education program at Stenton Family Manor, the city’s largest shelter for homeless families.
 
As in past years, 100 to 150 riders will tour Philadelphia’s unique and vibrant neighborhoods and visit 8 to 10 of Philadelphia’s inspiring, engaged and committed urban farmers. It’s a friendly group ride, at a moderate pace that’s suitable to most riders. People enjoy the tour, and love the party at the end, which features great pizza and local beer.
 
This year continues the tradition of two simultaneous rides, one slightly shorter and flatter than the other. Both rides begin and end at Philadelphia Brewing Company in Kensington, which has plenty of parking in the area for those who choose to drive to the starting location.
 
Five of the eight farms visited this year are new to the ride, and the remaining farms haven’t been visited in three or four years. They include:
 
  • Philly Urban Creators, a dynamic community-based farm near 11th and York streets, north of Temple University.
  • SHARE Farm, at 29th Street and Hunting Park Avenue, is part of a vibrant food production and distribution center, with greenhouses, orchards, rooftop bees and more.
  • Wyck House Farm, located at the beautiful historic property in Germantown. It houses chickens, bees and production plots. Wyck hosts a weekly farmer’s market.
  • Hope Garden at Stenton Family Manor in East Mt. Airy. Stenton Family Manor has a longstanding relationship with Weavers Way Community Programs.
  • Mort Brooks Memorial Farm at Awbury, Weavers Way's original farm at Awbury Arboretum in Germantown.
  • Heritage Farm at the Methodist Home near Belmont Plateau. They’ll be joining an innovative new online CSA program called Philly Food.
  • Growing Home in South Philadelphia, which serves South Asian immigrants who want to grow the vegetables of their countries of origin.
  • La Finquita, a small farm near 4th and Master streets in West Kensington that provides produce to Catholic Worker. The growers aggregate their produce each week for a farmers market.
  • Urbanstead Farm, 17th Street and Ridge Avenue in Francisville, focuses on developing skills and opportunities for young people in the community.

Details

When: Saturday, Sept. 27, approximately 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Kensington, South Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, Germantown and Mt. Airy.
 
Starting and ending point: Philadelphia Brewing Company, 2440 Frankford Ave.
 
What to expect: Great rides through Philadelphia’s unique and vibrant neighborhoods; inspiring talks with Philadelphia’s pioneering urban farmers; great beer and pizza at the end of the ride; snacks and water along the route; and your own commemorative T-shirt.
 
The routes: This year we're continuing our tradition of two bike rides. Both are around 23 miles long.
The Northwest Route: Starting at 8 a.m., this route has an additional stop, and more hills, so it's probably best for moderately strong bikers. It heads north through Philadelphia to Germantown and Mt. Airy, then south again to Belmont Plateau.
The Central Route: Starting at 8:30 a.m., the route wanders through Kensington, North and South Philadelphia and Belmont Plateau.
 
Cost: $45 through Sept. 25, $50 on the day of the ride. Register and pay in advance at www.weaversway.coop/bikeride.
 
For questions about registration: wwcp@weaversway.coop
For questions about the ride itself: chris@chrishillmedia.com
Thanks to our sponsors and supporters! In addition to Weavers Way, which is providing a great deal of much needed support, these sponsors are also on board: Digital Innovation,Philadelphia Brewing Company, Kitchen Table Consultants,Fuji Bikes, Tees Delivered and Lindy Property Management.
 
About Weavers Way Community Programs: The nonprofit WWCP provides farm and nutrition education to help children grow up with an appreciation for healthy, sustainably grown food. For more information, visitwww.weaversway.coop/wwcp.
 
About Weavers Way: Founded in 1973 as a neighborhood buying club, “the Co-op” now encompasses two grocery stores, two specialty wellness and beauty shops and a pet store in Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill. Weavers Way is member-owned, open to the public and committed to offering quality products that are local, sustainable and nutritious. For more information, visitwww.weaversway.coop.