Catch up on the latest sustainability news:

Parks and Rec expands environmental stewardship program. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation are hiring two full-time positions – an Environmental Stewardship Program Manager and an Environmental Stewardship Specialist. Both of the positions are fully funded for two years – thanks to a grant from the William Penn Foundation – with the intention to grow the roles into permanent civil service positions. The Environmental Stewardship Programs support over 5,000 acres of natural lands in Philadelphia.

Office of Sustainability announces environmental justice grant recipients. For the third year in a row, the Office of Sustainability has granted Community Resilience and Environmental Justice grants to help fund Philadelphia community projects. This year, the thirteen grant recipients will also receive support such as project planning, team coaching, and grant writing. Projects will receive $30,000 for two years. 

PHS opens gardening history exhibit. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is celebrating 200 years with a new gardening exhibit, Bouquet of Stories: Celebrating Philadelphia’s Gardening Heritage, on display at The Athenaeum of Philadelphia. The exhibit features a collection of rare objects and photographs that highlight the stories of gardeners who have shaped Philadelphia horticulture for centuries. Bouquet of Stories is also accompanied by a novel garden at the Athenaeum, designed by award-winning landscape designer Wambui Ippolito. The exhibit will be on display from November 6 through January 30. PhillyVoice

PGW reduces methane emissions. Philadelphia Gas Works is reducing methane — a destructive greenhouse gas — emissions by upgrading old valves in the system. Most of its greenhouse gas emissions come from gas use in homes and businesses; environmental advocates say the valves are just a drop in the bucket. A spokesperson for the company said that they believe no project is too small. WHYY

Refugees find connection in community garden. Refugees from Myanmar are celebrating a new community garden space in West Philadelphia. Called Taw Meh Pah Garden, the lot is a permanent space for the Karen community to put down roots — something advocates say is very meaningful for a people who have faced constant displacement. Gardeners plan to grow crops native to Southeast Asia, like peppers, bananas, and papayas. Billy Penn

Cover photo: Bananas, one of the crops gardeners plan to grow at Taw Meh Pah Garden. Photo by Ries Bosch via Unsplash

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Angie Bacha (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based solutions journalist and recent Erasmus Mundus Master's in Journalism, Media and Globalisation student in Aarhus, Denmark. Previously, she worked as a student journalist at Community College of Philadelphia and Editorial Intern at Resolve Philly. Some other hats she has worn: Human Rights and Theatre Studies graduate; teaching artist; carpenter; AmeriCorps volunteer; and rock climbing gym shift supervisor. View all posts by Angie Bacha