Here's a few quotes and details regarding a report of our first courtyard and community garden workday at the Phactory site.  People from all walks of life came down to get involved in the community garden/space phase of the project. Consisting largely of members of DVPN, and a few others -- people came from all over philly, the burbs, and even as far as central jersey..

Our next workday is Sunday the 27th of April.  There are many ways to participate.  If you want to see the Please Take Materials Exchange reborn, it is imperative that you get involved to help make it happen! Please RSVP to me if you intend to come on Sunday and pitch in.  Every little bit helps!  If you are unable to attend on scheduled work days, but still want to be involved, feel free to email me, there are many different ways to lend a hand.

Oh, and for you PTME'ers.. one additional tidbit.. several people walked away with little nifty things they found in the debris of interest to them.. so that's one fringe benefit to getting involved.. potential goodies!

"Ok, you guys officially rock!  Our work meeting this morning was one of the single most productive experiences I have ever been privileged to take a part in, since we formed DVPN back in 1999." -- Bob Bruhin development director of DVPN, so you know he's serious. :)

"It was my pleasure to be part of such a wonderful group of people and for such a good cause.   I look forward to working with you all again.." Denise M.R.

"We made a much bigger difference than I would have believed possible, with just a few hours of work! We still have a long way to go, of course, but now I know we can do it!" - Bob

"Just wanted to add my thanks to everyone who came out and helped, you really did an amazing job! I know I was sounding like a broken record by the end of the afternoon, but I couldn't help being surprised at just how much we were getting done every time I took a break and looked over the space :)

There are now paths cleared through to the back courtyard (which is already cleared, has a lovely brick floor and gets lots of sun for plants!)

A massive amount of wood and debris was removed, and sorted into what was re-usable and what's not.

And by the time we're done, we'll have a series of spacious, connected courtyards for use as a community space. For those that haven't been there, it runs the length of the old factory buildings next to it, which covers the better part of a city block :)

Looking forward to seeing folks again at the next work day!" -Raff

"Today DVPN removed 50 cubic yards of trash from the Phactory courtyard. Our goal is to help convert this enormous former factory and its grounds into a multi-use facility for a host of like-minded community groups. It will be a long-term project, but some benefits can be realized as early as this year.

We can create a walled courtyard with plantings that can serve as a large, safe, controlled space for any number of folks.

Regional accessibility is phenomenal, yet seclusion is amazing! There is so much we all can do here ... provided we clean it out and set it up first." - Tony/3 Blade

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The next work date will be Sunday, APR 27, at 1828 E. Somerset Ave. in the Richmond/Kensington section of Philadelphia.  Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to RSVP or on the workday call Tony (3Blade) on his cell (267) 456-5687

For this work date, we need at least two sets of workers.

GARDENERS must study this walled courtyard and develop a harmonious plan to tend it, using available urns and other tools. They need to form a collective that exchanges information and oversees that basic tasks are carried out.

WOODCHUCKS are needed to chuck wood: 1,000 huge handfuls of illicitly-dumped trash, mostly wood debris, must be removed from part of this  courtyard.

And much more!  Want to do something else?  Have other skills/resources? Just email me!  Thanks!