TTF’s Steph Clymer poses for a picture with some of the volunteers. Photo courtesy of Enon Tabernacle Photography Ministry.

Meanwhile, other members of the TTF team worked with volunteers from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Friends of Vernon Park and Villanova University to clean and green Vernon Park: raking leaves, picking up trash, building protective fences around young trees, and cleaning debris out of storm drains.

Volunteers build a fence around a young tree in Vernon Park.

TTF also worked with Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Habitat for Humanity and local residents to clean up trash and debris in Southeast Germantown. We removed over two dozen bags of trash and recycling and talked with local community members about the importance of clean streets and how they relate to our water quality.

Volunteers pose for a picture at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.

Learn more about the day of service here. Thanks to all of the great volunteers who came out to help clean up our watershed!

The speakers emphasized the importance of urban sustainability, as for the first time in recorded history, over 50% of the world’s population now resides in urban environments. That number is expected to reach 75-85% worldwide by the year 2030. This news has made Brazil a model of sustainability for other countries and cities, as Brazil already has 85% of its population living in urban environments.

Mayor Nutter talked about the launch of his Greenworks Philadelphia plan to bring more green jobs to the residents of Philadelphia by way of weatherizing programs, solar panel installation, and refitting city equipment to be energy saving. According to the mayor, Philadelphia has already seen a $1 million savings from refitting traffic signals with LED lights.

A quote from Minister Teixeira: “When you think ‘green jobs,’ ‘green economy,’ it’s not just green. You can have light green and dark green. It is inclusive.” By this, Teixeria means that this type of work can be found in all types of fields and at different levels.

These eco-leaders serve in different levels of government in different countries, but they all recognize the need for both “top-down” and “bottom-up” solutions to environmental problems.

All in all, it was encouraging to see international collaboration on sustainability issues.

Dan Efroymson led a group of people to look for birds along a section of the Tacony Creek. We learned about bird calls and silhouettes, both useful ways to help identify birds. Highlights of the walk included a Red-shouldered Hawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Towhee, and Dark-eyed Juncos. TTF will submit a list of sightings to the Wyncote Audubon Society to be included in their compilation for this year.

Dan leads the group in identifying Mourning Doves.

Community members enjoy a wildlife identification game.

Everyone enjoyed playing with PWD Spokesdog, Teddie!

See more pictures from the event here.

Thanks to everyone who came out! Love Your Watershed events will resume in the spring — we hope to see you then!

We met Terri and Patty when we contacted them about the raffle we ran as part of our outreach to Cheltenham E-Waste Drive (November 19) attendees.

Terri signed up for the TTF e-newsletter and when we emailed her to let her know she had won a Trolley Car Diner gift certificate, this is how she responded: “By the way, I have a stream that runs through my property, which with the flooding rain recently has been gouged out quite deeply. As result, I found I have a deep area at the upper corner of my property that has FISH (I saw a small shoal of fish — about 20 of them ranging in size from about 1.5 to 4 inches.) My concern is that just above that area is a storm water run-off pipe. Is there any way to get the township to put a damper of sorts on that pipe to help preserve this area for the fish?”

We contacted the PA Department of Environmental Protection, which provided this guidance: “It is not unusual to find fish living in our urban streams. Several species are common. These fish populations are surviving in an environment that has been impacted by stormwater discharges for a long time. From the description provided, there is no reason to suspect a particular threat to the fish, and no official action seems to be required. “

Yesterday, we personally delivered the gift certificate to Terri and Patty, who are incredibly knowledgeable stewards of their creekside property on Church Road in Cheltenham. They have two rain barrels and their home is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat! They are an example of watershed stewardship we’d like to see catch on!

The books and movies highlighted below discuss threats to clean water and how YOU can help create solutions. When you buy any of these by clicking on the link, TTF will receive a portion of the purchase price…it’s really giving two gifts in one!

• Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s Park Ranger Georgia Kolbas shared her collection of skulls and specimens collected in Philadelphia parks
• The Energy Coordinating Agency’s Aaron Slater held a rain barrel workshop and signed people up to receive FREE rain barrels in the spring
• TTF’s Ashley Schmid played our wildlife identification game to help visitors learn about the critters that live in Tacony Creek Park
• Pennypack Environmental Center’s Peter Kurtz led a tree walk — tree enthusiasts sampled beech nuts, learned about woodland plants, watched blister beetles and explored Tacony Creek Park
• Philadelphia Water Department spokesdog, Molson and his owner gave out gifts to help dog owners pick up after their furry friends

Molson and his owner share what others can do to clean up our water.

Molson plays with some of our younger participants.

TTF’s Ashley Schmid leads a fun wildlife identification activity.

Check out this video of Parks and Recreation Naturalist Peter Kurtz describing Tacony Creek ecology.

Join us on December 17 for more great info and activities, to meet PWD Spokesdog Teddie and participate in a bird walk! Find more details on our Events page.

Volunteers hard at work planting trees.

TTF created the Wingohocking Tree Tenders in response to the declining tree population in Germantown and a growing demand for street trees. Trees contribute to clean water in our city by absorbing rainwater after it hits the ground. We educate residents on the benefits of trees in urban areas, plan and implement new tree plantings, and care for existing trees. This is a fun and exciting group of people who are focused on beautifying our community!

Thank you so much to the supporters of this effort: Bryner Chevrolet and Fill A Bagel of Jenkintown, High Point Cafe of Mount Airy, Awbury Arboretum, Habitat for Humanity, the Fairmount Organic Recycling Center of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

Watch volunteers spread mulch around the base of a newly planted tree and give it water.

Watch TTF Executive Director, Julie Slavet pound stakes!

See more photos from this event in this Flickr set.

Show your support of TTF by bringing your friends and family for a delicious and fun dining experience at Trolley Car Diner & Café.

From Monday, December 12 to Sunday, December 18, we’re holding an important fundraising event at Mt. Airy’s Trolley Car Diner and East Falls’ Trolley Car Café. As part of their Helping Hands Week fundraising program, they’ll donate 15% of TTF coupon purchases towards TTF’s award-winning efforts. Please be sure to bring this coupon with you to support TTF — download the .pdf here!

Please join us — invite all of your friends — take your kids out to breakfast – your staff out to lunch – your mother out to dinner!

DATES: Monday, December 12 at 7:00 a.m. to December 18 at 9:00 p.m.
TIMES: Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday: 3:00 – 9:00 p.m.
PLACE: Trolley Car Diner, 7619 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA and East Falls’ Trolley Car Café, 3269 S. Ferry Road, Philadelphia
CONTACT: Contact TTF at 215-844-8100 or at info@ttfwatershed.org. For directions or more information about Trolley Car Diner & Café, go to www.trolleycardiner.com.

Volunteers hard at work raking leaves.

TTF hosted an information table and fun activities for kids.

The day’s program included speeches from Mayor Michael Nutter, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Mike DiBerardinis, Water Department Commissioner Howard Neukrug, Barbara McCabe from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Maitreyi Roy from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, TTF’s own Julie Slavet, and Ruth Seeley from Friends of Vernon Park.

Mayor Nutter thanks volunteers.

After the speaking program, the crowd cheered as Mayor Nutter and stakeholders cut the ribbon for the brand new rain garden!

Mayor Nutter cuts the ribbon.

The event was covered on ABC 6 and Fox 29, as well as in this great NewsWorks article. You can also see pictures from the event in this Flickr set.

Thank you so much to everyone who worked so hard on this project, and especially to TTF’s outgoing AmeriCorps VISTA, Lesley Saliga, whose hard work and dedication made the whole project possible!