Giving Back Some Brotherly Love: Down and Dirty Edition

Summer can be hard in the city, what with the smog and humidity and the cement oven beneath our feet. Phillyist plans to balance sticky subway air with some getting back to nature, and you can too. Greater Phildelphia Cares has a bunch of volunteer opportunities that will connect you with the soil. Which we hear is nice and cool once you dig down a few inches.

GPC has recently moved their orientation online, which means you can orient yourself today and start getting dirty this weekend. They assure us you don't need to be a skilled gardener to join up. Don't forget your hoes!

Wyck Historic House & Garden
Germantown
Saturday, June 9, 10 am-12 pm (2nd Saturdays)
Help maintain the gardens at this historic landmark in Germantown. If you stick around 'til 12 they'll even give you a tour.
Contact Project Leader Lisa Dimeo, 215-336-7288.

Camden Children's Garden
Camden, NJ
Saturday, June 9, 11 am- 4 pm
Saturday, June 23, 11 am- 4 pm (2nd and 4th Saturdays)
A quick trip on PATCO or the ferry will bring you to the Camden Children's Garden, a 4-acre "interactive garden," where you'll help with planting and environmental education projects.
Contact Project Leader Tracy Tomchik, 856-365-8733.

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Logan Square Area
Wednesday, June 13, 5:30 pm-7 pm
Wednesday, June 27, 5:30 pm-7 pm (2nd and 4th Wednesdays)
Chill out after work at a neighborhood garden and help keep Philadelphia Green.
Contact Project Leader Erica Sollberger, 215-988-8857.

The Fisher Park Community Alliance TLC Days
Olney
Saturday, June 16, 9 am- 12 pm (3rd Saturdays)
You'll be planting, pruning, weeding, building trails, getting rid of litter, and removing invasive plants: in other words, showing the park some love. You'll need to sport your own gardening gloves for this one.
Contact Project Leader Cheryl Barr, 267-939-8691.

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
Roxborough
Saturday, June 16, 10 am-12 pm (3rd Saturdays)
Help repair a wildlife habitat by planting native plants, removing invasive ones, and repairing trails and fences.
Contact Project Leader Jessica Grace, 267-441-8287.

Gardening at Royal Gardens
Overbrook
Sunday, June 24, 2-5 pm (Last Sundays)
Help this community garden achieve its goal of promoting positive, constructive outdoor activities by assisting with environmental projects and trail repair.
Contact Terry Baxter, 215-564-4544.

Image Credit: Flickr user pianoforte