Lindsay Bushong & Alexis Carlsson, Drexel Urban Growers President & VP

Have you ever wanted to be part of a Food share? Are you interested in Urban Farming and Agriculture? Her Campus Drexel sat down with the president and vice president of Drexel Urban Growers, Lindsay Bushong and Alexis Carlsson, to dig up all the info about how they’re bringing fresh produce to Drexel’s campus and community. 

Lindsay Bushong hails from Lancaster, PA and is an urban environmental studies and sustainability in the built environment major, while Alexis came to Drexel from Wall, NJ and is pursuing an international area studies with focus on global science, sustainability, and health. Bushong was the driving force behind this club’s creation, saying the idea began when she and a classmate realized they both had a really strong interest in urban farming and wanted to get involved here in Philadelphia.  They began in the Summer Winter Garden right across the street from Myers Hall where they kept a hive of bees. This gained the interest of other students and a program manager at the Lindy Center, Jen Britton, who suggested they turn this activity into a club.

Since becoming an official club on campus, they’ve created a larger community garden at the Dornsife Center, sold plants, volunteered at events, and initiated the formation of a Drexel based CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program. A CSA is an easy and cost effective way to buy fresh, straight-from-the-farm produce without venturing out of the city. Usually, farmers will price foodshare produce as wholesale and then upsell to urban food markets and restaurants. Each week, you would pick up your share (box) of four to five items at a specific location. Additionally, Philly Foodworks foodshares include credits you can use in their online store to buy other products (jams, breads, desserts) to be added to your share. Alexis’s unofficial title is the “CSA Queen” as she is the one working on starting the Drexel-affiliated CSA through Philly Foodworks on campus. After joining a CSA program  in April,  she became passionate about sustainable food systems and urban farming which led to her joining forces with Lindsay in June 2014. 

They both proudly boast about the democratic nature of the club, making sure everyone is involved with decisions and activities. As the club grows, so do their goals. “The most important goal is connecting students with the local community and the issues they face every day. Food security is a new concept for most Drexel students and we have such a great opportunity to learn about it, only blocks from where we sit in class. I really want to encourage a sense of civic responsibility in our students, as well as give kids the skills they need to grow food themselves” Lindsay said. Meanwhile, Alexis wants 30 students to sign up for a Drexel based foodshare program by winter, offering a chance to  get veggies, meats, produce, baked goods, and more delivered on campus.

Their club doesn’t just focus on bringing food to Drexel students; they’ve also formed a community where they can share gardening experience, construction, or knowledge of the Mantua/Powelton Village community with other members of the club.  

They both admit holding positions in this club come with their struggles, Alexis is still trying to figure out how to garden in the winter, while Lindsay has to stay on top of club responsibilities, along with school and work.  Luckily they both have tremendous attitudes and are passionate about what they’re doing, which helps the stress seem not as bad. 

As both Lindsay and Alexis look to their futures, they’re both set on continuing their work outside of Drexel. Hoping to always have the opportunity to be growing and producing her own food, Lindsay also wants to continue working on urban issues as a city planner. She also gives credit to the club for opening her eyes to the importance of social responsibility and being involved in your community. Alexis wants “to continue this type of work around food access in urban settings, either in Philadelphia or abroad” along with pursuing a Master’s in public health.

If you like meeting people who enjoy getting their hands dirty and volunteering at farms, and want to learn more about gardening/urban farming, Drexel Urban Growers is something worth checking out.  Lindsay said “anyone who has any interest in the environment, community, sustainability, food, social justice, design, or worms” should check out their club.  You don’t even have to sign up for a foodshare to participate in Urban Growers. 

If you are interested in a foodshare, there are three options for Winter shares with Philly Foodworks — Mixed Choice, Farmers Choice, and your Choice. Mixed choices starts at $12.40/week with 4-5 different vegetables in your share, and $35 in credit (included in total price) to use at the online farmer’s market to add eggs, dairy, breads, meat, fruit, and other produce whenever you wish!

Email Drexelgrows@gmail.com if you want to learn more, sign up for a foodshare, or have an idea that can help Alexis do some gardening in the winter.