Participants of this field day will see SPIN (S-mall P-lot IN-tensive) Farming in action at Somerton Tanks Farm, a half-acre prototype urban vegetable farm located on Philadelphia Water Department land. Participants will tour the farm and learn about SPIN's agricultural and financial breakthroughs, about how it's enticing a new breed of farmer and inspiring conventional farmers to rethink their own operations. They will see how SPIN can be used to create new farmland closer to metropolitan areas, and how it can re-establish a viable role for independent farmers in the U.S. food production system.

Roxanne Christensen, co-founder and President of the Institute for Innovations in Local Farming, operates Somerton Tanks Farm, in partnership with the Philadelphia Water Department. Ms. Christensen contends that the separation of country and city is a bankrupt concept. "As development erodes the rural way of life, agriculture is creeping closer and closer to metropolitan areas. SPIN-FARMING™ leverages this trend in a positive way - by capitalizing on limited resources and space.

Directions to Somerton Tanks Farm 301 Tomlinson Road, Philadelphia, PA 19116

From the South
Take 95 North to the Rt. 63/Woodhaven Road exit. Bear to the left (heading west) after getting off the exit. Take Rt. 63/Woodhaven Rd. until it dead ends and make a left onto Evans Road. Take this to the first light and make a right onto Byberry Road. Take Byberry Road through 3 traffic lights(one double light) At the 4th light is Bustleton Road and make a left. Take this through 3 traffic lights. Make a right onto Tomlinson Road at the 4th light. We are up at the top of the hill on the right by the red and white water towers.

From the North
Take 95 South to the Rt. 63/Woodhaven Road exit. Head West on Woodhaven Road. Follow directions for From the South.

From the West
Take the Pennsylvania Turnpike East to the Rt. 1/Roosevelt Boulevard exit and head south. Take the Boulevard a couple miles to Byberry Road. Byberry Road is just past the exit for Woodhaven Road. Make a right onto Byberry. At the first light is Evans road, follow directions for from the South.