An elf in an orchard

During the Yuletide season, it’s nice to applaud folks who act like Santa’s helpers at other times of the year.

We need to hear about these big-hearted givers not just because their good deeds are mostly unsung... but because their stories are an antidote to the commercialism that turns this season of giving into one big “shop-ortunity” (to quote that ubiquitous Marshall’s ad that makes me want to hurl a shoe at the TV).

So here’s a shout-out to the good folks at the

» READ MORE: Philadelphia Orchard Project,

founded just last year

» READ MORE: by Paul Glover

(whom you'll remember from

» READ MORE: GreenJobsPhilly

), an organization that plants orchards around the city – in community gardens, school yards and other spaces in low-income neighborhoods.

And here’s a special thank you to

» READ MORE: Bruce Schimmel,

who personally godfathered POP’s eleventh orchard, at

» READ MORE: Woodford Mansion in Fairmount Park.

In October, his $5,000 gift financed, among other things,

» READ MORE: the planting of 12 fruit trees and more than 50 berry bushes at Woodford,

located just off 33rd and Dauphin.

The wonderful thing about the organic orchard is that it will be maintained and harvested by the community, including schoolkids, who’ll be trained by the folks at the

» READ MORE: East Park Revitalization Alliance

(another unsung band of elves!).

"I love this idea of the city having ‘edible landscapes,'" says Bruce, founder of the

» READ MORE: Philadelphia City Paper

(and one of my bosses when I worked there eons ago). "The concept is really catching on. I think it’s helping city people think about new ways of living sustainably."

Bruce wants to make sure I mention that the Woodford project wouldn't have happened without the cooperation of the

» READ MORE: Fairmount Park Commission,

which owns Woodford, and the

» READ MORE: Naomi Wood Trust,

which operates the mansion.

Fair enough. But there'd be nothing to cooperate for if Bruce hadn't so generously supported the project in the first place.

So here’s a candy cane and a big thank you to Bruce Schimmel, for being an Environmental Elf to the city.