{"title":"Novick Urban Farm","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Novick Urban Farm is a non-profit educational farm that is dedicated to promoting healthy choices, nutrition, sustainability, and community engagement. By providing hands on learning opportunities to thousands of children, we are able to educate children on healthy eating and nutrition, promoting long term healthy choices. We are also focused on building community relationships and addressing food insecurity. Grow Philly works intensively with the Burmese and Kah-ren refugee communities in South Philadelphia. We employ teens and adults, who are trained in sustainable growing and empowered to become community leaders. We grow many varieties specific to Burmese ethnic groups and focus on crops which are culturally important, nutritious, and hard to find. We donate produce to families in need and sell through our low-income farm stand. Money raised through the farm goes back to our community empowerment programs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWebsite: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/novickbrothers.com\/urban-farm.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003enovickbrothers.com\/urban-farm.html\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nInstagram: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/novickurbanfarm\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e@novickurbanfarm\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"SGSpiceGallery\" id=\"SGSpiceGallery10735\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"pea-eggplant-noong-ta-klong-pea","title":"Pea Eggplant (Noong Ta Klong Pea)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note: this listing is for \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eSEEDS\u003c\/span\u003e, not fresh eggplants!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePea Eggplants originate in Central America, and have naturalized and become important in tropical Africa, and many other tropical parts of the globe. This variety, for example, comes from our friends at Adaptive Seeds who found it growing semi-wild in Noong Ta Klong, Thailand. Refugees from the Karen state of Myanmar in South Philadelphia (who spent time living in camps in Thailand) asked Truelove Seeds if we could find this variety for them, and we were glad to see that Adaptive Seeds has made this important taste of home available on this continent. Our seeds were grown by Karen farmers in Philadelphia for their own community as well as for our catalog. They eat these small, round, and bitter eggplants when green and unripe in curries and sauces. This species is also known as Turkey Berry and is used in medicine. Known and loved as Su\u003cspan\u003esuma in Jamaica! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 95% on 02\/20\/2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are heat-loving and seeds should be started indoors about 1\/8-1\/4\" deep, about 8 weeks before the last frost. Transplant into garden well after the danger of frost. The growing characteristics are similar to most eggplants. The plants reach about 4-5 feet tall and should be planted 12 inches apart. They need full sun and fertile soil. Staking helps as the plants become heavy. The eggplants begin green, but should be picked when they are about 1-2 inches wide and green. They must be picked regularly to keep production and ensure they don’t over ripen. For seed saving the fruits ripen to orange.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEggplants are generally self-pollinating, though we isolate different varieties of the same species by 300 feet, in hopes that flying insects will not cross pollinate them unexpectedly. Eggplant seeds are ripe when the fruits get far past their edible stage, and have turned another color, in this case orange. Cut the fruit, scrape out seeds (perhaps through a heavy-duty screen) into a vessel, add a little water (1-2\" is probably plenty) to your seeds and pulp to keep them from drying out, and allow them to ferment away from direct sunlight. Alternatively, if you have lots of ripe fruits, stomp them in a bucket! Fermentation is not necessary with eggplants, but it makes seed cleaning a bit easier. Ideally, you will stir the concoction every day for 3-5 days. In the end, add more water to fill the vessel, stir one final time, and allow to settle. Pour off the floating material and then strain the seeds through a strainer. Sometimes, you will need to add more water and pour off the floating material several times until the water is clear and you can see the seeds sunken at the bottom. Squeeze dry the strained seeds in a towel, and then lay out to dry on a labeled screen or paper product in a ventilated place away from direct sunlight for a week or two.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novick Urban Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32168230420615,"sku":"EGG-006","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/image_2e4f00f3-5a47-4705-a4e6-b28a4a8e45cb.jpg?v=1611080226"},{"product_id":"green-pumpkin-eggplant-ka","title":"Green Pumpkin Eggplant (Ka)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note: this listing is for \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eSEEDS\u003c\/span\u003e, not fresh eggplants!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a small, bitter, pumpkin-shaped eggplant that our Karen farmer friends from Myanmar call \u003cem\u003eKa\u003c\/em\u003e. It is eaten often and only when green; it turns orange when it ages to the point when the seeds have fully ripened. It’s also eaten as medicine for fevers or malaria. Of all the eggplants grown by our friends at Novick Family Farm in South Philadelphia, this one tastes most like their harvests back home in the mountainous villages of the Karen State of Myanmar. It is their favorite!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnown as: Green Pumpkin Eggplant, Ka, Garden Egg. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80-90\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 98% on 08\/28\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are heat-loving and seeds should be started indoors about 1\/8-1\/4\" deep, about 8 weeks before the last frost. Transplant into garden well after the danger of frost. The growing characteristics are similar to most eggplants. The plants reach about 4-5 feet tall and should be planted 12 inches apart. They need full sun and fertile soil. Staking helps as the plants become heavy. The eggplants begin green, but should be picked when they are about 2 inches wide and green. They must be picked regularly to keep production and ensure they don’t over ripen. For seed saving the fruits ripen to orange.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEggplants are generally self-pollinating, though we isolate different varieties of the same species by \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e300 \u003c\/span\u003efeet, in hopes that flying insects will not cross pollinate them unexpectedly. Eggplant seeds are ripe when the fruits get far past their edible stage, and have turned another color, in this case orange. Cut the fruit, scrape out seeds (perhaps through a heavy-duty screen) into a vessel, add a little water (1-2\" is probably plenty) to your seeds and pulp to keep them from drying out, and allow them to ferment away from direct sunlight. Alternatively, if you have lots of ripe fruits, stomp them in a bucket! Fermentation is not necessary with eggplants, but it makes seed cleaning a bit easier. Ideally, you will stir the concoction every day for 3-5 days. In the end, add more water to fill the vessel, stir one final time, and allow to settle. Pour off the floating material and then strain the seeds through a strainer. Sometimes, you will need to add more water and pour off the floating material several times until the water is clear and you can see the seeds sunken at the bottom. Squeeze dry the strained seeds in a towel, and then lay out to dry on a labeled screen or paper product in a ventilated place away from direct sunlight for a week or two.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novick Urban Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":37403591180446,"sku":"EGG-007","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/greenpumpkineggplanttray.jpg?v=1612543466"},{"product_id":"rat-tail-radish-burma","title":"Rat-Tail Radish (Burma)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is the preferred variety of “rat-tail radish” grown by Karen farmers from Burma who grow at Novick Urban Farm in South Philadelphia - it has smaller and more tender pods than other varieties with a sweet and spicy flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNative to South Asia, this variety was collected from Karen farmers in the hills of Myanmar. It is called \u003cem\u003eThaba Paw Wah\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem\u003eTa Ba Par\u003c\/em\u003e (White Mustard Flower), though in the US we know it as Rat-Tail Radish. While botanically it is a type of radish, Karen people adore this plant for the leaves and edible flowers as well as the pods. The young white flower shoots are delicious blanched or cooked in simple soups and can be eaten as a side to any meal. The pods are eaten raw as a snack in the field, at home dipped in fish\/chili paste, on the side of pickled tea leaf salad, or used in a spicy chicken or fish soup with other garden vegetables. Karen refugees come often to our farm to buy this variety as they say the rich flavor reminds them of home, gives them energy throughout the day, and helps elders and kids who are feeling weak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 50\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 100\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate: \u003c\/strong\u003e95% on 09\/16\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDirect seed 3 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart in early spring through summer. Succession plantings every 3-4 weeks can provide continual harvest later in the season. It is heat tolerant, but does best in spring. This variety will thrive in most soil conditions, but loose fertile soil is best. Plants have very vigorous growth and prolific production reaching over 5’ tall and branching out in all directions, so give them plenty of room. Plants can be staked, trellised, or caged for easy picking. The pods don’t ripen uniformly, so pick over 2-4 weeks. The more you pick, the more they produce. The immature pods should be picked when they are a skinny bean size, and before the seeds form. For cooking, you can pick slightly larger pods as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor seed saving, leave them in for 65-80 days until the pods fully dry and become crunchy\/crispy. Harvest the seedhead below the lowest ripe seed pods, and hang in a sunny, dry place if it needs to dry a little more. Thresh seed pods by pushing through screens, rubbing between your hands, or stomping in buckets. Sift out larger chaff and use wind, breath, or fans to winnow away the lighter weight chaff from the seed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novick Urban Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39380086325406,"sku":"RAD-004","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/WhiteMustardRatTailRadish2.jpg?v=1615566509"},{"product_id":"dark-pea-eggplant-ta-kaw-ka-tha","title":"Dark Pea Eggplant (Ta Kaw Ka Tha)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note: this listing is for \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eSEEDS\u003c\/span\u003e, not fresh eggplants!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis variety is preferred by our Karen friends from Burma at Novick Urban Farm: its fruits are darker, more bitter, more productive, easier to pick, and the plants are more compact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePea Eggplants originate in Central America, and have naturalized and become important in tropical Africa, and many other tropical parts of the globe. Our seeds were grown by Karen farmers in South Philly for their own community as well as for our catalog. They eat these small, round, and bitter eggplants when green and unripe in curries and sauces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis species is also known as Turkey Berry and is used in medicine. Known and loved as Susuma in Jamaica!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto credit: Novick Urban Farm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 95% on 05\/11\/2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are heat-loving and seeds should be started indoors about 1\/8-1\/4\" deep, about 8 weeks before the last frost. Transplant into garden well after the danger of frost. The growing characteristics are similar to most eggplants. The plants reach about 4-5 feet tall and should be planted 12 inches apart. They need full sun and fertile soil. Staking helps as the plants become heavy. The eggplants begin green, but should be picked when they are about 1-2 inches wide and green. They must be picked regularly to keep production and ensure they don’t over ripen. For seed saving the fruits ripen to orange.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEggplants are generally self-pollinating, though we isolate different varieties of the same species by \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e300 \u003c\/span\u003efeet, in hopes that flying insects will not cross pollinate them unexpectedly. Eggplant seeds are ripe when the fruits get far past their edible stage, and have turned another color, in this case orange. Cut the fruit, scrape out seeds (perhaps through a heavy-duty screen) into a vessel, add a little water (1-2\" is probably plenty) to your seeds and pulp to keep them from drying out, and allow them to ferment away from direct sunlight. Alternatively, if you have lots of ripe fruits, stomp them in a bucket! Fermentation is not necessary with eggplants, but it makes seed cleaning a bit easier. Ideally, you will stir the concoction every day for 3-5 days. In the end, add more water to fill the vessel, stir one final time, and allow to settle. Pour off the floating material and then strain the seeds through a strainer. Sometimes, you will need to add more water and pour off the floating material several times until the water is clear and you can see the seeds sunken at the bottom. Squeeze dry the strained seeds in a towel, and then lay out to dry on a labeled screen or paper product in a ventilated place away from direct sunlight for a week or two.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novick Urban Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42296899567854,"sku":"EGG-010","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/DarkPeaEggplant_TaKawKaTha.jpg?v=1641587694"},{"product_id":"lavender-frog-egg-eggplant","title":"Lavender Frog Egg (Eggplant)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note: this listing is for \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eSEEDS\u003c\/span\u003e, not fresh eggplants!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreferred for their small size, tenderness, and productivity, these gorgeous fruits are grown by the Karen refugee farming community of South Philadelphia to eat fresh and dip raw into Chin Baung (cooked roselle leaves with chiles and little fishes) and other sauces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 75\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 60-70\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 96% on 09\/14\/2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSow seeds indoors 8-12 weeks before the last frost and transplant into the garden well after the danger of frost. 1\/4\" deep. Keep seedlings moist but do not overwater. Transplants should be initially watered in well, and plants will be most productive with regular irrigation and full sun. Harvest when fruits are small and tender, with fewer seeds. This variety is very seedy!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEggplants are generally self-pollinating, though we isolate different varieties of the same species by at least \u003cspan\u003e300 \u003c\/span\u003efeet, in hopes that flying insects will not cross pollinate them unexpectedly. Eggplant seeds are ripe when the fruits get far past their edible stage, and have turned another color, in this case a golden yellow. The best indicator, however, is when the stem easily comes off the fruit. Cut the fruit, scrape out seeds (perhaps through a heavy-duty screen) into a vessel, add a little water (1-2\" is probably plenty) to your seeds and pulp to keep them from drying out, and allow them to ferment away from direct sunlight. Fermentation is not necessary with eggplants, but it makes seed cleaning a bit easier. Ideally, you will stir the concoction every day for 3-5 days. In the end, add more water to fill the vessel, stir one final time, and allow to settle. Pour off the floating material and then strain the seeds through a strainer. Sometimes, you will need to add more water and pour off the floating material several times until the water is clear and you can see the seeds sunken at the bottom. Squeeze dry the strained seeds in a towel, and then lay out to dry on a labeled screen or paper product in a ventilated place away from direct sunlight for a week or two.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novick Urban Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43983820882158,"sku":"EGG-014","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/LavenderFrogEgg_1sq2.jpg?v=1674596451"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/collections\/NovickFamilyUrbanFarmstadium.jpg?v=1512108581","url":"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/collections\/novick-urban-farm.oembed","provider":"Truelove Seeds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}