Letters: Mary S. Corboy inspired Philly by turning it green

ISSUE | MARY SETON CORBOY

She inspired Philly by turning it green

Mary Seton Corboy, who died Aug. 7 at age 58 of complications from cancer, was Philadelphia's "green goddess" ("Mary S. Corboy, city farm pioneer," Tuesday).

Founder, executive director, and "chief idea officer" of Greensgrow Farms in Kensington, she taught legions of Philadelphians and the country that urban wastelands - brown fields - could become repurposed sites for community building through gardening.

Mary believed that with resourcefulness, energy, knowledge, and grandiose ideas, all things are possible. She was a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement for restaurants and folks like us.

For close to two decades, Mary was my gardening guru. When development turned my full-sun garden into a shade garden, she advised me on which plants would thrive, what flowers I should select for my window boxes, and what trees would do well in a container in my postage-stamp-sized backyard.

When life's circumstances turned me into a gardener with a brown thumb, Mary gave me a hug and her illustrated book, Blanche Gets a Job, about a stray cat that took up residence at Greensgrow. It was a story of purpose, a story of hope, and a story of optimism.

Mary inscribed it: "Jovida, always a believer." And that is how I will forever remember Mary - always a believer.

|Jovida Hill, Philadelphia

'A rare combination of wit and grit'

Philadelphia lost one of the brightest lights in its constellation of leaders last week. Mary Seton Corboy, founder of the urban farm and community hub, Greensgrow, will be missed by her local community and fellow civic activists.

Mary started the farm to create produce for high-end restaurants in town. She fell in love with the neighborhood and shifted focus to serving her neighbors healthy food choices. Her pioneering work won her local and national recognition.

She was a character - one of a kind, with a rare combination of wit and grit. Despite her long battle with cancer, she soldiered on, fighting for healthy food choices for the neighborhood. Her talent, drive, and ability to connect with commitment and charm were inspiring.

Mary was the real deal and a role model for us all.

|Liz Dow, chief executive officer, Leadership Philadelphia, Philadelphia