Plans are shaping up for a joint event between Awbury Arboretum and East Mt. Airy Neighbors (EMAN) that would ideally help both organizations increase their membership numbers.

EMAN Executive Director Elayne Bender said at a meeting Tuesday that the event would likely be a potluck picnic on Awbury's grounds, which are at the far southern end of East Mt. Airy.

It would be free. Bender said she hopes it will help the organizations attract new blood.

Bender said EMAN is seeking out a grant for the event from the Philadelphia Activities Fund. It got its application in at the last minute for that.

A grant from the fund, which was established, according to the city, "to foster and promote educational values of sportsmanship, the arts, and health to individuals in the city of Philadelphia," would give the organizations money to help run the event.

"It's the perfect kind of grant for this program," Bender said.

That's because the gathering will have a health theme attached to it. Five & Fit, a pilot project run by Temple University that is designed to prevent obesity in children, will have a presence there.

The arboretum's manager of outreach and community engagement, Beth Miner, said she is hoping to get Weavers Way farmers to the event to talk to people about growing plants and gardening as well. She also hopes the farm can provide food, and she said the grant, if successful, could pay for the spread.

The co-op's Mort Brooks Memorial farm is on the arboretum's northern grounds, and Miner said she is trying to spread awareness of that section—called the agricultural village—to community members.

"We really are trying to elevate that side of the arboretum and let people know about it," Miner said Wednesday.

She said a walking tour—complete with signage—was just established there.

In general, Bender said, she hopes the event is the beginning of a positive relationship between the arboretum and EMAN.

Sponsor letters will soon be sent out for the gathering.