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Weavers Way General Manager Testifies in Favor of Land Bank Bill



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 28, 2013 — Glenn Bergman, general manager of Weavers Way Co-op in Northwest Philadelphia, testified today before City Council’s Public Property and Public Works Committee in favor of establishing a Land Bank to streamline the disposition of vacant properties.

Philadelphia currently has an estimated 40,000 empty and blighted properties, with four different city agencies sharing control over some 10,000 of them. City Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez's proposed legislation would set up an authority to handle acquisition, maintenance and sale of these properties, making the process easier for potential buyers.

Bergman spoke on behalf of Weavers Way, which runs grocery stores and farms in Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill, Germantown and Roxborough, and as an appointed member of the Mayor’s Food Policy Advisory Council. Read the full text of his remarks here.

With about 5 acres under cultivation, Weavers Way is currently the largest farming entity in the city, growing about $140,000 worth of vegetables annually. In addition, the Co-op's nonprofit, Weavers Way Community Programs, runs farm and nutrition education programs in conjunction with Weavers Way's farms.

Weavers Way believes urban farming is one of the many ways Philadelphia’s vacant properties could transformed to benefit the city and its citizens. Urban farms and community gardens provide healthy food locally, increase community interaction and are good for the environment.

About Weavers Way Co-op: Weavers Way is a member-owned food co-op open to the public, with stores in Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill offering quality products that are locally grown, sustainable and nutritious. This fall, Weavers Way celebrates 40 years of commitment to healthy food, healthy communities and a healthy environment. For more information, visitwww.weaversway.coop.

 

At This Farm Festival, When the Cow Plops, It Pays

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — REQUEST FOR COVERAGE

Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 15, 2013 — Weavers Way’s Harvest on Henry farm festival at Saul Agricultural High School in Roxborough, Saturday, Oct. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m., offers both conventional and unconventional fall family fun.

The conventional: Hayrides. Petting zoo. Pumpkin painting (not the same as face painting, although accidents do happen), pumpkin golf, pumpkin bowling and pumpkin ring toss. Make your own vegetable car (which could be a pumpkin, but doesn’t necessarily have to be) and enter it in the Vegetable Car Races.

The unconventional: Cow Plop Bingo.

This is no ordinary 50-50. The Saul sheep pasture is turned into a giant, fenced game board, subdivided into 300 144-square-foot blocks. For $5 a block, human participants enter their names on the plot map and, well, wait for Mother Nature to take her course. Or, specifically, for one of the Saul dairy cows to do her thing.

Round and round she walks, and where she plops determines the winner of the 50/50 cash prize.

Do the math: A $5 investment could pay off to the tune of $750. Who says sustainability can’t be profitable?

Harvest on Henry also features great food vendors (donating 10 percent to Weavers Way Farms), live music and old-fashioned activities such as pressing apple cider and spinning wool.

Admission to Harvest on Henry is free; activity/game tickets can be purchased at the gate.

Calling All Bakers!

Possibly even more eagerly awaited than the outcome of Cow Plop Bingo will be the results of the Harvest on Henry Pie-Baking Contest, now in its third year.

There are two classes: Fruit and Everything Else. Pies must be delivered by 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and contestants must also bring a second pie to be sliced and sold at the fair. For all the details and to register, visit www.weaversway.coop/pie.

Saul students can enter the Pie-Baking Contest for free. Email harvestonhenry@gmail.com and include your name, address, student ID and type of pie you’re submitting.

The Third Annual Harvest on Henry Festival is Saturday, Oct. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Weavers Way's Henry Got Crops Farm on the grounds of W.B. Saul Agricultural High School, 7100 Henry Ave. (at Cinnaminson) in Roxborough. Parking is free along Henry Avenue; the Route 27 bus stops right out front. Info: www.weaversway.coop/harvestonhenry.

Harvest on Henry is sponsored by Valley Green Bank, Arnold Bread, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Primex, the Trolley Car Diner, Equal Exchange and Hands On Jewish Holidays. All proceeds benefit Weavers Way Farm operations.

At This Farm Festival, When the Cow Plops, It Pays

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — REQUEST FOR COVERAGE

Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 15, 2013 — Weavers Way’s Harvest on Henry farm festival at Saul Agricultural High School in Roxborough, Saturday, Oct. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m., offers both conventional and unconventional fall family fun.

The conventional: Hayrides. Petting zoo. Pumpkin painting (not the same as face painting, although accidents do happen), pumpkin golf, pumpkin bowling and pumpkin ring toss. Make your own vegetable car (which could be a pumpkin, but doesn’t necessarily have to be) and enter it in the Vegetable Car Races.

The unconventional: Cow Plop Bingo.

This is no ordinary 50-50. The Saul sheep pasture is turned into a giant, fenced game board, subdivided into 300 144-square-foot blocks. For $5 a block, human participants enter their names on the plot map and, well, wait for Mother Nature to take her course. Or, specifically, for one of the Saul dairy cows to do her thing.

Round and round she walks, and where she plops determines the winner of the 50/50 cash prize.

Do the math: A $5 investment could pay off to the tune of $750. Who says sustainability can’t be profitable?

Harvest on Henry also features great food vendors (donating 10 percent to Weavers Way Farms), live music and old-fashioned activities such as pressing apple cider and spinning wool.

Admission to Harvest on Henry is free; activity/game tickets can be purchased at the gate.

Calling All Bakers!

Possibly even more eagerly awaited than the outcome of Cow Plop Bingo will be the results of the Harvest on Henry Pie-Baking Contest, now in its third year.

There are two classes: Fruit and Everything Else. Pies must be delivered by 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and contestants must also bring a second pie to be sliced and sold at the fair. For all the details and to register, visit www.weaversway.coop/pie.

Saul students can enter the Pie-Baking Contest for free. Email harvestonhenry@gmail.com and include your name, address, student ID and type of pie you’re submitting.

The Third Annual Harvest on Henry Festival is Saturday, Oct. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Weavers Way's Henry Got Crops Farm on the grounds of W.B. Saul Agricultural High School, 7100 Henry Ave. (at Cinnaminson) in Roxborough. Parking is free along Henry Avenue; the Route 27 bus stops right out front. Info: www.weaversway.coop/harvestonhenry.

Harvest on Henry is sponsored by Valley Green Bank, Arnold Bread, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Primex, the Trolley Car Diner, Equal Exchange and Hands On Jewish Holidays. All proceeds benefit Weavers Way Farm operations.

Weavers Way Ends

(Excerpted from the Weavers Way Board Policy Manual, Page 3. Adopted 3/2/04, last revised 5/1/12.)

Weavers Way Cooperative Association exists to provide commercial and community services for the greater good of its members and community, to champion the cooperative model and to strengthen the local economy.
As a result of all we do:

End 1. There will be a thriving and sustainable local economy providing meaningful jobs, goods and services to our members and the community.

End 2. Our community will have access to high quality, reasonably priced food, with an emphasis on local, minimally processed and ethically produced goods.

End 3. There will be active collaborative relationships with a wide variety of organizations in the community to achieve common goals.

End 4. Members and shoppers will be informed about cooperative principles and values, relevant environmental, food and consumer issues, and the Co-op’s long-term vision.

End 5. Members and shoppers will actively participate in the life of the Co-op and community.

End 6. The local environment will be protected and restored.

End 7. Weavers Way will have a welcoming culture that values diversity, openness, inclusiveness and respect in all that we do.

Weavers Way Ends

(Excerpted from the Weavers Way Board Policy Manual, Page 3. Adopted 3/2/04, last revised 5/1/12.)

Weavers Way Cooperative Association exists to provide commercial and community services for the greater good of its members and community, to champion the cooperative model and to strengthen the local economy.
As a result of all we do:

End 1. There will be a thriving and sustainable local economy providing meaningful jobs, goods and services to our members and the community.

End 2. Our community will have access to high quality, reasonably priced food, with an emphasis on local, minimally processed and ethically produced goods.

End 3. There will be active collaborative relationships with a wide variety of organizations in the community to achieve common goals.

End 4. Members and shoppers will be informed about cooperative principles and values, relevant environmental, food and consumer issues, and the Co-op’s long-term vision.

End 5. Members and shoppers will actively participate in the life of the Co-op and community.

End 6. The local environment will be protected and restored.

End 7. Weavers Way will have a welcoming culture that values diversity, openness, inclusiveness and respect in all that we do.

Weavers Way Ends

(Excerpted from the Weavers Way Board Policy Manual, Page 3. Adopted 3/2/04, last revised 5/1/12.)

Weavers Way Cooperative Association exists to provide commercial and community services for the greater good of its members and community, to champion the cooperative model and to strengthen the local economy.
As a result of all we do:

End 1. There will be a thriving and sustainable local economy providing meaningful jobs, goods and services to our members and the community.

End 2. Our community will have access to high quality, reasonably priced food, with an emphasis on local, minimally processed and ethically produced goods.

End 3. There will be active collaborative relationships with a wide variety of organizations in the community to achieve common goals.

End 4. Members and shoppers will be informed about cooperative principles and values, relevant environmental, food and consumer issues, and the Co-op’s long-term vision.

End 5. Members and shoppers will actively participate in the life of the Co-op and community.

End 6. The local environment will be protected and restored.

End 7. Weavers Way will have a welcoming culture that values diversity, openness, inclusiveness and respect in all that we do.

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