by Nancy Anderson, Nina Berryman, and Lauren Todd, for the Shuttle

Despite ups and downs with weather, pests and disease at Weavers Way Farms, our diverse cropping schemes proved resilient and 2017 was another robust year for us. It was also the best year ever for the Henry Got Crops Farm Market at Saul High School.

A notable change in 2017 was a major reorganization of our outlets. After almost a decade of participating in the weekly Headhouse Farmers Market in Old City, we concluded that distributing more of our produce closer to home was a better fit with our mission. We were able to add 50 new CSA households and increase sales of farm produce at the farm market and to the Weavers Way produce and prepared-foods departments.

Our 2016 Farm Market Assistant Lauren Todd stepped up to become this year’s Farm Market Coordinator. Jaylynn Gardner, a junior at Saul, became our second student farm market assistant. Together, with the assistance of the farmers, Henry Got Crops Farm Market welcomed hundreds of new shoppers, many from our neighborhood in Roxborough, and signed up 30 new Co-op members. More thrilling, total farm market sales (which include both Weavers Way Farms produce and selected local items we bring in) grew by $50,000, from $42,536 in 2016 to $92,573 in 2017.

The year wrapped up with staff transitions. After three seasons farming at Weavers Way, Brendan Stiteler, the Field Manager at the Mort Brooks Farm at Awbury Arboretum, moved on to farm closer to home in Media, PA. Anna Danusiar, the Field Assistant at our Awbury Farm, moved out of the country with her husband. We will miss them both but look forward to new staff joining the team in the spring of 2018.

In summary, 2017 compared to 2016:

• We minimally increased our field staff/volunteer labor hours: 13,506 total field hours (11,487 farm staff plus 2,073 volunteer/cooperators) vs. 13,077 total field hours (11,148 staff plus 2,259 volunteer/cooperators) in 2016.
• Harvest weights decreased 7.5%, 51,506 lbs. (25.75 tons) compared to 55,689 lbs. (27.9 tons) in 2016.
• But our sales nevertheless increased 1.4%: $170,187 (up from $167,648), before discounts.
• Total sales from farm-grown produce plus farm-market resale products, before discounts, totaled $238,234 (up from $ 204,512).
• The farm’s total income was $240,041 (includes sales after discounts, fundraising and the farm market) compared to total expenses of $272,099.