The Extension On the Road crew traveled to Philadelphia to meet farmers and their community partners and get a look at how farming is used to build community, as educational spaces, and to produce food in urban areas.
Henry Got Crops and Mort Brooks Memorial Farms are two sites that make up one of the largest farms (6 ½ acres) within Philadelphia. A partnership between Weavers Way Co-op, Saul High School, and Awbury Arboretum led to the development of this farm. Weavers Way Co-op, a for-profit community-owned grocery store model, employs staff to manage their two farms and supports the farm/farmers when economic inputs exceed outputs. Weavers Way also has a nonprofit arm called Food Moxie. Through Food Moxie the farm is used as a laboratory focused on food education. While not certified organic, the farm is managed using organic practices. Produce is marketed through a 200-member CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), one on-site market, and three Weavers Way grocery stores. Produce is also used in Saul's cafeteria and to teach teen cooking classes at Mort Brooks Memorial Farm's kitchen.