The Season in Review!

By Nina Berryman

Earlier this year I wrote an article that began with a statement I often exclaim: “I can’t believe it’s that time of year already!” Well, the same applies now as we are at the final week of our CSA. It was over a year ago when we began planning this project. Back in May when we set up for the first pick-up it seemed like this day was ages away. Well here it is- the end of our first season! I can say I feel a combination of a sense of pride, excitement, relief and a bit of exhaustion! CSA is truly a unique form of food distribution that inherently relies on the cooperation of everyone involved. This CSA is a great example of this as we not only have a working partnership between farmers and shareholders but also an entire high school! Being our first year, we owe an especially large “thank you” to all the shareholders who were willing to put their money (and faith!) into a brand-new project. Many people these days are talking about local, healthy, chemical-free food, but it won’t end up on anyone’s dinner plate unless people like you directly support the farmers who grow that food. Shareholders came out to the farm in all sorts of daunting weather this year to bring home the beloved vegetables that our farming crew put so much time and energy into growing and harvesting. Thank you!

We also want to recognize the countless hours that Saul students put into this project. Students have been working side by side with us for the entire season. They helped us till the very first beds this spring and are still out in the field helping us plant cover crop to protect the beds over the winter. We also want to recognize all the work that Ms. Naugle McAtamney has put into this project so far. Last fall before we even decided exactly where to do the CSA, she heard we were considering Saul and she practically made the decision for us! She has been enthusiastically supportive from the very beginning and has facilitated the partnership between Weavers Way and Saul. Not only is Ms. Naugle McAtamney talking to teachers and staff at Saul to ensure that this partnership runs been smoothly, but she is out in the field with her students planting and weeding with the rest of us!

Partway through the season, when we found ourselves with more produce than expected, we added a few half season shares. Our grand total of shareholders is 83, with 56 small shares and 27 large shares. We attended the Manayunk Farmers market for about 12 weeks and our total sales were over $2000. We made a few sales to local restaurants, including Mango Moon on Main Street in Manayunk. Wtotaled over 800 lbs of food, which is the equivalent of over $1000 worth of fresh produce.
And … it was one of our wettest summers in a long time! We hope that next year will bring more sunshine and an even more successful season full of delicious, locally produced vegetables.

We also opened a farm stand on Henry Ave. once a week for about 10 weeks which has brought in roughly $500. We have donated vegetables every week since almost the beginning of the season to North Lights Community Center. This has totaled over 800 lbs of food, which is the equivalent of over $1000 worth of fresh produce.
And … it was one of our wettest summers in a long time! We hope that next year will bring more sunshine and an even more successful season full of delicious, locally produced vegetables.