And let’s get real, how long does it take to place pumpkins yourself? The answer is it doesn’t. You can do it yourself, promise!!
But remember: to be trendy you are supposed to hire people to pumpkin. Personally, I will never be trendy and I am proud of it. I also skipped the beige beige world of interior decorating like I live in a Pottery Barn/ West Elm catalog too. (And I am damn proud if it too!)
And these people who have to be “professionally” pumpkined? Ha! How does your HOA feel at the end of pumpkin time when they need to be disposed of if you are a development dweller? And not all of these pumpkin vomiting on porch businesses offer removal, and if they do, yeah, that costs extra, doesn’t it?
Pumpkin placement services are joy suckers. And expensive. And everything these people do no matter where you live, all looks the same.
Do you really want to be Stepford about pumpkins too?
Yesterday (Tuesday, September 2nd) a friend was driving by the old Pete’s Produce AKA Fauxmer Jawn. Oodles of pumpkins were being delivered. Are they locally sourced? I mean if they were they would be from Sugartown Strawberries or something, right?
Anyway…my friend went inside and store was rather devoid of people. Here I will share some of what she wrote to me:
FJ had a shipment of pumpkins delivered and they crates are sitting in one of her “fields “. Worker was standing next to them scratching his head….As I was driving by, I saw yard signs everywhere advertising this pumpkin service. (See door tag in photo)
I went inside Fauxmer. Found this on the counter about a pumpkin service :
I should have asked the girl working except I think she is clueless although nice!!
She asked if I was looking for anything special. Told her I was first time here and just checking it out…..She said they were out of corn but would be planting more in a couple weeks ⁉️⁉️⁉️
She babbled about the peppers and some were in their refrigerator. She commented when she saw my truck pull in she thought it was Christa her boss because she has same one.
I wonder if Westtown doesn’t care if it fails and if they have plans for land since they already have solar panels sitting on part of it?
Wait, they are planting corn again now? Really? Has she magically bypassed the long season (4 to 6months?) that corn requires to grow? You know spring planting, fall harvest? And hydroponically grown is not a realistic thing for corn really is it? And if the illustrious fauxmer has corn to sell at a Philadelphia market called Point Breeze Market, why are the corn cupboards bare at her farm store???
Solar fields there at Westtown? I don’t object and sure enough I found an approval document in Westtown from October 2023, and they broke ground in January 2025:
Before the rest of my jawning questions let’s talk about Main Line Pumpkins. The guy who owns it, used to work for Jawn as “livestock manager” or something. He was interviewed after the racist graffiti story hit the media….
“Something as heinous as a swastika is not just an attack on FarmerJawn, but an attack on all of us,” declared Barfield.
In May, Barfield says their barn was hit with racist graffiti markings.
In April, they experienced vandalism and theft.
It feels deeply personal to Farmerjawn’s diverse staff.
“It felt directed towards our team, towards the owner and people who work here,” said livestock manager, Armen Caravantes who discovered the most recent vandalism last week.
“I was shocked. I was shaking,” said Caravantes. “If it’s people who actually hold these beliefs, that’s terrifying.”
(Segue time: what ever happened with that investigation? Did they put up security cmeras? )
Earlier this year Axios broke the tale of no more non-profit status for the Fauxmer. Then apparently she said she was doing non-profit on a pass through arrangement – a “fiscal sponsor” they call it. That organization is called Jubilee Gift Galaxy which has offices in Middletown, NY and Oakland, CA. I can’t really tell you much about the organization, it seems a little woo woo to me.
I will note I heard about some other staff exits this year, but what happened? Were they exited or did they leave on their own and why?
So who is the new CFO/COO of Farmer Jawn? It looks like there was a PR firm switcheroo too? Or are there now TWO PR firms? Of course I and Chester County farmers I know are still wondering how a farmer can afford PR services in the first place?
Now look, I get small and start up businesses have turnover. So don’t go there, it’s just shall we say there seems to have been quite a few exits etc since this business began as in before Westtown?
There is still Elkins Park, right? That’s 1813 Beech Avenue, Elkins Park, PA 19027. 6730 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19119 is another business currently and has been, although it still shows up on the PA Charities database as of today as the address and seriously, what does it take to change an address?
So someone today asked if she ever got the $657,000 grant from Rep. Houlahan? Ummm doesn’t appear so unless she can access the funding through the “fiscal sponsor”? Of course we all live in Trumplandia, so for that reason alone she still might not have it, right?
What prompted all these thoughts? This:
Farmerjawn Produce & Kitchen, 1225 E. Street Rd. West Chester, August 22. Pass. The facility offers prepackaged only foods. In 2024, plans were submitted for the addition of a food prep area. However, the plans were incomplete and a letter from this Department requesting additional information was sent on 10/24/24. If facility is not planning to continue with the kitchen, remove all unused equipment. If plan review is to continue, contact this Department within 30 days with the information requested in the incomplete letter. Provide thermometers to refrigerators. Food Facility Person in Charge not able to provide documentation that T.H.E. Wellness Tea is from an approved source. Product was removed from shelf. Forward source documentation to this Department. Maintain copies of supplier information on-site for Department review.
This is not the fist inspection they have had. The devil is in the details, and are they using the kitchen? Is anyone or will anyone be using the kitchen? Paperwork issues again? Kind of like the non profit status? Who is responsible for the paperwork?
Yes, I know, I know, writing about this again because I am a different race than the fauxmer will mean a new onslaught of nasty messages, comments, etc. I can’t help that my skin color is different. It is not being a racist to ask what is going on here, I would still be asking the same questions regardless of race, creed, or color. Westtown School has never said if she pays rent or what the arrangement is, have they? They don’t seem to like to talk about this, do they?
I will say for the record that is this almost 3 years later actually lived up to the hype, I would shut my mouth. But what is it besides the hype and her shameless self promotion? I know some farmers, and they aren’t this. They are hard working, without glam shots, photogs, and PR personnel. People believe in her, and that is not a criticism of those people, but I do wonder, in the end, will there be something, or will it fade away to nothing?
Is this grand plan sustainable? Time will tell because Westtown never seems to want to talk about this, but there she is on their property so why not?
Hope they move those pumpkins, because we all know deer etc love pumpkins…..
Real farms. Real farmers. Locally sourced. Heritage breeds.
A lot of us look for these things, and Chester county used to have lots of options. Today development is growing in farms are shrinking.
It’s tough going for farmers in a county once known for farms and agriculture. It’s very sad.
Then there are the people that want to make you believe their Emperor’s New Clothes and a couple years later they’re still empty every time you drive by, but I won’t mention them any further. This is a post about realfarmers doing their thing, beautifully.
We recently discovered White Horse Farm quite by accident. Someone I know had shared on social media that she had gone to one of their open farm days for their farm stand. I remember when this farm was in a magazine article a few years ago. (See Philadelphia Magazine, 2018.)
So these are the new stewards of the land of this farm and it’s gorgeous. And they have cows, ask my friend who has a cow named Norman, and you will know I love cows. Actually, my husband will tell you I like farm animals in general. I will also admit that I talk to the chickens on a neighbors property. They are so happy and their laying songs are peaceful to me.
But you have so many things that go by on social media where you can supposedly buy great food raised well, sustainable practices, regenerative farming, and so on. White Horse Farm in Berwyn is actually doing this, and I think they deserve a lot of new customers and Chester County love.
Once again, I will stay for the record. I am not a compensated blogger, and I am writing this post after picking up my first order that we paid for from White Horse Farm. Now obviously we haven’t tried everything, but I can tell you I had their yogurt for breakfast this morning. Their yogurt is a thinner kind almost like Seven Stars and I think it makes a great drinking yogurt. We also have a gorgeous chicken, a small pork roast, ground pork, Italian and breakfast sausage.
White Horse Farm photo
So I thought I would write a little post about them, because it’s an all of our best interest that small farms like this survive and thrive. They not only have their own dairy stuff that they are doing, but they raise chickens and Berkshire pigs. they are a medium size pig, and I believe they were originally bred in England. They are a true heritage breed, and their meat is highly sought after for cooking if you’re a foodie. The meat from these pigs I have learned is known as the “Wagyu of pork.”
White Horse Farm Photo
All of these animals on this farm are humanely raised. Actually, I’d like to live on this farm. It’s so pretty. The pigs are able to forage in woods on the farm like nature intended, so they’re not just kept in a pen and fed pig kibble. (I’m not saying pigs get kibble, but you know what I mean.)
The chickens are pasture raised, which essentially is free range. I like their chickens because they’re not huge. The one I bought is about 3 pounds. Honestly, there are a few things as good as small batch raised chicken.
And if you join their club, you can order as you go, and you have access above the farm stand days.
Here is my actual receipt for my first order:
My receipt and notice I also signed up for a membership because this is kind of a membership farm. Yes they will be having farm stand days, but the benefits of a membership is you can order more to your individual needs.

It was simple enough to pay via Venmo, and you can also pay them with cash. I also like what they raise seems to be heritage breeds. It’s kind of like in my garden, I like planting heirloom things.
I know people like raw milk and they do sell that. I also noticed they have some goats. I don’t know what they’re doing with goats, but I remember my cousin Suzy was allergic to cow’s milk when she was little and they substituted goat milk.
Now another reason why I’m writing this post today other than I’m a very happy new customer is they are having a farm stand day from 9 AM to 12 noon this coming Saturday, July 19th. The address is 8 Barr Road Berwyn. This farm is located in Willistown Township.
I hope people patronize them this weekend and going forward. If you go to their farm this weekend, please respect that this is a working farm. That means leave your dogs at home, and make sure your children understand it’s a working farm not a petting zoo. I am not trying to be offensive to people, but I have friends who are farmers, and I have seen what I mentioned with my own eyes. It’s like when I cringe when I see people pull over the side of the road to randomly pet and feed other people’s horses.
Anyway, sign me very happy that I discovered another local farm thanks to someone. I know discovering this farm on a farm stand day.
So this post seeks clarity. Above is straight from the PA Department of State Bureau of Charities Charities Enforcement and Disciplinary Actions. You can look it up yourself. Search FarmerJawn squished together like that. Once in another life, I knew someone who in their other life was an investigator for the Bureau of Charities. This is what they do, they check things out.
See that notice above? That is when they received the letter from the IRS for tax exempt status. If you read the letter, the effective date was mid-2021.
Let that sink in. This has been for a few years. Around this time last year we woke up one day to the news that the Westtown location we knew for 30+ years as Pete’s Produce etc. on Westtown’s campus had been vandalized with hateful and disgusting graffiti.
What is interesting is this news report says that BEFORE the graffiti there had been other vandalism, but correct me if I am wrong (please) that there were no security cameras or trail cameras anywhere? I am guessing if I recall what was said somewhere after these incidents that now they do have cameras? I am glad they do because this criminal behavior is terrible, right? BUT to date these cases of graffiti and vandalism go unsolved, don’t they? And that is a great police department too (WEGO.)
So a lot of events are off site. She claims people have made her feel unwelcome in Chester County, so maybe one reason is her events seem more often than not elsewhere? As in other than all those lovely acres in Westtown? Take the free egg give away recently….in New York City no less?
And her newly minted interview with desperately seeking relevance, Christina Pirello (used to have or maybe still has a TV cooking show), just days before the cease and desist thing broke interviewed her in Elkins Park. At least it looked like something was being grown on the handful of acres she “farms” over there, right?
Why not give out free eggs at the farm store she got to walk into over at Westtown? Why not show Christina Pirello Westtown too?
So first came Axios which most of us then noticed because of Vista today.
Then came the Philadelphia Inquirer article. The reporter I have no issue with but she is part of features/food from what I can tell so we can assume the publicist placed this article?
Then comes the stunning public reel thing someone sent me:
That was sent with this screenshot to prove this was public and available for a re-mix:
Lets talk about this: if you ever question anything you are a hater or a racist, correct? And all the flurry of media? Isn’t it more like she talks when she wants something? Also there is still the whole 501(c)(3) of it all on her website and the donation link is still up:
And there is still a live GoFundMe as of the publishing of this post :
But hey, that is not active fundraising right?
And she gets defensive over her business entities being legally registered. Here they are and nice deflection, and no one said they weren’t registered:
This fauxmer has gotten lots of support and money from all sorts of avenues. A James Beard award, and was briefly it seems a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier. That was for the tea company? Is she still a member?
She talks about keeping employees paid all the time? Has she really? Including all of the time in Elkins Park, as well as the stores she once had at 6730 Germantown Avenue? And what about that wellness spa Mae Bell or whatever from when was that? 2023? (And that wasn’t supposed to be at 6730 Germantown but close by?
Last May, I was attacked viciously online and off for questioning the grant of it all because among other things, the grant application had used that Germantown Avenue address and wasn’t that an odd thing as she no longer was a tenant there, correct?
I and others have been labeled “haters” and “racists” for questioning this from jump. What they always neglect to mention is I have never had an issue with her purported mission.
Also of no 501(c)(3) at present why does her Linktree go to her donation page? Do they have to be called other than donations if 501(c)(3) is not active?
I support supporting local farmers of all kinds and do.
I support dealing with food insecurity issues which is why I support local food banks when I can especially in helping get the word out. So yeah, if her mission statement was more than words at this point, I would be thrilled because there are so many people in need and we live in a world where so many of us have lived on the edge of not being able to be even self supporting.
I am also a big believer in things like community gardens and I think in today’s world having what used to be called victory gardens is a good thing because face it, the US is on the precipice of disaster, which of course will cause a whole other category of haters to rise up because I said that.
I am also not only a supporter of women and minorities in farming, but horticulture as well. Why? Because they are universal things that benefit us all as human beings, right?
I am wondering if the Westtown ought to consider at this point getting a real farmer, not merely a person who checks idealistic or ideological boxes on those acres? The other conversation now should maybe be in the landowner’s failure to supervise and the land’s future? Westtown has not said much of ANYTHING since they approved her to lease the land, have they? So we don’t actually know what they are thinking and how they feel, correct? Can we trust Westtown to keep these acres farmed in perpetuity? Aren’t there still other farmers interested?
And let’s talk about getting the organic status. I have no issue with that and neither does anyone I have ever spoken with. The only detractor is it is honestly expensive to accomplish this. BUT one thing I have never understood is why she didn’t really plant anything much the past couple of years in Westtown? I asked farmers (including female) who told me the land at Pete’s was in good shape and and apparently you can farm land goingorganic but you can’t sell the produce those years as organic so why didn’t she plant more? And last year (2024) as per a 2023 Daily Local article, 63 acres was supposed to be planted? Did that happen?
FarmerJawn Agriculture is bringing organic farming to the 128-acre Westtown School property at 1225 E. Street Road, along Route 926, where farmer Pete Flynn once grew crops.
For the current growing season, FarmerJawn, more precisely CEO Christa Barfield, is farming two acres, and stewarding most of the school’s farmland. She is letting most of the land sit fallow, for this, her first growing season.
FarmerJawn will only raise crops organically. For fruits, vegetable and herbs to be certified organic by the USDA, the land must be chemical free for three years.
FarmerJawn has big plans for 2024; Barfield intends to grow and harvest on 63 acres. Although the crops won’t be certified organic by the USDA, the harvest will be chemical free.
Effective Jan. 1, organic farming is coming to Westtown School.
The Quaker pre-K-12, coed, day and boarding school has tapped Philadelphia’s Christa Barfield to farm 123 acres of the school’s 600 acres. She will farm organically, through an unconventional model.
Barfield is replacing long-time Westtown farmer Pete Flynn who retired in October.
How many of those objectives have been met? Again, where is Westtown School on this?
And again, for the record, what she claimed she wanted to do here is NOT a bad thing, but what has she actually accomplished vis-à-vis FARMING? Where is the food coming from that she sells and doesn’t grow? Pete and other markets will tell you who they bought apples from etc.
The problem is there has been a lot of talk and a lot of plans and a lot of spin courtesy of a publicist but what is going on? Other than events etc. off site from 1225 E. Street Road? Have all five acres on that Elkins estate been consistently farmed?
And the media flurry this time? She ranges between influencer behavior and hiding, but can it be she simply likes to control the narrative which is human?
Now in 2022, she was eligible for a $50,000 grant by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for Urban Infrastructure for Agriculture. That was a reimbursement grant so did she get that money in the end?
So the thing about Pete Flynn from Pete’s Produce? Did that actually happen? Now being new to Chester County can be hard for anyone, not just because of race. Being new in any community once you hit a certain age is hard. But it doesn’t sound like the Pete Flynn most talk about does it?
And that whole thing about the landlord issues in Elkins Park where she once had greenhouses?
Things are looking up for Christa Barfield, owner of Farmer Jawn Agriculture, who faced many hardships this past year. In April, Barfield made a big decision to move out of her old space in Elkins Park after facing landlord problems and the destruction of her crops. One month ago, she launched a new crowdfunding campaign to move the organization onto the Elkins Estate.
“I’m not interested in a farm that’s over an hour away from Philadelphia,” says Barfield, about the importance of the location. “I want it to be accessible, simple, and easy for people to go.”At 1760 Ashbourne Road, the Elkins Estate is a three-minute drive and a 12-minute walk from the Philadelphia borderline on Cheltenham Avenue.
Mmmmkay so if she didn’t want to be on a farm over an hour away from Philadelphia, she comes to Westtown?
Philadelphia Eater had an article in 2021 about the whole greenhouse thing and move to the Elkins Estate:
Ok that I can maybe comprehend. A bad landlord and not prepared? That is a learning curve. But then the store at 6730 Germantown Avenue? Poof? It’s gone and what about the tea business? And the garden supply store that next went into 6730 Germantown Ave? And then the spa thing close by that was talked about?
Grid Philly did a big article in 2022 that also filled in more blanks:
You can read the whole article on their website. So look, I get that setbacks happen etc., but maybe the reality is that this is a woman who talks a good game and has good ideas, but really can’t execute them?
She gets good press. She should, as again she is that rare bird who calls herself a farmer and has a publicist. But the proof is in the pudding. Maybe it’s time to tell the truth and shame the devil as some old people I once knew used to say?
There are just too many questions. And they can’t all be fobbed off as comments from haters, correct?
What will be the future at Westtown?
Will Westtown ever talk about it?
Right now this is all still something I am skeptical of. And after going through her placed media coverage for the past couple of years, a lot of the issues at a minimum come down to a lack of experience. Some will say how can you get experience except to dive right in? Ok right, except we’re talking how many acres of land mostly in Westtown? Perhaps it’s just too much?
It’s time for straight answers. If she doesn’t she runs the risk of hurting the goals she claims to have and the people, all of the people. who are trying to support her.
Will FarmerJawn survive? Will FarmerJawn survive in Westtown? Is this all still too much the Emperor’s New Clothes?
Time will tell.
Sign me, still not a believer and I am allowed. And no, I still have no desire to meet her. Her interviews, when granted, speak volumes. I will however still support local farmers as I always have done. I believe in that. And I also actually love being in Chester County.
I don’t know the family, I didn’t know this gentleman but these are the people who we should celebrate MORE in Chester County.
We need to celebrate our real farmers who just get out there and do their thing to make all of our lives better without glam shots on tractors they don’t own and expensive publicists.
People whom I know described Fred de Long as an amazing man who contributed so much.
I just had to pick myself off of the floor. I literally fell off of my desk chair over this video which is a commercial:
I am not criticizing Bob Lange, Chair of the Willistown Supervisors. In fact, I commend him for doing this.
Yes Chester County GOP this is the sound of hell freezing over.
As a friend of mine said the other day, when you have Bernie Sanders and Dick Cheyney voting for the same presidential candidate, you know it reaches far beyond policy — it’s to preserve the country and our democracy.
Republican farmers of Chester County, this is a wake-up call for the rest of you…and no MAGA conspiracy theorists these are real people, not actors. What you think I make this up?
Sigh…I am really conflicted about posting this. What “seeds” or what kind of seeds are being planted exactly?
One is because I know all of the horrible comments which will be directed towards me which is total BS anyway. Questioning this does not make me a racist but it does make you wonder if I would be so judged if the color of my skin was different? There I just said it. It has to be said because if this person looked exactlylike me I would still be asking the same questions.
Secondly, because I actually like U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan and will be voting for her like I have since I first met her a few years ago. BUT this HAS to be looked at.
I found comments on Chrissy Houlahan‘s Facebook page that I’ve taken screenshots of because it PROVES people have concerns and questions doesn’t it? A lot of you always wish to lay this at my feet and call me horrible names and I feel the need to point out LOTS of people are concerned aren’t they? And then there are questions on FJ Instagram and if you deviate from the “message” the sycophants rear up and it always gets ugly fast and the fauxmer does nothing to ask for civility does she?
Farmers in Chester County are up in arms about this ridiculously large grant ($657,000) given to a FAUXMER with a track record NOT of fabulous crops and farming practices but for grand plans that are a lot of buzz words, glam shots, and PUBLICISTS and what farmers do you know who have publicists? Most of the farmers I know are trying to figure out how to make their money last until their crops come in and make improvements on their farm and survive. They work from before dawn to well past dusk don’t they?
But the other thing is this is $657,000 of taxpayer dollars and this person is NOT someone who has proven they can do anything other than talk a good game or do I have this all wrong? Shouldn’t you need a proven track record for this kind of money?
And can we talk about the grant application which has an address of 6730 Germantown Ave Philadelphia PA 19119. That is no longer a place that Farmer Jawn has a leasehold on and it has been quite a while. The business now there is NOT affiliated with her or the Farmer Jawn and Friends Foundation Fund or any of her gigs – no store, no tea, no honey, no food no nothing.
I don’t understand how an application could be sent to Washington DC without viable addresses. And I also don’t understand why Westtown School didn’t apply for the grant because they actually own the property and isn’t that ODD ? Usually if your information isn’t 100% stand-up on an application for something like this you get rejected right? So what’s with the special treatment?
📌 “We are incredibly grateful to Representative Chrissy Houlahan for her unwavering support and successful advocacy in securing a federal grant of $657,000 for FarmerJawn. This generous funding will enable us to renovate our aging barn and incorporate hydroponic facilities, allowing us to expand our mission of teaching essential agricultural skills and entrepreneurship qualities to the Chester County community. With this investment, FarmerJawn will continue to thrive as a vital contributor to the local agricultural landscape, offering innovative, sustainable solutions and opportunities for continued growth,” said Brandon Ritter, COO of FarmerJawn.📌
So wait, who is this person?
Where are the form 990s? Why is the entry on PA’s Charity site still incomplete? They got non-profit status in like 2022 right? So there are employees?
This grant recipient has had all these ideas and plans, a lot of which I HONESTLY think are great but where is the execution? The inclusiveness? And the great James Beard Foundation gave her an award? For what? And again how many farmers do you know with pricy publicists?
What about the Germantown Avenue store folded and what happened to the supposed spa that was supposed to happen down the street a couple of doors from 6730 Germantown Avenue? Mae Belle or whatever?
Where is the tea business? Where is honey that no one really knows where it originated from but did know it was not very good? And what’s with the Elkins Park Farm?
Back to the grant. So it’s supposed to be for the barn and hydroponics right? I think that’s a great idea and I love being able to get a good hydroponic organic vegetables in the middle of winter, but this is someone who doesn’t have any or much experience with this, do they? And then there is this chatter that now the grant is about workforce development? Is that true and if so, is that kind of a bait and switch? And Westtown owns the property so why didn’t they apply for the grant? Why is Westtown so silent on everything having to do with this person since they gave her access to the land? Is it landlord’s regret? Does she pay rent? If she pays rent how much rent does she pay and is rent deferred while the land lies fallow? Who were the other people who applied to be the farmer there?
And then the comment on Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan‘s Facebook page about vendors not being paid? And the screenshot the author of the comment leaves shows someone who works for George Didden Greenhouse? Is that true? That’s terrible if so isn’t it? Is she square with all other vendors past and present?
And then there are the people who like to say well why doesn’t somebody just talk to her? Have you seen what happens when anybody tries to talk to her? There’s regurgitated self promotion and dodge ball and a publicist but where are straightforward simple answers? The other thing is does she make everyone feel welcome?
And also Chester County does actually have minority and female farmers so where is THEIR recognition? I guess the difference is they just practice their craft with diligence and little faux fanfare, right?
The whole Farmer Jawn COULD be a great thing BUT what will actually happen and until Westtown is certified organic WHERE specifically will things be coming from?
So many questions…and it has never been just me asking… The Farmers of Chester County deserve our best. That’s all I am saying. And if Farmer Jawn wants to be counted among their numbers, then she needs to be more accepting and respectful of those who came before her and who have existed before her and work hard every day. and she needs to start being straight with people not just giving soundbites and cute pictures on tractors.
Soooo…. She took over Pete’s produce in 2023 as a lease with Westtown and it was announced late 2022. It takes 3 or 4 years for land to lay fallow before you can get organic certification right? So where will all of this food / produce coming from? I didn’t think where she leased in Elkins Park/Cheltenham was big enough or viable enough to produce everything?
And like I have said ALL ALONG if she ends up farmer legit, I will be honestly thrilled but right now I think the outlook is still shady.
My opinions are bought to you courtesy of the First Amendment.
So there’s this developer who presented the same plan about developing affordable (“attainable”) housing to West Goshen like the day before they made a pitch to West Chester Borough.
And again in West Chester Borough, it’s a developer drooling after that Church Street lot where the West Chester Growers Market is. One of the longest standing and truly wonderful farmers markets in our region, and they’re threatening it again. What is it about the church street lot that makes every developer have to have it ?
Also interesting about this other than the fact that the in my opinion back door presentation was done the day before West Chester Borough in West Goshen. Very interesting that both municipalities share the same solicitor, right? That’s kind of a coincidence that really isn’t, isn’t it?
So yeah, this developer is shopping. This idea all over the place correct? Give them the land they’ll build you supposed affordable housing. I have a bridge I can sell you.
And I know the solicitor isn’t going to like my opinion because they haven’t liked my opinion for years, have they? But the one thing they can’t remove are our constitutional rights to have an opinion and ask questions, correct?
And they said West Chester Borough has to make a decision in four days? Four days for a life, altering decision for residents, and one of the oldest farmers markets in the area? Most reasonably intelligent elected officials would walk away from such a proposition, but who knows what will happen with the Borough of West Chester, because that place is perennially slightly shady about stuff, right?
This is not about truly building affordable housing. This is just another way for developers to get projects built.
Look no local government should be assisting a developer with financing, correct? In the end is this all just to support the developers and those developers support?
And regarding the numbers of “needed” units, no one has asked them to produce the data that lead them to that number, have they?
If West Chester Borough or West Goshen really needs/wants “accessible housing” then apply for the state funding to do it . Or get a 3rd party 501c3, like SELF Inc. purchase an appropriate spot and create housing – same BS is happening in Montgomery County and Bucks too.
Supposedly, there are West Chester Borough Council meetings this week. Their website isn’t very good but I know this will be discussed, and people are entitled to public comment. People should check the agendas carefully because this is also something that would have had to have been properly advertised ahead of time, and have you seen it properly advertised anywhere? 
I will close this post with another snippet from the West Chester meeting this week. Listen and decide for yourselves. If I lived in West Chester Borough, I would get all my friends and neighbors at every public meeting this week to protest this. if I was running the West Chester Growers Market, I would be consulting with attorneys to make sure rights were protected, can’t you agree?
HT to West Goshen Sunshine for alerting all of us to this latest episode of stupidity by West Chester Borough.
Once again West Chester Borough is trying to develop the parking lot at Church and Chestnut for a fake “attainable” housing development and destroy the West Chester Growers Market? And I can tell you that I believe development there wouldn’t either be “attainable“ or affordable. In my humble opinion, it would just be another hot mess for this over developed town.
Presentation and discussion at 1:03. Assholes. And yes I just said that. Out loud.
Go to 1:03
It’s like literally every few years they have to have some latest greatest stupid development plan to destroy one of the regions most established and well respected farmers markets, and the neighborhood where it’s held.
The Borough of West Chester doesn’t need more development they can’t handle what they already have.
While the market may not bring huge revenue, tall buildings or more parking spaces to the Borough of West Chester, they do bring something of great importance:
COMMUNITY.
Please if you live in the borough, contact your borough representative and ask them to consider these factors as they make their decision:
This market hosts 2000+ people every Summer Saturday
They provide a sense of community, where neighbors talk to neighbors
Their market acts as a drawing card to downtown businesses. Customers frequently shop there after leaving the market.
If the lot is developed, there is a chance that the Growers Market will no longer be able to serve the community.
So please, if you value the sense of community and supporting the local farm fresh foods that our market has brought to West Chester, contact your borough representative and tell them what the market means to you.
The Borough Manager’s phone number is: 610-344-3346. His name is Sean Metrick. He came from the Borough of Narberth, and he should know better.
Even if you don’t live in the Borough, but if you patronize the West Chester Growers Market or work in the borough or have friends in the borough I urge you to contact West Chester ASAP.
Tell them the numbers of “needed” units is wrong, ask them to produce the data that lead them to that number. They have to prove that this isn’t just to support developers etc.
Somewhere along the line we have to start saying no, and meaning it for development that is removing things that are integral to our communities.
I don’t know why West Chester Borough seems to think this is a good idea every few years but it’s time for people to stand up now and stop this before it goes further.
This is not about affordable housing. This is about some developer getting a project and making money. This is about coin. Nothing more, nothing less and I can have that opinion.
Look! It’s that person who is increasingly elusive in Chester County known as a real farmer.
This guy doesn’t farm on the roof top of the Whole Foods in Exton, and he doesn’t have a glam squad that sets him up for photo shoots, wardrobe, hair, and nails. He also doesn’t have a publicist to tell the world that he’s a farmer. That is profession and his calling, and you can tell by what he does that he’s an actual and real farmer.
This is a farmer like many others who works hard. I think undoubtedly could use a big juicy federal grant, but you won’t see him wishing to collect a James Beard award because he would probably look at you funny.
So politicians and others take note. This is a real farmer on a real tractor in a real field.
And if you folks out there know any real farmers, you will know that not only do they work hard, they are fairly down to earth and humble. They will always tell you about their crops, but they won’t brag. They are genuine.
Support your farmers. They are all important. Even the ones without glam squad and professional publicists. Think of them as agricultural influencers without social media, only blood, sweat, and tears, and Mother Nature.
We also need more real farmers and less development.
