So my neighbors through our woods and behind us ended up with chicks that weren’t properly sexed and yes, the end result was a rooster surprise.
And it’s not like they wanted him, but today they found a farm further out in the county that had room for a young rooster. this rooster had been making all of us laugh because it was just so crazy.
Mr. Rooster had a crow that sounded broken. And he started his day often between 3:30 AM and 3:45 AM.
His owners, as opposed to someone who shall remain nameless in Willistown, have been actively looking to find him a new home on a farm further out. As in a place 10 acres plus.
So today was moving day for Mr. Rooster and he was not having any of it. He liked his suburban subdivision street and his cushy coop. Now, granted, if the lots were just bigger, roosters are good for a flock. I know that. But the street behind me is basically 1 acre lots.
We actually didn’t hear him through the woods until the leaves came off of the trees. But our neighbors are super nice, and we have all. had quite a few giggles about this rooster trying to rehome him. Of course they have small children so a lot of the times it wasn’t funny for the littles.
We were outside today doing gardening chores, and as I had taken a break from planting bulbs to throw some pine straw mulch down, I saw a rooster darting through the woods.
So my husband and I came to our neighbors assistance and it took four adults to wrangle a rooster.
Mr. Rooster thought he could escape us by squeezing through the fence of our other neighbor’s pool enclosure. But he was so indignant about being chased that once he got in there, he had puffed his feathers up so much he couldn’t get out so we were able to keep him corralled until they could get him in a transport box that rescues use for things like cats or small dogs so it was big enough.
As of now, he is settling in to his new home. Hopefully he behaves he wasn’t a mean rooster. He just was loud and his alarm clock was definitely broken.
But I have to admit I laughed so hard my sides were aching afterwards since it was just funny chasing a rooster. And when he ran into our woods and realized there were other humans standing there, he literally had the bird equivalent of an “oh crap” look on his face.
Anyway, you can now add wrangling a rooster to my repertoire.
A year ago today, my friend Jamie shared the following post:
ABANDONED PROPERTY ADVENTURE: We explored the abandoned Sleighton Farm School, which was a reformatory school for girls in Glen Mills.
Originally the Philadelphia House of Refuge, founded in 1826–kind of a reform school. Children at the school, which was first coeducational, had lessons and worked the farm. Eventually this became a girls school.
The school has been closed since 2001 and the buildings are in disrepair. Many of these are old dorms, which they called “cottages”—a misnomer, because many of these buildings are large.
The cottages were designed by Cope and Stewardson (1885-1812), a Philadelphia architectural firm that created many major additions to college campuses, including the Quad at Penn and many buildings at Bryn Mawr College. (Oakwell connection: They were buddies with architect Frank Miles Day, architect of Oakwell structures, and collaborated with him when he designed the Penn Museum).
There is a chapel which was built in the 1960s. A few months ago, one of the cottages burned down in an arson.
Eventually, this property will be demolished. Its fate is up in the air. I fervently hope it doesn’t become something like “The Estates at Sleighton Farm School by [XYZ developer].”
So in a sense this is like a sister school to that horrible Glen Mills School. And I feel almost compelled to go down the rabbit hole of this Sleighton Farm School after looking at a couple of other oddly related things…..
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has reached a settlement agreement with the Clock Tower Schools, clearing the way for the entity to operate at the site of the former Glen Mills Schools….DHS has granted the Clock Tower Schools a provisional two-year license to operate its residential and day treatment programs. The state is also mandating the Clock Tower Schools pay for an independent monitor, Justice By Design.
Yes, I did a little segue here to the old Glenn Mills school now known as something like Clock Tower. But back to Sleighton. And another interesting segue.
Sleighton has a weird connection because of architects’ connection to another cool old house I recently discovered because of the people restoring it putting it on Instagram. It’s called (or was called) Binderton and it’s in Chestnut Hill.
Binderton was built between 1903 and 1906 by Cope & Stewardson Architects. Like Sleighton School. Now I know this is a total tangent, but this house in Chestnut Hill is so cool. It also posts gardens that were designed by the Olmsted Brothers, which in turn ties it also to Stoneleigh and Oakwell. Cool, right?
So yes …..Sleighton….in 2021 the place was being discussed in conjunction with a plan for like 193 townhouses. And remember the property is part Edgemont, part Middletown.
Recently an article about a novelist taking inspiration for her book from Glen Mills/Clock Tower and Sleighton seems to lead me to believe they haven’t started anything much at Sleighton yet?
Now this property seems to be originally about 300 acres? The Sleighton Farm property was originally given to Henry Sleighton by William Penn. So it was also a Penn Land Grant? Newspaper archives have tons of articles about Sleighton ranging from problems, fights, fairs, and astounding amounts of money they got from the county and state.
It’s kind of crazy how much money these institutions used to get right? On July 15, 1957, the Delaware County Daily Times reported that Sleighton was getting $765,000 and Glen Mills School got $770,000! Think of what that would equate to in today’s dollars, right?
In 1970 from the same paper in 1970 I found a notice of an auction of “surplus goods.”
They had fairs, plants sales, and more. In 1974 they had the now deceased Judge Lisa Richette as a speaker and advertised for a farmer.
Like a decade or so ago there was a website post about a “school fixer upper.”
A multi alarm fire at Sleighton according to the Delco Times in June, 2024:
An incendiary fire at the long abandoned Sleighton Farm School for Girls in the 400 block of Valley Road in Middletown and Edgmont townships kept county firefighters busy Sunday night into early Monday…Edgmont Township Fire Marshal Al Mancill said the first call came in at 10:14 p.m. from a neighbor on Forrest Lane who saw flames. Firefighters arrived and found a 100-year-old abandoned dorm on fire and called for additional assistance.
It eventually went to two or more alarms, he said….Nobody was injured in the blaze, which took 90 minutes to control….
There have been numerous large fires over the years at the property, which has been closed for over 20 years.
Elwyn, which now owns the property, has a security patrol, with those members and state police patrolling the property and often making arrests, Mancill said.
Ok that is interesting right? And there were other articles from another fire on the Sleighton property in 2102 which said it was possibly due to a lightening strike…as in a storm.
A public notice posted in Monday’s Daily Times has drawn a rebuttal from Middletown Township.
Middletown Township is disputing a public notice Elwyn of Pennsylvania and Delaware and Rocky Run Development LLC published saying that a tentative plan for a proposed planned residential development submitted to the township in September 2021 has been deemed approved…..
Back to June 2024. Pennsylvania State Police Investigators deemed the fire arson after an investigation. At that time anyone who knew anything was asked to contact Pennsylvania State Police Master Trooper John Stewart at 610-558-7085.
The Abandoned Online post has interesting history on the place. So however many acres are left is owned by Elwyn and they say that was a result of Elwyn merging with Sleighton:
The Sleighton Farm School began as the House of Refuge in Philadelphia in 1826. 1 4 It was founded by the Quakers, with assistance from the Pennsylvania Prison Society, on the basis that juvenile offenders should be treated differently than adults…Male offenders were moved to Glen Mills in Delaware County to the newly formed Glen Mills School in 1889, while the female offenders remained at the House of Refuge. 1
The House of Refuge sought land in the rural Delaware County countryside in 1906 in a shift of curriculum. 1 14 The reformatory school found the belief that students would be better served in a setting that emulated a large family, where the therapeutic power of growing things on a working farm would be better than keeping them in the inner-city hardscape……On April 17, 1931, the school split into two, one for boys and one for girls. The boys’ school kept the Glen Mills name while the girls’ school became known as the Sleighton Farm School for Girls. 1 4 12 By 1949, Sleighton had grown to 350 acres, housing 350 to 360 females. 4…..In 1993, the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board purchased the easement to 120 acres owned by Sleighton for $1.62 million. 5 The easement purchase program, introduced in 1989, was designed to protect prime farmland from being developed by selling development rights to the state.
Sleighton merged with Elwyn in February 1998.
And there’s a lot more in that post so people should read it. It’s very interesting. But it’s very convoluted and confusing as to what is actually going on there. The only thing I seem to be able to find is that there is security on the site and I guess walking trails aren’t really open to the public?
I found something on social media from this year. That includes photos from I guess some kind of a firefighter who was on site for some kind of training exercise.
So what happens now? Who knows? Time will tell. As of June 4th unless I am reading this wrong the Justia site says “AND NOW, this 4th day of June, 2025,Elwyn of Pennsylvania and Delaware d/b/a Elwyn and Rocky Run Development, LLC’s appeal is quashed.”
So it seems there is an actual park area that is public, and where the buildings are rotting is private? But I am not sure? I am not going there, but it is an urban explorer favorite apparently, and again, who knows what happens now?
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.
There is a major article in the Philadelphia Business Journal about West Chester being given the Schiffer Farm at 1469 Morstein as a monumental donation and East Whiteland buying 52 acres at $4.7 million for open space. That is why East Whiteland voters passed the open space referendum last fall. That means dear readers, that saving this land is officially done and dusted!
The article mentions how West Chester University Provost Jeff Osgood said “West Chester did not want to engage in development for the sake of development” but isn’t that confusing given the back and forth in the past about what was it? 15 acres of this property that are mostly in West Whiteland and a wee bit in East Goshen? You know the land that backs up to where is it? Old Phoenixville Pike? Was that land sold before the rest was donated? (I never asked that before, did you?) West Whiteland is about preservation, but East Goshen today? Who knows as that township has changed.
This property straddles more than one municipality, and the thing I find sad is Durango Farm which has operated out of there for years will be relocating. It was in the article, but I had heard that a couple of months ago, elsewhere. I loved seeing the horses swishing their tails on the hill of the front field on Morstein. What East Whiteland acquired is called Ridley Springs, something else I didn’t now since we all just know it as “Schiffer Farm.”
The horses I am guessing will have to be relocated by or before renovation of the land occurs in 2026. Some buildings are reported as decrepit on the site, so while some structures I am guessing will be preserved, some will be removed… or that is what I was told when I asked a while ago. I will miss the horses, but it perhaps was not as easy having horses over there given the people who treated them like a petting zoo and would just wander up and neighbors in the past also told me people would try and feed them which you never do without permission, just like you don’t wander onto land with horses or live stock without permission.
The Philadelphia Business Journal also reported that this land in transition would present learning opportunities for students as well. Something about a collaborative process between the West Chester University kids and East Whiteland to transform a farm into a nature preserve and park. That’s pretty cool.
(An aside is Philadelphia Business Journal is well worth a subscription, although expensive.)
What would also be cool? Since there is open land not wooded, wouldn’t it be a great place for an observatory and wasn’t there one around the area once upon a time?
Also as I am a big gardener, I am a fan of what has happened at Bondsville Mill Park thanks to David Culp. I also would like to see organic community garden plots. That property has tons of deer, so that would require fencing.
West Chester University will use proceeds of the land for scholarships and financial aid, which as well all know for colleges and universities across the country is under attack courtesy of the current administration in Washington D.C.
Here is the full text of Chair of The East Whiteland Supervisors speech. I asked for it because it is such a great thing to have happened in an ugly world and thank you East Whiteland Township for getting it:
Good afternoon, I’m Scott Lambert, Chairman of the East Whiteland Township Board of Supervisors. Today, I’m honored to stand before you and share this truly exciting news, a process that began 2.5 yrs ago which for municipal time lines is a fast turnaround …news that reflect the very best of what can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose.
East Whiteland Township is proud of the forthcoming acquisition and permanent preservation of a truly special piece of land—RIDLEY SPRINGS FARM.
This milestone is not just about preserving open space, it’s about legacy, vision, and above all, it’s about Improving our community. In 2023, the generous anonymous donor approached the Townships of East Whiteland, East Goshen, and West Whiteland with an opportunity to preserve over 52 acres of beautiful countryside. After thoughtful discussions and deep consideration, East Whiteland Township stepped forward as the only municipality ready to commit to preserving this land for the public good……….. But we couldn’t do it alone.
Thanks to a vital partnership from the West Chester University Foundation—who graciously stepped in to temporarily acquire the land—we were able to act swiftly while securing funding for long-term stewardship. And thanks to the strong support of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Chester County, our County Commissioners Marion Moskowitz , Josh Maxwell who graciously cleared their calendar for a hastily arranged meeting that helped turn the tide.
To our state representatives of Senator Katie Muth and Representative Kristine Howard, The staff at Carolynn Comita’s office that offered some good advice and most importantly the 4044 residents of East Whiteland Township, who voted in favor of the new Open Space Tax, we secured nearly $1.87 million in grant funding to make this dream a reality. This isn’t just about protecting open space, it’s also about creating a vibrant, lasting resource for generations to come …. Our vision for the property reflects a mission deeply rooted in conservation. We will honor WITH THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY the original wishes of the anonymousfamily….. that this land is not developed for commercial, residential, or industrial use. Instead, we’re transforming it into a public nature preserve and park— a place where all are welcome to enjoy …..the best of our ability includes our fierce opposition to pending state House Bill 502 which would strip local government of the power to make land use and zoning ordinances decisions related to large scale energy production facilities -handing it instead to a 7 member politically appointed board in Harrisburg .
On June 12 Nick Cohen a CEO of an energy company, testified in Harrisburg in support of this bill had these comments about local elected officials:
X They should stick to chicken coop and garage decisions X They did not get in the business of local government to make decisions about land use.
Perhaps Mr. Cohen should review the PA MPC /SALDO … this type of overreach further under scores the importance of this transaction. And I hope our voting representatives will not approve this bill in the current state and respect the importance of local municipal input.
While we have much planning to do to prepare this space for public use, here’s a look at what’s ahead:
A beautiful network of scenic hiking and walking trails
A brand-new trailhead and pocket park for rest and recreation
Designated spaces for community events—like 5K races, family fun days, nature walks, and wellness programs…. these details will include input from our community/stakeholders
This land will be a sanctuary and a place where future generations can explore, learn, and thrive. On behalf of the East Whiteland Township Board of Supervisors, I want to thank a who’s who of super people (everyone ) who helped bring this vision over the finish line -the anonymous family, our Township team, Chester County Commissioners, Senator Muth, Representative Howard and Chris Pielli, State Senator Comitta, the West Chester University Foundation, our grant partners at DCNR and Chester County, West Whiteland for agreeing to the annexation of 1 acre of their property and our 4044 residents or 56% of the voting community that supported the preservation of open space.
Thank you all for your commitment to helping preserve this land for public enjoyment for generations to come.
I close with saying everyone should thank East Whiteland Supervisor Scott Lambert. He doesn’t take enough credit for the mountains he moved to get this done.
In Willistown, the nutbag brigade is ruining this township. Even if this was a place that had a lot of media coverage, they literally wouldn’t have enough reporters to cover the nutbag brigade in Willistown.
If they’re not trying to shut down flower farms, they are seeking out conspiracy theories in haystacks.
Now let me set the stage here.
People criticize me and say that I’m hiding because I’m called Chester County Ramblings, even though every post here is signed with my name. But the biggest problem is on Facebook because my blog’s Facebook page is “Chester County Ramblings”. Hello village idiot collective? That’s the name of my blog. Duh.
Some of the biggest complainers are the nutbag brigade from Willistown. They know exactly who I am, and then they literally run around and are among the people that will contact anyone possible to say what a horrible terrible person I am. This does make me laugh because every once in a while somebody will say to me (paraphrasing here) “You know people think you’re a bully and thought you would want to know.”
To them it’s a smile and the reply, thank you for telling me because I do appreciate that somebody caresenough to tell me that. But most don’t see the root of it. The root of it are these people that I don’t agree with or wish to interact with wherever they are, a lot of the time I choose just block them because I simply don’t feel like listening to them…which ironically and honestly they are in fact trying to bully me, malign me, defame me. But I can’t control their behavior. I can only control mine, remove myself from their crap, and look in the mirror every day. And back to the point of this post is the fact that some of the biggest offenders are from Willistown. Yes, beautiful, bucolic Willistown with the rotten underbelly of so many nasty residents. (Incidentally, I have many friends in Willistown who agree with me on this. )
These unpleasant people in Willistown literally live in one of the most beautiful municipalities in the entire county. But they can’t realize their good fortune, and they have to literally pick everything apart every day, 365 days a year. A lot of the people who do this are failed politicians, similar malcontents, or those who simply don’t have the balls to actually stand up and participate in their community. They view their “participation“ as this nonsense.
Lately their nonsense has formed into a bitch fest collective, and a new Facebook page. I find it amusing that their page is anonymous. I mean, it’s not really anonymous. You know who’s behind it and I have a pretty good idea who runs the profile that is not actually a page per se, and I don’t really care if they want to give themselves a cute little name like “Team Willistown.” It is of course their right to operate that way, but the hysterical irony is they’re doing worse than what they criticize me for doing.
So their latest target when they’re not submitting 10 million right to know requests (and do they do it now under “Team Willistown”?) is they are attacking Willistown and the way they have decided to get the public works building rebuilt or updated in a crazy economic environment. The whole process was transparent. It was discussed at multiple meetings and now they have decided it’s no bid and bad. Very, very bad.
So once again, they’re starting on one of their letter, writing campaigns and voluminous and constant Facebook posts, including polluting a community group which until them was pretty nice. Of course, if you disagree with them, then you are evil.
These people are consistently rude to township staff and supervisors. They have quite the elitist attitude towards all. and again the great irony here is, they don’t really know what living in a bad municipality is about. But then again they don’t get out much, they stay behind their keyboards most of the time. Oh, and let us not forget that the crap they pull constantly? This costs the taxpayers in the end. It doesn’t just cause serious turnover and turmoil of township staff.
If not some letter writing, lawn sign toting campaign, they drive up and down the roads of Willistown in their Teslas or similar complaining that some roads have the nerve to be old-fashioned unpaved roads. And some of the roads, paved or not, are in rough shape because there are stormwater issues. Some of the stormwater issues could perhaps be alleviated if some property owners were more cooperative with the township and why not do that?
And then I love when they start about sidewalks. And I’m not saying sidewalks aren’t important, but what I am still saying is not all roads will do well with sidewalks. Add the questions they can never ever answer when they rant on about sidewalks and it’s who will pay for what. Because everybody knows when sidewalks go in the property owner is responsible, even if the property owner didn’t want a sidewalk.
Let’s talk about some of the property owners that don’t want sidewalks. First and foremost, they know that some places are completely dangerous and it’s bad shit crazy to put sidewalks in those places.
Then there are the people who own and raise expensive horse flesh or cattle and so on, and that’s a HUGE liability for them. Are these big mouths who want sidewalks going to provide these land owners with the kind of coverage they would need and pay for it?
And then there are the people with properties that would need to be seriously graded in order to put in a sidewalk so how much land would be taken?
These people want to run everything, but at the end of the day do they really want to do anything besides bitch to Willistown about Willistown? You don’t see them moving though do you? It’s a horrible terrible place to live and why don’t they go where they’re happy?
Now look, do I think Willistown could see improvement? Let’s be honest, what municipality wouldn’t benefit from a little improvement? But it’s what these people are about that is the issue with me. They’re just offensive. And whatever good ideas they might have on occasion is lost in their unending barrage of brain farting verbal diarrhea.
Team Willistown is an individual profile on Facebook- it’s one person. But it’s the same old people attached to this person. Plus a couple of new additions who do not know about the Willistown dog who carries the bone and insecure enough to always spill the tea. So eventually everyone will figure it out. It’s literally the sewer rats with a couple of others, isn’t it?
Politics make strange bedfellows, and they come from both sides of the aisle in Willistown…and elsewhere. They are pretty much using the Republican candidate running. He’s young, a Trumper, and perhaps a patsy. And then she of peek-a-boo blouses and photo posing with John Fetterman? Rumor mill has it she’s going to perhaps try to run for supervisor again in a couple of years?
And it’s pretty obvious that they have as their next objective to get rid of Supervisor Bill Shoemaker. Now I will say the guy running as a Democrat this coming November is actually a good guy.
But the sewer rats by any other name? Are they motivated by anything other than revenge?
You don’t have to like my opinions, but I am entitled to them. And the reality is in cases like this if they didn’t put so much BS out there, there would be nothing for anyone to opine upon.
And the funny thing is, I’d actually rather listen to a rooster than listen to any of these people. I bet you never thought you’d hear me say that did you?
It’s such a simple thing, and it is a very uncomplicated dessert or breakfast treat with plain Greek yogurt. Strawberry rhubarb crumble.
I had rhubarb in my vegetable box from Lancaster County PA the other day and I had some strawberries in the refrigerator.
Here’s how you make it and it couldn’t be more simple:
2 1/2 cups diced rhubarb
1 1/2 cups diced fresh strawberries
1 1/4 cups white sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 large egg
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup quick-cooking oats
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup butter
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish if you have one if not, I used a deeper vintage 8 x 8 Corningware baking dish.
Combine rhubarb, strawberries white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, egg, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 teaspoon ginger together in a large bowl until evenly coated.
Put fruit mixture in the bottom of the baking dish.
Mix 1 ½ cups flour, the rest of the brown sugar, oats, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon together in a separate bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry cutter or two forks until topping is crumbly. Sprinkle topping over rhubarb layer.
Bake in the preheated oven 40 to 45 minutes until it’s bubbling up around the edges of the topping. The topping will be brownish and color and smell delicious.
You can serve warm or cold and it is really good with plain Greek yogurt for breakfast.
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.
Yeah that. Talk about taking the boring out of Wednesday AKA “hump day”, right? Is this to be filed under emperor’s new clothes does a strip tease and enters burlesque phase?
Oh wait, am I being bitchy? Gosh I am sorry Allow me to share these little articles:
In 2021/2022 she got non-profit status from the IRS:
So today when I went to the IRS site to look up Farmer Jawn I found:
Ok READ IT. It says:
Organizations whose federal tax exempt status was automatically revoked for not filing a Form 990-series return or notice for three consecutive years. Important note: Just because an organization appears on this list, it does not mean the organization is currently revoked, as they may have been reinstated.
Exemption Type: 501(c)(3)
Exemption Reinstatement Date:
Revocation Date: 05-15-2024
Revocation Posting Date: 08-12-2024
Then looked up on PA Charity search thingy and the only thing on there :
You she’s in Westtown, right? Chester County, right? So why in the hell does everything still say 6730 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119? She rented that space and there is a spa there that has zero as in ziltch to do with her, correct? Which makes one question this little nugget from today’s news:
Separately, Barfield and her company, LifeLeaf Organic Farms, owe the state more than $6,300 in unpaid sales taxes and penalties, per a lien filed against her Germantown Avenue property in March by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
People have been noticing a whole lot of nothing at Westtown so what gives?
What about all that grant money Congresswoman Houlahan allocated last year? Where is it and how much was spent?
And whatever happened with that horrible graffiti case from last year? (Note “Police tell Axios the case hasn’t been solved.”)
So the Fauxmer has been busy giving away free eggs including in New York, which is right down 926 from Westtown, right?
Now so we are CLEAR: I applaud efforts like this to educate and reduce food insecurity. I support local and regional farmers.
But I have questioned this woman ever since she started posing on tractors at Westtown. And it was never because she replaced Pete’s Produce. Pete retired, and that dog still don’t hunt.
Every time I have questioned anything here I am abused essentially and called a racist. This has never had anything to do with race. It has been about right and wrong. Like another wrong is she always talks about URBAN farming and well, Westtown ain’t urban…but then technically she’s not fauxmering in Westtown yet, right?
I expect her publicist (because all glamour fauxmers have publicists, right?) will be putting out something soon right? Either to address it or deflect? Are both she and the land lying fallow? Inquiring minds want to know!
Whatever. I am sure I will somehow be blamed for this news although I hadn’t a clue until a little while ago. This sure makes thing interesting and wouldn’t you LOVE to be a fly on the wall with James Beard , Rodale, and Westtown School about now? Does she actually pay rent to Westtown School?
