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.
This popped up on NextDoor. Mind you the platform itself is the social media for literal dummies site. I don’t know why, but this is the type of people it attracts who post the most.
This woman is sharing this post from literally a farming community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Of course a lot of the comments about this have disintegrated to stupidity in politics. Calling her a leftist Karen who’s probably vaccinated was one of my favorite comments when I shared this on Facebook that I removed. Politics has nothing to do with us. This is plain old, ordinary ignorance, and very humorous to me because politics, don’t come into it, considering where the poster is from which is rural Lancaster County.
I have always been grateful when I see a hay truck or a tractor on the road because it still means there are farmers around in spite of all of the development which pushes us all out and artificially inflates land prices.
And I have to ask this woman what kind of a farmer would she rather have? One who does glam photo shoots sitting on tractors etc and has a publicist or an actual getting hands dirty in the dirt farmer?
And speaking of farmers, again how many do you know who have a professional publicist and seemingly tons of time on social media making bold claims?
I am also just astounded that for all the people who are deserving and kill themselves working towards a James Beard award and she gets one for what exactly? If it’s a choice between an actual farmer on a tractor and a fauxmer, I will go for the real deal. Kind of like giving all puff and no substance (or track record) a huge federal grant when that could be a farming game changer for more deserving folks, right?
And so we are clear, I don’t care about the race, creed or color of a farmer. I care about those rare individuals who are actual stewards of the land and not just chin wagging selfies and reels on their self perceived fabulousness.
One of my favorite farms in Chester County is Queen’s Farm in West Chester. It is owned and operated by the Yin Family. You can buy produce from them at the West Chester Growers Market and other local markets.
Let me know who some of your favorite Farmers in Chester county are. I’m thinking maybe we should start to feature some of them so people know about our farmers. You know the ones who don’t have time for photo ops and professional publicists.
Thanks for stopping by.
A real Chester County farmer. Farmer Zuohong “Ed” Yin of Queen’s Farm, West Chester, PA
$657,000 for FarmerJawn and Friends Foundation Fund to revitalize a barn and create a hydroponic agriculture facility for innovative agricultural practices
I wrote about this a few days ago and I don’t think anybody paid attention to it. But then the email came out today and as a constituent of Congresswoman Houlahan, I received an email announcing who got grants in the area.
So she has gotten over $650,000 in a grant on a farm where she technically really can’t farm yet because it’s not lain fallow enough to be organic, right? And she doesn’t own the barn she’s getting the grant for The Westtown School does, so that makes it technically their property, so why didn’t they fill out the grant forms? After all, they are a nonprofit with a track record and form 990s etc. aren’t they? Does she now have organic status?
Please note the address in the letter above for the Farmer Jawn Friends and Foundation Fund. 6730 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19119.
What is the problem with that address? She doesn’t rent that location anymore it’s a spa. Not affiliated with her because I called and asked. And the lady who answered the phone, remarked that she had returned mail addressed to that entity to the senders.
How can a person who has yet to truly farm on land that is leased or rented but has to lie fallow for a couple of more years in order to get organic certification get this kind of coin now? That is life changing money for a farmer. But this woman doesn’t have a track record although she has loads of media sound bytes , so how can she get such a large amount of money?
Look if she ends up being the real deal, I will apologize. But now all I see are lots of questions and my big thing is, how can someone who hasn’t actually farmed yet where they are, and doesn’t own the land, and the land is owned actually by another nonprofit apply for such a big grant and get it?
And at the end of the day, the address and stuff used for the grant application and for this nonprofit arm of her concept, goes to an address where she no longer has a lease, so how does that work?
I will note again that you don’t have to like my questions or my opinion but it’s not illegal. As taxpayers ultimately we pay for these government grants, so I think we deserve to have answers.
One of the things people always send me are things having to do with this “Farmer Jawn.” I thought I should set the record straight and say I am still not buying what she is selling, so kindly stop asking. She loves her socials so I am not breaking any rules by sharing screenshots. Everything I have screenshot is PUBLIC.
And I think this is still like the Emperor’s New Clothes at Westtown. I think this is smoke and mirrors and I also think eventually I will be able to say I told you so.
And she can sit up there in her domicile now in West Chester or wherever she lives and call me whatever pejorative term she wishes or say whatever she likes. I am entitled to my opinion until this woman proves me wrong, my opinion stands.
Text received today
I don’t hate this person, I don’t know this person, I don’t want to know this person. This is solely my opinion on what I have seen to date and that includes going back to Philadelphia and where is the actual business there these days?
The Constitution of this country, and the First Amendment allow me to have my opinion. My opinion is not based on race.
I don’t judge farmers by race, creed, or color. I will note that farmers in Chester County PA come in all shapes, sizes, nationalities, colors, and sexes. Farmers work hard. Farmers deserve respect.
But Fauxmers are something else entirely. If this woman proves me wrong I will own it. But thus far? She’s sadly proving me right it seems?
So I have to ask is it true last year when the mowing finally got done to cut the weeds, it was actually done by some Westtown School employees in part? Is The Westtown School paying her to farm? is she paying The Westtown School rent? How is the rent calculated / covered while the land lies fallow pending the organic of it all?
Why does The Westtown School not seem to ever answer any of these questions? Is The Westtown School setting her up to fail so they can just sell the land for development down the road?
The Westtown School has a “Dean of Communications” named Anne Burns. She never answers her phone. Her email is anne.burns@westtown.edu
And yes, I’m probably stating things that people aren’t comfortable with saying out loud and asking questions that people aren’t also comfortable with. But I’m genuinely curious because I’ve been out here in Chester County for a while now and I have never met farmers with the glam photos on farm equipment, and PR wizards, have you? Is this a new Bravo show waiting to happen?
So she can pose for photos with Governor Josh Shapiro and she can say she’s going to grow 1,000,000 pounds of food. But in the end, what will actually happen and why is her nonprofit registered to an address in Philadelphia where she doesn’t seem to have a business any longer? Why is her non-profit information incomplete on the PA Bureau of Charities website?
So I have not to date changed my opinion. Again, hopefully she will prove my suspicions wrong. But realistically I don’t know if that will happen.
It was Happy Days Farm. It was part of a Penn Land grant. It was a historic resource. It was beautiful and until not that long ago, a working farm with terrific tenant farmers who cared about the land. Vanguard the financial giant had come to own it.
Now as of fall of 2023 another developer is in control. Portman Holdings of Atlanta is busy steamrolling it all down for some kind of 1.9 million-square-foot industrial complex. So is that developer speak for lots of warehouses?
We drove past what was Happy Days Farm today and it’s so sad and a waste. Chester County is disappearing one bad development at a time. Soon it will all be bulldozed and a county historically known once for farms, open space, bucolic vistas and lovely country architecture and more will be gone.
My wish for 2024? That Chester County residents will rise up and start saving what’s left of Chester County; will make saving Chester County an ELECTION issue. It’s a Presidential election year. Just a thought.
It’s her birthday and she would like you to support her financially? I will start once again by saying I have no problem supporting farmers and agriculture non-profits. I don’t care what the races, creeds, or colors are of farmers. I am not going to be somewhat ignorant in perception about that like Ms. Jawn makes people feel for essentially not looking like her. And yes I said that out loud because it’s not right. And yes I can indeed express that. Expressing how what I see put out there makes me feel is just that: saying how someone or something makes me feel. Nothing more, nothing less.
So we will start with the entities in the Jawn Universe.
Soooo. Viva Tea Leaf? Website is gone.
I can tell you again I tried the lavender infused honey which was not the greatest honey with a sprig of lavender in the top of the jar. It was in an basket of things I won in a silent auction that the West Chester Food Co-Op had provided. It was ick enough that I threw it out. (It was the only thing that I tossed out from that basket, incidentally. ) This was well before I even heard of anything Jawn.
The store address is now someone else’s business, a masseuse. So this also means it is not the location of Farmer Jawn Greenery any longer, nor should it be the legal address of her non-profit which is still showing incomplete information on the PA Charity website, right?
What little farm in Germantown? (I found that DiBruno’s still has the lavender honey on their website. And it’s $13.99 for 4.5 ounces of we do not actually know where everything comes from. ) One of the more beneficial things about organic honey is buying local honey because it helps with things like allergies because the bees are helping you build up your immunity from eco systems in your area. So whose honey is it?
Updates include it looks like Farmer Jawn Foods was created this past October of 2023. I have no issue with that except for the address. What will be interesting is if it will be disclosed where food is from since the organic of it all for farming at Westtown is still a couple of years out for her. Of course, it makes you wonder how much rent is being paid, what the rent is, that is being paid and all sorts of other things because that’s a big chunk of land correct?
This leads us to the CSA. To a lot of people, the prices are going to be expensive, but honestly that’s kind of what CSA cost these days. The price range puts the Farmer Jawn CSA subscription costs, towards the higher end, but not the highest out there.
What I would like to see is where exactly food is coming from because I have been part of CSA’s before. And I still get farm share boxes weekly, and when I get them, they tell me who the producers are. As in what farms. And I think that is especially important because if you love farmers and you’re involved in a business model like this, you want to help those farmers and their vegetables in your CSA boxes is a big part of their marketing and yours.
But I like to know where things are coming from. I want to know what other farms are participating when I personally invest in a CSA or farm share. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. Just like I don’t think it’s too much to ask at this point that she post her form 990s if they exist as a nonprofit people need to see those things because otherwise then you just wonder where the money’s going. I don’t give anything to nonprofits where I can’t look up a form 990.
Hopefully, this will be a better year than the first “season“ at the old Farmer Pete’s which left a lot to be desired. And part of what left a lot to be desired was the pricing, and the fact that all the advertised open hours they advertised they weren’t actually open.
OK go ahead haters. I am ready for my scarlet B for bitchy blogger. If that’s what some of you think because I wrote this post, I can’t really help you. But it’s something I continue to wonder about and I’m not asking or saying anything wrong.
Caveat emptor.
Enjoy the sunshine today. It is cold and a little slippery in spots, however.
In 2014 I started writing about a farm on White Horse Road that was being killed for development. We went past it again recently and I thought it was time for people to revisit that.
It used to be a farm. Now it has full grown McMansions. I liked the farm.
Yet another reason why the Municipalities Planning Code needs to be updated.
Ma Belle? No that’s not it…it’s Mae Belle. That’s it.
It’s a new Jawn with a move out at 6730 Germantown Ave and possibly a move next door to 6732?
Ok come on, line up now and get it out of your system. I am terribly horrible for writing about this, but it’s out there and fascinating. Nothing privileged. Above is the former site of Farmer Jawn Greenery in Mt. Airy on 6730 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia PA 19119 which is now CLOSED and for rent. Only they say she opened something else next door as in immediate right of where she was? ( I found a website too.)
Even Google marks it closed:
So….the Farmer in the Westtown Dell gave an interview to The Daily Local Last week.
Now this was a rather interesting article because it’s obvious the subject, Farmer Jawn herself was dancing, not substantively answering some questions. Like…where the article says:
The farm store is up and running, with more than a 100 different items to choose from. Farmer Jawn said everything offered is local and comes from no farther than 2 hours away.
Ok translation please? I think the reporter asked where the food is coming from because obviously she isn’t growing it, but if she still has the Elkins Park location for real, why not? Other markets, and not just the way Pete’s was, will tell the customer WHERE THE FOOD CAME FROM. This is a sketch at best answer IMHO
For more information, go to farmerjawnphilly.com
Another dodge ball response, the website says essentially NOTHING or regurgitates what is past, past, past. Or has broken links.
Every backyard gardener is familiar with weeds….Barfield said farmers don’t have to look at weeds as the enemy. She noted that weeds retain water in the soil, can provide shade, keep plants cool in summer and deter deer from eating the crops.
Ummm. Yeah. Fairly accomplished gardener here. Weeds take up what viable crops and garden plants need for survival…which is why personally I pull them. Except for poison ivy/oak/sumac as I have that removed chemical free. And weeds deter deer? Good lord city girl, have you met the deer in Chester County yet? (This was a very tooth fairy response I think.)
Next growing season, rye, barley, and buckwheat will grow on 20 acres for a local malt house. Barfield said that all ingredients in the beer from beginning to end will be created by Blacks.
So will madam actually be growing her own honey as well? Wasn’t sure where last honey originated from and was not a fan and yes I tried and tossed a jar of it out. It was in a basket I won as a silent auction item for a non-profit fundraiser.
And can we talk about the whole recurring message elephant in the room and on the fields of the farms which is to be other than a black farmer is a bad farmer? Sorry not sorry, that bothers me. And because I am white, I am not supposed to ask that and will I be once again called a racist for asking why only one type of farmer is a good farmer? Why if I personally don’t take others to task over the color of their skin or nationality or religion and more am I supposed to apologize or feel bad because all of my ancestors are Caucasian?
Comments from last week/weekend:
So as a related aside how does Farmer Jawn like living in West Chester Borough since that is where she is living supposedly? It’s a cute town, I hope she and her family are enjoying it and I say that honestly, without edge.
And I will state (again) for the record that I have zero issue with her stated mission. It just seems like for someone who so lived their life out loud and has done, that we have so many questions about the business of her business.
Let’s chat this other new Mae Bell biz and how will that work with what? Two farms? One in Westtown and one in Elkins Park at 1760 Ashbourne Road or wherever? That’s a lot on one plate, isn’t it? And what about the non profit?
So, she’s part of our community and still in Philadelphia? Sign me still waiting to see how this all works out. And what is the address of her charity etc. now that she is no longer actually at her old location given the empty and forlorn look and for rent sign?
Roostergate II is very active and one of the many issues plaguing Willistown Township. There are two women vying for supervisor, Molly Perrin and Cindi Myers. Where are they on the CURRENT issues in Willistown? I am not including the sewer sale in this, because Willistown broke up with AQUA already and a couple of the original sewer rats are creating ridiculous issues over not quite sure what so they don’t count…although it was amusing to see them taken to task for essentially “fake news” at this evening’s meeting…but I digress…sorry not sorry.
Anyway, one of the BIG BIG issues again are roosters. And not just on one street although the Martyrrific Rooster Mommy of Laurel Circle does seem to draw attention to herself, doesn’t she?
So in the spirit of KYC or KNOW YOUR CANDIDATE, where are Molly Perrin and Cindi Myers on Roosters and potential abuse of ASA (Agricultural Security Areas)? This rooster issue has been going on since 2019 the first time, right?
Therefore ladies vying for votes, let’s have it. You have Facebook pages as candidates, so let’s git r’ done. This is a local issue, ergo a should be discussed election issue.
AS SUPERVISOR, HOW EXACTLY TO YOU PLAN TO DEAL WITH THE ROOSTER ISSUE?ARE ROOSTERS IN CHARGE OR WILLISTOWN OFFICIALS?
DO NOT MESSAGE ME. POST YOUR POSITION ON YOUR LOVELY CAMPAIGN PAGES. AND IF YOU DON’T DECLARE WHERE YOU ARE ON THIS ISSUE, THAT WILL SADLY ANSWER QUESTIONS VOTERS HAVE. LADIES, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE AN OMLETTE, YOU HAVE TO BREAK SOME EGGS.
Cock a doodle do ladies, cock a doodle do. I don’t have a proverbial horse (or rooster) in this race, but your fellow residents want to know what you are planning on doing. One of you will be elected in November and there is no hiding behind the other supervisors on this and other issues, there can’t be and shouldn’t be ….. Your constituency wants to hear the sound of your voices. Right now you aren’t saying much of anything about anything and well, speak up, find your voices…or why are you even running?
Not trying to be mean because I like you both, but neither of you say much of anything publicly about issues and it’s quite frankly perplexing.
Now I was sent the photos of the Mt. Airy location today, Tuesday. If the CSA pick up is on Thursday, are those leftover vegetables and have they been sitting there since then? Blech if true, and does that attract vermin ?
Also rather ironic but I actually have a jar of the lavender honey she sells. On the website it says “Raw Unfiltered Honey sourced from a local apiary company.” Yes, so how do you know that’s true? If you were doing your honey in a partnership with local beekeepers, wouldn’t you tell people where the honey was actually coming from?
I didn’t like the honey at all and I am tossing it. And it’s sold for $12 a jar on the website and it is the tiniest little jar. I love honey, and I buy local honey, but I know where it comes from as in where the hives are located and where the honey is actually processed. Thanks I will stick with Chester County grown and produced honey. Besides local honey is great for allergies.
And speaking of how much things cost one of my readers had left a comment somewhere on this blog about going to visit and finding the hours inconsistent (being kind) in Westtown, and that peaches were $2.00 each?! Were they flecked with gold leaf?
No, I have not gone over to visit in Westtown. I don’t really have any desire to. Maybe as time goes by that will change but for my asking questions, I received vile comments from her supporters and somebody who condones bad behavior like that I’m not going to run out and support, are you?
And something that I keep wondering about is it keeps talking about she’s in this agreement with Westtown but what’s the agreement exactly? How much does she rent the land for? I’m asking because I legitimately don’t know and I have no idea how much it was for the prior farmer Pete all those years. if the land lays follow for three years to become organic, did Westtown offer a period of rental abatement?
And if she’s all down with helping alleviate food insecurity in communities, she is now in Chester County correct? It would be nice if she participated where her business is. Chester County Food Bank, The Lord’s Pantry, People’s Pantry, etc.
