January 2013 Vol
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Members get an additional 5% off their purchases all week! Details on back Call for Candidates page. DAY Weavers Way Co-op needs members to run for a seat on the Board of Directors. Send inquiries to: [email protected] Details on back page. JANUARY 13 - 19 The Shuttle January 2013 Vol. 41 No. 12 A Cooperative Grocer Serving the Northwest Community Since 1973 Wanted: A Book Drive Delivers Smiles Amendment Few Good Threatens Cooperators for Urban Farms in the Board Philly by Margaret Lenzi, Weavers Way by Jon McGoran, Shuttle Editor Board President ON DECEMBER 13, 2012, less than four DO YOU have an interest in serving Weav- months after the widely anticipated imple- ers Way and a commitment to its mission, mentation of the city’s brand new zoning values, and goals? Are you a conceptual code, City Council’s Committee on Rules thinker who can grasp the big picture? Can has voted to approve an ordinance that you work in a group to oversee a vibrant undoes important aspects of the code, in- developing organization? cluding the gains made for urban agricul- ture in Philadelphia. Introduced by Coun- If this sounds like you so far, you might photo courtesy of Harrity Elementary School be interested in running for the Weavers cilman Brian O’Neill, Bill 120917 creates Third graders at Harrity Elemenary with books collected at Weavers Way, Big Blue Marble restrictions on a range of uses in commer- Way Board. And you thought the election Bookstore, and Valley Green Bank, through the bank’s annual Book Drive. Thanks to season was over in November! Not so in those who donated books, all 860 students, grades K-8, at Mastery Charter School Harrity Elementary were able to take home a free book before the winter break. (continued on page 24) (continued on page 8) Weavers Way Partners with GFS in WWCP Hires New Executive a New Healthy Snack Initiative Director by Cece Dye, GFS Class of 2014 by Jon McGoran, Shuttle Editor WEAVERS WAY Community Programs WEAVERS WAY has recent- (WWCP), the nonprofit arm of Weavers ly teamed up with Ger- Way Co-op, is proud to welcome Jill C. mantown Friends School Fink as its new executive director. Fink in an initiative to provide is a well-known figure in the community healthier snack options who brings to WWCP a wealth of experi- for the GFS community ence, as an entrepreneur, an activist, and and bring in funds for the an executive, working in the non-profit sports program. The proj- and private sectors. ect is a student-run snack stand, known around GFS “We had a group of well-qualified as the Tiger Den. Though candidates for this job, with a breadth this concession stand, lo- of non-profit leadership experience and cated in the Scatergood a strong commitment to WWCP’s mis- Gym on the GFS cam- sion,” said WWCP board president and pus, has been around for photo courtesy of Germantown Friends School acting Executive Director Mira Rabin. a few years, it only re- Pictured here at the new Tiger Den snack bar at GFS are (l-r) “What made Jill stand out was the clear- photo courtesy of Jill Fink cently began to bring in Lydia Wood of Mount Airy, Djavon Dupree of Oak Lane, Jalen New WWCP Executive Director Jill Fink Thompson of Germantown, and teacher / coach Tom Levy of Manayunk. (continued on page 17) (continued on page 10) Weavers Way Cooperative Association Presorted Standard INSIDE... 559 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119 U.S. www.weaversway.coop POSTAGE PAID Co-op News Community News CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Philadelphia, PA Farm Report . 2 Timebanking Comes to NW Philly! . 11 Permit No. 2658 Product News . 3 Morris Arboretum Celebrates Tu B’Shevat. 13 Manager’s Corner . 4 Event Explores Health, Environmental Toxins 15 Weavers Way Lowers Prices . 5 “Play’s” the Thing at C.W. Henry . 16 Grants for Community Programs . 7 Awbury to Celebrate New Growth in 2013 . 19 Electronics Recycling . 13 Festival on Struggles for Social Justice . 21 Suggestions . 24 Land Bank Important for Urban Ag . 23 2 THE SHUTTLE January 2013 Editor’s Kestrel Says Farewell Meet WWCP’s Note by Kestrel Plump, outgoing WWCP Farm Educator Newest Farm by Jon McGoran, I STILL remember the feeling of my first After two years, I am moving on from Shuttle Editor day working at WWCP. It was five in the WWCP. My small family and I are follow- Educator morning and Nina Berryman, Nicole Sug- ing our dream of living and farming with Last summer, the makers of Aqu- erman, Mike Herbst friends. For this next by Shelley Hedlund, WWCP Farm aBounty, the genetically modified (GMO) and I were all piling adventure, we will be Educator salmon currently seeking approval from into the Weavers Way moving to Leicester, the FDA, said they expected their fish Van and heading to Vermont, where I will would be on America’s dinner plates by PASA. I was so excited be the field manager Christmas. Well, it turns out they were to be going to my first for Gildrien Farms, wrong. Christmas has come and gone, and ever professional con- owned by our good Aqua Bounty wasn’t part of anyone’s holi- ference. Even though friends Caitlin and Jer- day feast. But next Christmas, it might be. 2011 was to be my fifth emy Gildrien and their The genetically altered fish have season farming, I felt soon-to-be two-year- moved a step closer to approval. No, the as though I had finally old daughter Sonora. tinkering hasn’t activated some long-dor- arrived at my career, Moving from the loud mant gene for legs and feet; but the Food my life’s work—to streets of Philadelphia and Drug Administration has officially de- grow food sustainably to a tiny one-room clared that AquaBounty would have “no and to teach others the cabin in rural Vermont significant impact” on the environment techniques and joys of will be a change so and is “as safe as food from conventional working with the land. stark I can’t wrap my Atlantic salmon.” According to an article I was so dang excited head around it. photo courtesy of Shelley Hedlund in the New York Times, final approval is that I am quite sure I talked louder and It is also difficult to fathom that it has Farm Educator Shelley Hedlund, with her now highly likely, although there will longer than my traveling companions only been two years since Rachel Milen- son, Tucker be a 60-day public comment period (we would have like at such an early hour, but bach called me to tell me the I would be will post a link at www.weaversway.coop I could not contain myself. Life just felt WWCP’s newest Farm Educator. So much AFTER A year as lead apprentice, I am when it is available). so good. pleased to be moving into the position While the FDA can’t predict when (continued on page 7) of Farm Educator, as a more permanent the salmon will be approved, consumers part of WWCP. I believe that investment will know when the fish has arrived be- in community is invaluable, so I am ex- cause… well, actually they won’t know, Weavers Way’s Winter Garden cited to delve deeper into my immediate and not because AquaBounty has been Northwest community. As a resident of spliced with a gene to make them invis- by Nina Berryman, Henry Got Crops Farm Manager Mt. Airy and a Co-op member, I have seen ible (although a few jellyfish genes here the growth of the Co-op farms and more and there might make them clear, and then recently the education programs with you could make salmon mousse without WWCP, and I look forward to helping the out the aspic). local food movement continue to grow in Consumers won’t know AquaBounty creative ways. has arrived because it won’t be labeled. We I have a lifetime of experience gar- still don’t do that in this country. We don’t dening, having asked my mother as a do much GMO safety research, either. As young person if I could take care of a cor- far as I can tell, the logic is that labeling of ner of our yard myself. This next season GMOs is only important if you are trying will be my fifth season working on a farm, to make an informed choice, and since the and I am excited to continue to learn from GMO research is totally inadequate, why the land and the farm’s diverse range of bother with the labels, right? visitors and volunteers. More recently, I But this past September, one of the have worked on organic production farms first long-term studies into the safety of Whistling Duck in Trail, Oregon, Wheat- GMOs was released (see page 23), with land Vegetable Farm in Purcelleville, Vir- some startling results. The study was at- ginia, and a farm homestead in Easton, tacked from many fronts, and while it is Maryland. In addition, I have had a plot in the East Mt. Airy Community Garden far from conclusive, I couldn’t understand photo by Nancy Anderson why so many critics called it unintelligi- “Gabbie’s Garden” since the garden start- Nina Berryman (r) with students from Saul High School at Weavers Way’s Farms’ “Winter ed. My love of food, health, and nutrition ble. But then I realized: it’s in French. Growing Space” took me to pursue a certification as a Ho- COLLECTIVELY, WEAVERS Way farms have The tunnels are great oases of warmth listic Health Counselor, helping people to The Shuttle is published by over 6,000 square feet of winter grow- and vegetation during the cold months.