Points to Ponder

Weavers Way: We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Permits?

Weaver’s Way forced to comply

 

It’s been six years now since the Weaver’s Way Cooperative embarked into urban farming on the former recreation land of Awbury Arboretum in Germantown. A small garden at first, then expansion onto the extended grassy portion along Washington Lane between SEPTA and Ardleigh Street, this is now a commercial farm in the real sense of word.  Complete with a greenhouse and  irrigation system, the farm turns out products sold in Weaver’s stores in Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill.

But there were problems; actually several serious problems that stayed far from public awareness for quite some time, but considering the long standing community presence and the reverence that many hold for Weaver’s Way, the substantial public funding they have received over the years, and their close ties with Dwight Evans and the political establishment, these issues are too significant to be overlooked any longer.

Nearly a million dollars in public money funded the Chestnut Hill store and various other projects that Weaver’s Way participated in have been funded by the public over the years under various programs.  Some were less successful than others.  A 6 figure loan from the city through former Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller bailed them out from the edge of internally-generated financial ruin a few years ago as well. There have been corresponding campaign contributions from time to time.

One would think an enterprise that owed so much to society, and one that prides itself on providing services that claim to enhance the quality of life for the community, would make compliance to fundamental City regulations, codes and guidelines a high priority when it comes to business and farming.  Such has not been the case.

It begins with the farm itself. Although an agreement was reached with the leadership of the Awbury community and the land was leased, no initial permit was ever applied for to do farming as a business on the land.  One would assume that an entity in business for over 30 years, with multiple stores, vendors, food permits and employees to be accountable for would realize that is step one. Had they done that, they would have learned then and there that the land was not zoned for commercial farming, but only recreational park use.  No matter, the farm project went into full swing and expanded over the years with no backup legalization.

About two years ago it was decided that the farm would be more productive with an irrigation system that would automatically keep the crops watered and one was installed, using the city water system as a source.

Again, one would think that permits for such an installation would be on the forefront of the planning. If such permits had been applied for, they would have learned that such systems require what is known as a “Back Flow Valve”.  This device prevents any of the water being delivered to the soil from being sent back into the city fresh water system if the flow were reversed for any reason, and then gravity would let dirty water laying around the pipes from re-entering them and entering the city’s drinking water system. Since no such permit was applied for, no such valve was installed, but there is more; much more.

For you see the very system itself, both the plumbing tie in to the city water supply and the tie in to PECO electric service for the greenhouse and other uses were done illegally. No application for service, no meters, just a “done in the dark” jumper to the PECO power lines and a never applied for connection to the nearest water Water Department supply and viola! We are irrigated and illuminated.

The larger question is why were they not investigated?- - For you see the first winter the near-the-surface irrigation pipes froze up, but there was nowhere for the water to go and it turned the field into a swamp of sorts until the water came cascading downhill onto Washington Lane and created a skating rink in the street for quite a period of time. Worse, because there was no Back Flow Valve, the dirty water from the soil could then flow backwards into the city water when it thawed.

Violations were finally issued by L & I, for the disaster with the irrigation system then opened up the entire situation to scrutiny as L & I cited them for an illegal commercial farm on private recreation land. The violations were filed against the property owner, Awbury Aboretum by the City through L & I.

First they had to apply to get a zoning variance and that process quietly wound its way through the system without objection, nor much public notice. All of this was done well under the radar. Time went by and after things “cooled off” the city issued permits, they spent the money for a safe and legal water system with valve and meter and a legitimate electrical hookup.  All was well in Weaver’s Wonderland again — but was it?

It seems that Awbury’s internal management association had more than enough grief over the reckless and irresponsible manner in which Weaver’s Way had performed on their leased property. It apparently took some directed action and pressure from their board and executive director to force Weaver’s Way to file all required documents for the necessary permits and licenses to operate, and only last winter have those criterion all been met.

Troubling but not at all surprising — for this is Philadelphia where all the animals on the farm are supposed to be equal, but some of them are more equal and despite the guidelines about transparency and public funding, their activities are a lot more invisible.

 

Jim Foster

Editor