Norma Brooks

Weavers Way Farm co-founder

by Daniel Scully

Without Mort and Norma Brooks, Philadelphia would probably be a hungrier, less nutritious place. The pair was instrumental in making the Weavers Way Co-op the local-food-producing mainstay it's become. Started as a quarter-acre operation in 1973, the newly named Mort Brooks Memorial Farm in Mount Airy occupies one and a half acres and produces thousands of dollars of food annually. Originally launched by a group of Mount Airy neighbors, the co-op now boasts of having more than 3,200 members and $6 million in revenues. Last weekend, the co-op honored Norma for her, and her late husband's, contributions.

City Paper: How does the farm operate?

Norma Brooks: The manager is the only paid employee; all the other work is done by volunteers from the co-op. The co-op pays the farm for what it delivers to them. If the co-op has extra food, it gives it to food banks. The manager is interested in selling to restaurants also. So we will probably expand and sell food to various restaurants. ... You can be introduced to be a member and come in and shop one time, but after that, you have to become a member. To join you pay [annual] dues of $25 and work on the farm for six hours a year.

CP: What can people glean from your experience to address the dearth of inner-city supermarkets?

NB: For one thing, it is our intention to make [locally grown, healthy foods] available to people. There are other farms like this in the city, with the same purpose. Some of them are really exciting programs. Generally, the food is used by the people who participate in the farm, but [anyone] has an opportunity to participate and to get fresh vegetables.

CP: How does the scare surrounding tainted Chinese exports play into the buy-local philosophy?

NB: It certainly is a big concern. I prefer to get local food and know where it is coming from, and know how it is grown.