Happy New Year, everyone! The long winter nights and cold air provide us with an opportunity to reflect on FOOD MOXIE’s past and dream forward about our 2019 growing season. Food Moxie began as Weavers Way Community Programs over a decade ago when a need developed for the Mt. Airy store to provide support for healthy snack options to Henry School students. This led to the Marketplace Program that provided healthy snack options to that school and then other schools for a time, through student-run and adult volunteer-supported efforts. As part of that process, the need for a 501c3 arose and Weavers Way Community Programs was created. Food Moxie is grateful for all the support we receive every year from the Weavers Way staff, board and membership as we work to provide opportunities for Philadelphians to grow, prepare, cook and eat healthy foods.

Our 2018 fall activities included programming for W.B. Saul Agricultural High School students, particularly two of the food science classes at the school. We also supported Farm Club once a week for students with autism and disabilities at Martin Luther King High School, as well as Hope Kitchen cooking classes with many adults living at Stenton Family Manor emergency housing. Our amazing staff and volunteers also supported Garden Club activities with Stenton children and youth. We are grateful to all of them.

Our 2019 planning is already in full swing. We’re planning to revitalize the greenhouse that supports propagation efforts. Staff are replacing over 90 raised garden beds with fresh lumber and soil for both culinary herbs and education garden spaces. We are working hard to create plans for additional necessary infrastructure for programming, like shade spaces and healing garden spaces that provide safe respite to program participants. We’re only able to do all of this with your support. Thanks and have a happy and healthy 2019!

– Lisa Mosca, Food Moxie Executive Director