About the space.
The blank canvas.
Welcome to Torresdale & Megargee Streets in Northeast Philly! Our community partners, New Courtland offered this space for the team to imagine, create and build a sunflower farm. As we checked the soil, we noticed a lot of cement and foundational materials in the ground. More about the history below...
Measuring the space.
Veteran and Rodale farmer, Mike and HG Intern Baylee, measure out the space where the field will live.
Phase 1: Lasagna garden technique.
Given that the soil needs to be reinvigorated, we need to create the space for the sunflowers to live. This means we are going to use a technique knowns as lasagna gardening. This is no small effort.
What we will use:
- 270 cubic yards of compost
- 1 tractor trailer of cardboard
- 300 tons of leaves
- 2 Forklifts with buckets
- 10 Wheelbarrows
- Volunteers!
All in, this is approximately a $40,000 project.
This field, will be the site of a U-Pick field, led and run by Veterans. Together we will turn this space into a one of a kind destination in Northeast Philly!
The story of Liddonfield.
Originally built as housing for military veterans and their families following World War II. It was later converted to public housing. Constructed in 1946 and opened in January 1947, it had some 1,400 units spread over 239 acres. The homes were modest one-floor, wood-frame dwellings built in army barracks style. (source: Jack McCarthy, Hidden City Philadelphia) Image: Courtesy of PC Kidd
The Philadelphia Housing Authority acquired Liddonfield, a military shelter, back in 1953, with public housing residents starting to occupy units in July 1955. The site eventually served both families and seniors, with 464 units developed in 1968. All buildings were completely demolished in 2010. (source: Laura Calugar, Multi-Housing News, 2017) Image courtesy of PC Kidd
We are honored to be creating a sunflower farm on an important space in the city. Keep reading to see how we ended 2024 and what the farm looks like now!
We knew we needed leaves. A lot of them.
Volunteers Sam and Greg started a trend! They collected their leaves, their neighbors leaves, a lot of leaves!
Thanks to our friends from JDog for donating the muscle and delivering the leaves to the farm.
JDog delivered multiple rounds of leaves. Thanks, Thom!
And leaves came from Frankford Neighborhood Association and other members of the community. Thank you for dropping off your leaves!
Laying the foundation for the farm.
It all started with the equipment donation from our friends at Sunbelt Rentals. Thanks, Pat for taking such good care of us!
Next came the 270 cubic sq ft of compost from our friends at Oldcastle APG. It took three days to deliver and unload this much compost and we cannot thank this team enough!
To round off the week, we received a tractor trailer of cardboard donated by the amazing folks from Ocean State Job Lot. We simply could not even begin this process without their support!
Phase 2 in 2025: COMING SOON
A unique workforce development opportunity for members of the Veteran community.
A community destination for EVERYONE.
The Sunflower at Pennypack Sponsors
individual donors wanted.
If you'd like to donate directly to this project, you can do that here!
