Planning your visit
Group Visits
Groups are invited to the farm by appointment. Heroic Gardens offers Forest Bathing and gardening classes as a part of your experience. Your group may want to hold a yoga or meditation class, have a picnic, or simply walk through the sunflowers. Groups should be no more than 15 visitors at a time.
about the acre
The farm is an outdoor space. There is shade amongst the trees but no inside space. Restrooms are available. Visitors can get to the farm via mass transit. Parking is available inside the gates. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, layered clothing, a hat. You may want to bring water, sunscreen and bug spray.
The fine print
No one under 18 is permitted without an adult. You will be asked to sign a waiver upon entrance. The Sunflower Farm is a smoke, drug and alcohol free zone.
Learn the history of this 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 will be no small effort.
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: April 9
A unique workforce development opportunity for members of the Veteran community.
A community destination for EVERYONE.
may and june volunteers hard at work
Amazing volunteers working through the compost pile to place in the field and in the mini meadows.
Ready to plant. Rows upon rows of sunflower babies arrived for planting duty.
Veteran Tony, enlisted his company EDA Contractors, to build the potting shed! Thanks, Tony and EDA!
Volunteers take a break amongst the spring bulbs.
Nature ready! Our friend found a feather! Lots of wild life here, we're hoping to encourage even more!
Thank you Tony, for the raised beds. Volunteers places lettuces and herbs in them. Free to the community!
The Sunflower Farm at Pennypack Sponsors
donors wanted.
If you'd like to donate directly to this project, or your company would like to volunteer with us you can do that here!
