The PHS Community Farm at Norristown Farm Park

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The Flower Show

About the Site

Launched in 2020 with the support of Montgomery County, the PHS Community Farm is located within Norristown Farm Park, a 690-acre state / county park on preserved farmland. Historically the site of the Norristown Hospital, Farm Park is a multi-use park featuring hiking trails, fishery and of course PHS’ Community Farm. The PHS Community Farm encompasses 3.5 acres, which includes 2.5 acres of farm, orchard and community garden space; and 1 acre for a greenhouse, historic barn, vegetable wash station and onsite walk-in coolers.

About Our Agricultural Practices

The PHS Community Farm grows produce utilizing sustainable agriculture methods for local food pantries, community partners as well as our Food As Medicine program. We steward the land with a holistic approach that blends agroecology, low-till and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Our fields are alive with biodiversity—cover crops enrich the soil, beneficial insects thrive in pollinator habitats, and diverse crop rotations keep our ecosystems resilient. Instead of relying on heavy chemical inputs, we prioritize natural processes that restore soil health, conserve water, and protect wildlife (including our resident red-tailed hawk, Dorothy, as well as a plethora of songbirds, tree frogs, foxes and toads). Through IPM, we monitor fields carefully, intervene only when necessary, and choose the least-impactful methods first, ensuring safe, high-quality harvests while safeguarding the environment. The result is a farm ecosystem that produces abundant food today while regenerating the land for tomorrow.

The PHS Community Farm at Norristown Farm Park team after a hard day of work on the farm.

Infrastructure at the PHS Community Farm at Norristown Farm Park, including a renovated barn, greenhouse for seedling propagation, and pavilion for outdoor events and washing of harvests.

Our high tunnels support year-round growing while protecting crops and soil health, allowing us to produce fresh, nutritious food for local communities using low-impact, sustainable practices.

Community garden beds are ready for planting! The PHS Community Farm at Norristown Farm Park has raised beds to accommodate up to 50 households.

Diverse crops thrive in our fields through agroecology, low-till practices, and Integrated Pest Management—working with nature to build healthy soil, support biodiversity, and grow food that nourishes both people and the land.

Food as Medicine & Community Food Distribution

Medical professionals are increasingly understanding the importance of healthy, fresh produce as an effective treatment for mental and physical health diagnoses. Food As Medicine is an additional intervention intended to manage and treat chronic diseases, while also improving quality of life and reducing healthcare costs. The PHS Community Farm partners with Montgomery County’s Community-based Care Management (Managed Cared Solutions) to provide a “Food As Medicine” program that aims to mitigate Social Determinants of Health barriers; specifically for individuals with serious mental illness who are experiencing food insecurity. The program takes place at two health care clinics located in Norristown and Pottstown. Participants in the program receive weekly veggie boxes from the farm accompanied by workshops incorporating cooking demonstrations, nutrition education, and gardening lessons. In 2025, the program has provided almost 8,000 lbs of produce to over 75 program participants.

The Community Farm also grows and distributes fresh produce to community groups with food pantries in the Norristown area. Currently, we grow and distribute over 7,000 pounds of produce to people in need in this manner through partners such as ICNA Relief, CCATE (Centro Cultura de Arte Trabajo y Educacion), Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard, and others.

How to Get Involved

Community-oriented programming and engagement with volunteers are vitals parts of the farm. This provides opportunities for the public to engage with their local food system as well as fosters lasting relationships with the community.

Field Trips

We offer field trips for school aged children focusing on farming, nature, and cooking with hands-on activities like planting garlic or bug scavenger hunts. For homeschool groups, you can find registration details on the Montgomery County, PA official website. If you are a school group interested, please contact Farmpark@pennhort.org.

Volunteer days

We provide volunteer days year-round from 1-3 times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Volunteers are integrated into all parts of the farm operations- from weeding to harvesting to building infrastructure. Please go to our volunteer page and sign up for “Norristown Farm Park Helper."

Workshops

We host a variety of adult education workshops in partnership with local community members and organizations, topics ranging from Tractor Operation and Maintenance to Growing Culinary and Medicinal Herbs. Please visit our events calendar to stay tuned for upcoming events at the PHS Community Farm.

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