OUR PROGRAMS
Our goal is to create meaningful connections between individuals and the natural world. We achieve this through a range of educational programs designed for people of all ages, including both adults and children, as well as engaging hands-on activities and immersive experiences.

PRODUCE STAND
At our produce stand, also known as the farm stand, we're dedicated to providing North Philly residents with a variety of fresh, free produce fruits, vegetables, and herbs each week. In addition to ensuring that nutritious, organically grown goodness is within reach for our community, the produce stand also features various health screenings, a resource table, and hands only CPR.
Our Farm Stand at 22nd and Cecil B. Moore operates year-round with seasonal hours to serve the community. From March through the last Thursday before Christmas, we are open every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. During the winter months, from Christmas through March, the Farm Stand is open on Tuesdays only from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Additionally, we offer a Saturday Farm Stand at 24th and Berks from the first Saturday in June through the last Saturday in October, open from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
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THERAPEUTIC GARDENING FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
Our therapeutic gardening initiative is designed specifically for veterans in Philadelphia as well as community members experiencing behavioral health challenges. In collaboration with the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Clinic, we offer veterans a secure, therapeutic space where they can find solace in nature and the farm. Here, they actively engage in farm activities, come together for meaningful conversations, share meals, acquire knowledge, and, above all, simply exist in the calming embrace of our natural haven. Our therapeutic gardening program, which includes a light lunch, is a continuous journey every Monday from 9AM to 12PM at 24th and Berks, running April through November.
SAME DAY WORK AND PAY
Sanctuary Farm Phila serves as a partner site for PHS’s Same Day Work & Pay program, which employs under- and unemployed Philadelphians to perform daily work assignments such as clearing vacant lots, cleaning street corridors, and completing other community improvement tasks. At the end of the day, participants receive $100 for their efforts.
VEGGIE RX WEDNESDAYS AT PHMC HEALTH CONNECTIONS
Health Connections patients receive "prescriptions" from their provider that they can redeem for $15 worth of produce as well as nutritional information at this mobile produce stand. Neighborhood residents who do not have a Veggie Rx can still purchase produce at this stand at affordable prices.
SUMMER CAMP FOR YOUTH
Each of our youth programs provides opportunities for neighborhood children to literally get their hands dirty, learn where their food comes from, and how a plant gets from seed to harvest. Sanctuary Farm Phila's partners with Project HOME's Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Lab's Summer Camp Program to provide weekly gardening activities to students ranging from kindergarten to 7th grade. The children explore a range of fascinating topics, including germination, plant care, composting, the role of beneficial insects, and the importance of pollination. We also hosted “Kids in the Garden”, a weekly program that took place on Saturdays from June until October from 10am to 1 pm and offered fun, experiential learning opportunities (and lunch!) for neighborhood children.
NUTRITION, COOKING, AND GARDENING CLASSES
Consistent with our mission to promote holistic health, Sanctuary Farm Phila offers year round classes in cooking, gardening, nutrition and health classes based on the community’s requests and interests. Classes include offerings such as Growing Your Own Vegetables and Growing and Incorporating Herbs Into Your Diet as well as Basic Gardening and Plant-based Cooking. Additionally, we partner with the American Heart Association in teaching participants how to prevent and/or mitigate diet-related health problems such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. We also offer CPR classes. These varied options encourage residents to build confidence in their gardening and farming skills, expand their and their family’s palates, and make informed lifestyle choices.
TEEN PROGRAMMING
The Community Scholars Program, piloted in 2023, is an innovative and integrated learning experience combining students from suburban Philadelphia private schools and students from our North Philadelphia neighborhood to dive deeply into issues including environmental justice, food insecurity, and neighborhood history. Additionally, participants collaborate with farm staff and other volunteers to help plant and harvest the produce that will eventually be given out free to community members. In Summer 2024, we piloted a Teens Can Cook program aimed at reducing gun violence, promoting resiliency, and building skills for future employment opportunities.
