In about 1763, a German immigrant named Johannes Hocker purchased 200 acres of land east of the Wissahickon Creek and named it “Erdenheim”, meaning “Earthly Home” or “Sanctuary”. Continuously farmed ever since, the property has been owned by Aristides Welch (who brought Thoroughbreds to the farm in 1869), Robert Carson, George D. Widener, Jr. (who greatly increased the acreage and employed architect Horace Trumbauer), PSPA member Fitz Dixon, and the McCausland family, who saved the farm from subdivision in 2009.
Today, Erdenheim farm has about 600 animals, over 470 acres, and produces beef, lamb, eggs, honey, produce, and fruit, as well as breeding Thoroughbred racing horses and preserving a rare breed of goat. PSPA member Dan Lurie will lead a tour of Erdenheim Farm in the morning, followed by lunch there, and then we will move to nearby Morris Arboretum & Gardens (University of Pennsylvania) for a tour in the afternoon. Morris Arboretum & Gardens is celebrating its 90th year of connecting plants, people and place. Field Trip
Logistics
At 10:30 am, we’ll start the tour at Erdenheim Farm, 5051 Flourtown Road, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 and then move to the Morris Arboretum which is close by at 100 E Northwestern Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118. You’ll need your own transportation or car pool with other members.
Lunch will be at the Arboretum followed buy a the tour of the grounds. The cost of the package for the tour which includes lunch is $35.
Payment
- Make check out to Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture and mail to PSPA Treasurer, 816 Brookwood Lane, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010.
- Click here and follow the link to purchase your ticket for luncheon meetings with PayPal or Credit Card.
Contact Scott Sheely at pspaonline@gmail.com with any questions. Registrations ends at noon on Friday, February 23, 2024.