Fox Chase Farm is a working educational farm located in Northeast Philadelphia. It is closed to the public except during public events. Friends of Fox Chase Farm (FFCF), an all volunteer group with over 400 member families, was formed in 1990 to assist the Fairmount Park Commission and the Philadelphia School Board in maintaining and preserving this pastoral treasure. FFCF actively supports the farm by assisting with physical maintenance, fund raising, guided tours, and other public events. FFCF is a 501c3 organization.
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Read a 2011 article about The Fox Chase Farm by the Philadelphia Parks Alliance!
Fresh from the Farm...
Maple sugaring at Fox Chase Farm
For over 20 years, when the cold of winter fades, the Sugar Maples at Fox Chase Farm have been used to conduct educational programs for both school children and the public.
A sugaring program is offered to school children, 4th grade and up. Students experience the entire process to produce syrup and candy. Children learn how to identify the different Maple species, see how to properly tap a tree, visit the fireplace where the sap is boiled and receive a lecture that explains how trees grow by producing sugar through the process of photosynthesis. During lunch a batch of syrup is cooked down to make candy and each student samples sugar from the sap of our trees.
Each year we also open the farm to the public for a maple sugar festival. Visitors can take a “maple tour” which covers much of what we teach our students. Pancakes with freshly ground wheat and farm syrup are handed out all afternoon, candy demonstrations give out free samples and educational tables show old fashioned sugaring techniques and help people identify trees. Storytelling in the hay barn, children’s crafts and other activities make for an enjoyable day for all. In 2011 over 1300 people attended our maple festival.
Fairmount Park staff conduct the sugaring activities at the farm in cooperation with the School District of Philadelphia. School teachers interested in our sugaring program in 2012 should contact: Pennypack Environmental Center at 215-685-0470.
2011-2012 Officers are
as follows –
President — Karen Eble
Vice President — Jim Kates
Recording Secretary — Sue Anmuth
Corresponding Secretary — Chuck Dickter
Treasurer — Carol Holster