While the former St. Gabriel’s Hall in Audubon and the roughly 64 acres surrounding it wait for their future fate to be determined, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is making good use of the fertile soil by turning it into Martha’s Choice community farm, writes Gary Puleo for The Phoenix Reporter & Item.

Through its Catholic Social Services arm, the Archdiocese has enlisted Eli Wenger, Director of Operations at Martha’s Choice Marketplace food pantry, Patrick Walsh, director of programs, and Jesse Antonini, Community Farm Development Manager, to nurture the agricultural pursuits at St. Gabe’s for the time being.

The entity formed as a part of these efforts will be known as Martha’s Choice Marketplace & Martha’s Community Farm.

“The St. Gabe’s program did a lot of good here but it is a valuable piece of property and by selling it the Archdiocese realized they could fund all these other programs,” said Wenger.

The vegetables and herbs that were planted this spring, including thousand pounds of potatoes, are now expected to yield a bountiful harvest.

Read more about the community farm in The Phoenix Reporter & Item.