Philanthropy in Action at Main Line Health King of Prussia

King of Prussia Rooftop Farm: Planting the seeds of wellness in our community

What was once a standard concrete rooftop is now the beginnings of a small but flourishing farm.

Atop the Main Line Health King of Prussia health center, vegetables and herbs — kale, scallions, dill and more — are growing in several oversized planting boxes.

Designed as both a healing space and an educational resource, the 6,500-square-foot farm will produce fresh chemical-free herbs, vegetables and flowers three seasons of the year. This bounty will be used to enhance programming on wellness, nutrition and stress management. It is also a key part of our strategy to fight food insecurity, a growing concern for patients and communities we serve.

However, Main Line Health is not building this unique resource alone.

"As a not-for-profit, Main Line Health relies on generous supporters for projects like this that can't be funded by operations," said Karrie Borgelt, Senior Vice President, Development, Main Line Health. "People see how the farm will promote healing, health, learning and nourishment, and they want to be part of that impact."

The farm's first phase — 27 beds now planted and thriving — was made possible by early philanthropic support. Momentum has continued to build, with donors rallying around a matching funds challenge offered by two long-time supporters last fall that raised more than one million dollars.

Charitable support is also funding a range of educational programming. Free nutrition education programs held in the teaching kitchen at the King of Prussia health center use food harvested from the rooftop farm to teach participants about the benefits of healthy eating through interactive cooking demonstrations. Additional patient and staff wellness programs using produce are under development.

The project is now in its final stage — installation of a shade structure that will serve as a produce washing and refrigeration station, a storage area for tools and equipment and a gathering space for educational programs.

With the support of our community, we look forward to watching our rooftop farm continue to grow.

Helping hunger with our harvest

In an effort led by Main Line Health's Community Health and Outreach Department, food from the King of Prussia Rooftop Farm was shared with clients of the Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard throughout the 2025 harvest.

The produce — typically 30 to 40 pounds per donation — included spring mix lettuce, collard greens, kale, rainbow chard, salad turnips, radishes, scallions and fresh herbs like parsley and dill.