Grow Pittsburgh Creates Urban Farm to Table Connection in the Community

Grow Pittsburgh is allowing neighbors to buy ripe vegetables and fruits in their own backyards through urban garden sites, farm stands and community partnerships.

Jane Olszewski of Wilkinsburg manages the sites at Frick Park and the in Point Breeze, located at the corner of North Homewood Avenue and Thomas Street.

“We work with schools and communities but we really do it in a visible way that demonstrates how local food can work,” she said. “It’s teaching people how to make their own food.”

Founded in 2005 by a group of urban farmers, Grow Pittsburgh’s mission is to demonstrate, teach and promote responsible urban food production. Funded by multiple foundations, Grow Pittsburgh also raises money through benefit dinners and selling food to local restaurants.

Starting today, a farm stand also is being held every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. the Shiloh Peace Garden in Point Breeze, where neighbors can visit the space and buy tomatoes, zucchini, parsley, kale, herbs and more.

Executive Director Julie Pezzino of Regent Square is leading the organization through partnerships in the community. , , The Frick Cafe, and the East End Food Co-Op are just a few of the restaurants and businesses that use food grown from local Grow Pittsburgh gardens.

“One of the huge things we are committed to is organic agriculture, and that means we are dedicated to replenishing and working with the soil to make it higher quality,” Pezzino said. “At this site at Shiloh, we are really working with the ground and part of that requires taking breaks in spots to allow nutrients to be added to the soil. You will always see different things growing here.”

Grow Pittsburgh has several key projects, including an edible schoolyard program, a summer internship program for high school students, Braddock Farms, the Frick Greenhouse and Shiloh Peace Garden.

The organization also has a program called City Growers, which is a community garden effort that has developed into a partnership with Allegheny County.

“That program was really in response to demand for our services,” Pezzino said. “We were getting calls from all over the city from people who wanted to start gardens, but need some help, and it has really taken off.”

Two of those gardens are in Wilkinsburg and Penn Hills. Neighborhoods in the City of Pittsburgh are now eligible for assistance from Grow Pittsburgh and can apply online at the Grow Pittsburgh website. The application is due Aug. 19.

Pezzino said buying local food is something everyone can do and everyone can benefit from.

“It’s local food and it’s healthy food,” Pezzino said. “The freshest fruits and vegetables you are ever going to get are local that you grow in your own backyard.”

Urban gardening also has the power to change the current food culture, she said.

“In this day and age where food is so fast and easy, children and adults are losing the connection to where our food comes from and that’s really scary,” Pezzino said. “We see the issues associated with that loss in rising rates of obesity, in the loss of local farmland and the inability for a lot of local farms to stay afloat.”

Local healthy food is important for Pittsburgh’s human health and economic development as well.

“We’re supporting local farms, but also by supporting local restaurants that serve local food, we are then supporting local business,” Pezzino said. “And also - it just tastes better.”

For more information about educational opportunities, local gardens, events and more, visit http://www.growpittsburgh.org/growpittsburgh/