With the recent interest in fresh local food, healthier eating and gardening, more people are interested in community food gardening. In addition to the benefits of outdoor exercise and growing wholesome food at low cost, community gardens offer a proven way to stimulate reinvestment in communities with vacant land. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, in partnership with Grow Pittsburgh and various funders, is working to assist communities wishing to utilize their vacant land and start their own community vegetable gardens.

WPC is working with Grow Pittsburgh on two programs that provide direct support to groups seeking help to build new garden sites in both the city and in Allegheny County. Applications are linked below.

Allegheny Grows

WPC is working with Allegheny County Department of Economic Development and Grow Pittsburgh to provide communities in municipalities outside of the City of Pittsburgh the opportunity to implement new garden sites.

In 2010, County Executive Dan Onorato launched Allegheny Grows, an initiative that provides material, technical, and educational assistance to communities committed to transforming vacant properties into community gardens. In its first year, four vegetable gardens were implemented in Allegheny County. You can learn more about the current gardens throughout Allegheny County as well as download the application for 2012 community vegetable garden opportunities with this project.

City Growers

For those looking to start a community vegetable garden within the City of Pittsburgh, Grow Pittsburgh and the WPC can assist communities through the City Growers program. Now in its second season, the City Growers program works with communities ready to start sustainable and productive community food gardens in their neighborhoods.  Applications are now closed for Spring 2012, but you can learn more about this program by visiting the Grow Pittsburgh website.

Homewood Vegetable Garden

Thanks to grants from the Bessie F. Anathan Foundation and Rita McGinley Fund through the Pittsburgh Foundation’s Wishbook, WPC has been able to work with neighbors to revitalize a former vegetable garden in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood. We were able to build beds, provide fencing soil, water, plants from Garden Dreams and the Pittsburgh Project and tools for local neighbors to once again grow their own produce.

Grow Pittsburgh has compiled an Interactive Food Gardens list for active community vegetable gardens in Allegheny County. Connect with a garden near you.

For more information on our community vegetable garden work, please call us at 412-586-2390.