Grow Pittsburgh: There’s a bounty of ways to get involved and grow this season

From our friends at Grow Pittsburgh:

MAY 2019
Cultivating our community of growers & sharing the season’s bounty!

Partner spotlight: Dan Dalton, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture

It’s an overcast Friday afternoon in Larimer. Dan Dalton carries a five-gallon bucket heaping with wood chips in each hand across the grass at Grow Pittsburgh’s Garden Resource Center, dumping the contents into a bicycle trailer he built himself. Dalton, a resident of Morningside, is the Three Rivers Hub Manager for the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA), a partner organization that works to build a more economically-just, environmentally-regenerative, and community-focused food system through education and research that directly supports farmers.

Dalton manages PASA’s diversified vegetable growing apprenticeship statewide and oversees the organization’s educational programming throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. This includes PASA’s CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) workshops, of which there is at least one that takes place at the GRC every year. This year, it was a session about tools for small farms. “If you want to get poetic about it,” Dalton says, “cities tend to be places where new growers incubate themselves before maybe moving out to start a farm in a more rural area and the GRC supports that continuum of new farmers learning in our city”.

READ THE FULL STORY ON OUR BLOG >>>

Give today to share the summer bounty

Summer means a lot of things, and for gardeners it’s an exciting time. But can you imagine summer without the taste of homegrown tomatoes? Or without a farmers’ market within easy reach? How about traveling more than a mile without a car every time you get groceries? Everyone has to eat, and access to healthy food shouldn’t be a privilege. It should be a right of all people. When you make a donation to Grow Pittsburgh, your gift helps increase food accessibility in our community and empowers people of all ages to grow their own fresh produce.

 

With a gift today, you can help…

  • Launch new youth-led markets in Homewood and Braddock, bringing fresh local produce to neighborhoods where it’s most needed.
  • Teach folks of all ages how to grow their own fruits and veggies.
  • Provide a family with access to expensive tools needed to grow their backyard garden.
  • Grow thriving gardens that will be ready for children to enjoy when school resumes.
  • Empower people with new gardening skills and know-how through our workshops

You are an important part of what makes our community a wonderful place to live! Now that the growing season is here, you can help ensure that locally-grown food is available for more of our neighbors. Your gift will empower people to grow their own food, as well as make fresh local produce more easily available in communities where it’s most needed.

Give Today!

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

2019 marks the 10th year of our Community Garden Program!
To celebrate all that has been accomplished in the past decade and looking forward to the next 10 years, join us at Grist House in Millvale on Thursday, August 29 for our annual Garden Get Down fundraiser.

>>>TICKETS

Mission Moment

“It’s fun being in the garden, but my favorite part is when we meet together and work together on things. We all have different strengths and it works out really well, and we have fun.”

-Sean Chisholm, garden leader at Allendale Acres Community Garden in Sheraden

 

Grow With Us

Our members are the heart of Grow Pittsburgh and keep us growing. Becoming a member has never been easier!

Simply make a gift of any amount or volunteer 5 hours or more at any of Grow Pittsburgh’s sites.

>>>JOIN

Eat food? Let’s talk!

The Pittsburgh Food Policy Council is developing a Food Action Plan for Allegheny County. Share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas for stronger and healthier communities at an upcoming community engagement session.

>>>LEARN MORE

 

May Market, seedling sale support growers of all kinds

Visitors to Phipps Conservatory’s May Market enjoyed a wide array of handmade goods and plants to pick from this past Mother’s Day weekend, including more than 6,000 seedlings produced by Farmer Hanna Mosca and the Grow Pittsburgh production team. May Market and our seedling sale at The Frick Pittsburgh Greenhouse is traditionally our largest fundraiser and this year was no exception.

More than 4,500 seedlings were sold to backyard and community gardeners at this year’s market, with everything from edible and medicinal flowers and herbs, to spring and summer vegetables and fruits. “Italian basil is always a crowd favorite,” says Mosca, noting the 249 seedlings sold of the popular cooking herb. Alongside basil, this year’s top sellers included, strawberries, ground cherries, cucumbers, peppers, rosemary, and Sun Gold tomatoes.

Missed out on May Market? There’s still time buy seedlings to get your garden started this season. Our seedling sale at The Frick Pittsburgh Greenhouse runs through June 16.

Upcoming Events

SEEDLING SALE AT THE FRICK PITTSBURGH
NOW-JUNE 16 | The Frick Greenhouse
Come shop our wide variety of seedlings and enjoy the magnificent grounds at The Frick Pittsburgh. Note: The Frick Pittsburgh is closed Mondays.

LEARN MORE

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR BASIL
JUNE 1 | 10 am -12 pm | The Frick Pittsburgh
Join Hanna Mosca, Frick Greenhouse and Shiloh Farm Manager, in the historic Frick Pittsburgh Greenhouse for a hands-on workshop and some basil-infused refreshments. You will learn about proper harvest techniques, disease & pest management, and how to take cuttings to grow more basil plants!

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THE BIRDS AND THE BEES: ATTRACTING POLLINATORS TO YOUR GARDEN
JUNE 11 | 6 – 7:30 pm | Churchview Farm
Pollination produces seeds and is necessary for many plants to reproduce. Come learn about what plants will attract beneficial pollinators to your garden. Participants will learn how build a pollinator bug hotel that will help keep your garden blooming all season long.

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URBAN CHICKEN KEEPING
JUNE 13 | 6 – 7:30 pm | Churchview Farm
There are many great benefits to raising chickens in your backyard. Chickens are inexpensive and easy to maintain, and their eggs are fresh, great-tasting & nutritious. Participants will leave this workshop with the knowledge they need to raise their own flock.

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GARDEN RESOURCE CENTER YARD SALE
JUNE 22 | 10 am – 2 pm | Garden Resource Center
It’s that time of year again! Join us at the Garden Resource Center for our 2nd Annual Garden Tool and Supply Yard Sale, offering a variety of items at bargain prices! This event is free and open to the public. Stop by, browse, and learn more about what the GRC has to offer

LEARN MORE

GARDEN GET DOWN
AUGUST 29 | 5 – 8 pm | Grist House Craft Brewery
Join Grow Pittsburgh for a Garden Get Down celebrating 10 years of our Community Garden Program! Since 2010, we’ve supported 100 gardens, engaging over 1,500 individuals as they’ve grown over 300,000 pounds of food. Your ticket to Garden Get Down will help continue this vital work for years to come.

LEARN MORE

Local Events

“Like” us on Facebook to see a complete list of Grow Pittsburgh and partner events..

Our mailing address is:
Grow Pittsburgh
6587 Hamilton Avenue #2W
Pittsburgh, PA 15206