Hunger Awareness Month: Grow Pittsburgh is growing more than gardens

Battling hunger in our communities requires a number of strategies and multiple tools. Grow Pittsburgh is one of the most innovative and successful local organizations to tackle the issue of food access, basing their efforts on the old proverb: “….teach a man to fish….”

Grow Pittsburgh is an urban agriculture non-profit organization. Its mission is twofold: to teach people how to grow food, and to promote the benefits gardens bring to our communities.

Grow Pittsburgh believes access to locally grown, organic produce is a right, not a privilege. They envision a time when everyone in our city grows and eats fresh, local and healthy food.

Not only does Grow Pittsburgh teach people how to grow food, it also manages two community gardens and provides technical assistance and support to other community gardens.

At the Grow Pittsburgh farm stands in Braddock and Point Breeze/Homewood, chemical-free and affordable produce is sold every Saturday during the growing season. All of the produce sold at the farm stands is grown at Braddock Farms, the city’s largest urban garden.

Grow Pittsburgh has been fighting hunger in urban neighborhoods by providing fruits and vegetables to people who do not have access to them other wise. They cater to low-income families living in food deserts – neighborhoods where there are no grocery stores.

EBT (SNAP/food stamp benefit) cards can be used at the Grow Pittsburgh food stands to buy food as well as seeds and seedlings.

Grow Pittsburgh also provides summer job opportunities for high school students through their summer internship program, which pays students to work at Braddock Farms. They also partner with local elementary schools for their Edible Schoolyard program, which allows children to get hands on experience growing food as well as an opportunity to learn about healthy eating.

In the best spirit of nonprofit enterprise and sustainability, Grow Pittsburgh sells seeds and seedlings to the public. These sales directly support their work – both financially and by aiding the mission of growing more gardens!

Learn more about this great organization on their website www.growpittsburgh.org or watch this short WQED video about their work.