Interested in starting a community garden outside Pittsburgh? Click here.
Allegheny Grows Community Garden Program
(Closed) Application for 2012 gardens!
Allegheny Grows is a program of Allegheny County Economic Development that encourages community and workforce development through urban farming and gardening. Through a partnership with Grow Pittsburgh and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Allegheny Grows provides education, planning resources and technical assistance for existing and newly developing community vegetable gardens in low-to-moderate income communities throughout Allegheny County. Allegheny Grows is only able to support gardens outside the City of Pittsburgh. If you're starting a garden in Pittsburgh, please consider the City Growers Program.
The program is designed to support and utilize community gardening activities to:
- Return vacant land to productive, visually enhancing use
- Provide a platform for community engagement through a shared project
- Secure sources of fresh, local and healthy produce for communities
- Educate communities on running a community gardening initiative
Visit our Community Gardens page for more information about the current Allegheny Grows gardens, or come on the Community Farm and Garden Tour.
A post-gazette article about the Allegheny Grows program.
To apply, interested groups must attend an information session and complete an application with required attachments.
Allegheny Grows Information Sessions:
Monday, September 12, 2011 from 5:30- 7:30pm in Wilkinsburg
Please call Sara Masullo at 412.350.1198 or email sara.masullo@alleghenycounty.us to RSVP.
Application Deadline: Friday, September 30, 2011
Completed applications and attachments must be postmarked or submitted by Friday, September 30, 2011 to be considered.
City Growers Community Garden Program
(Closed) Application for 2011/2012 gardens
In response to the increasing interest in local food and gardening, Grow Pittsburgh and the the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy have formed a partnership to assist communities wishing to start community food gardens. In its second season, the City Growers program is currently seeking organized communities looking to start sustainable and productive community food gardens in their neighborhoods. The garden program lasts for two years, with the goal of garden self-sufficiency by the end of the second growing season. To be eligible, garden groups must have a partnering non-profit, and a suitable site with lead levels below 400 PPM on public or non-profit-owned land in the City of Pittsburgh. For gardens outside the City, please consider applying to the County's Allegheny Grows Program.
Application Deadline: Friday, August 19, 2011 - Start planning for next year!
Community Garden Exchange
To enable the exchange of materials and ideas between the area's community gardeners, City Growers has started hosting events specifically for community gardeners. So far, we have organized seed and plant swaps, potlucks, skill shares and workshops. Looking ahead, we plan to hold a community garden tour at the end of the 2011 growing season. To make sure your garden is included get on the map!