Braddock Farms, one of the largest projects run by the non-profit Grow Pittsburgh, is a farm run on a stretch of vacant lots on one of the main streets of the suburb of Braddock. It sits in the shadow of the last steel mill in Braddock, a town that has lost 90% of its income and population. The area is dotted with overgrown vacant lots, and the mayor, an enthusiastic supporter of the local food movement, hopes to turn them into useful growing spaces. The existing farm is now in its second full growing season.
Within the city of Pittsburgh, the non-profit organization Grow Pittsburgh is a leader in supporting urban gardens, which contribute to the availability of local foods. The Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan was set forth by the Pittsburgh government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2023 (starting from a 2003 baseline). The fact that these two groups run similar programs demonstrates the fundamental relationship between these two goals. Increasing the availability of local foods and decreasing dependence on a global food system benefits local economies and the health of consumers. In addition to these benefits, the local food movement also has implications for the health of the environment. Additional green space is created within cities, and pollution is cut down because food does not need to be transported very far.
“There’s not a lot of places for a kid to get their first job in Braddock,” said Marshall, who works at Braddock Farms. He explained that the farm also employs 6 interns ages 14-16 from the Braddock Youth project. They work a 30-hour week, which includes field trips and team-building activities.
The small farm produces a wide variety of produce. Marshall explained that the crops are on a three-year rotation. There are tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, all sorts of greens, a variety of flowers, and much more. The produce is sold to the public at a farm stand every Thursday, and Braddock Farms also sell to 6-8 restaurants. They sell at about the same prices as Giant Eagle. Marshall noted that this was almost a public service, since the fresh, local food is of a much higher quality.
However, not everything runs perfectly at Braddock Farms. There has been some difficulty in selling certain products, especially specialty greens. The cucumbers this year have been decimated by beetles, and other crops have also had pest issues. Some have had bug covers put over them to slow the problem down. Overall, though, this small farm seems to be flourishing nicely in its atypical location.
Marshall said that he receives a fair amount of feedback from the citizens of Braddock about what is going on at the farm. “Lots of people [are] telling me what I’m doing wrong,” he said. However, the comments aren’t all negative. “A guy called me a saint today,” he added.
The Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan is also pursuing urban agriculture, in this case as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the Polish Hill neighborhood of the city, a pair of Student Conservation Association interns has formed a small community garden on Harmar St. The land and water supply were given to them by the landlord of Blue Dog Homes. They used branches from a tree they had to cut down as tomato stakes. Someone needed to get rid of some old bricks, so they were used to form a German-style four corners garden.
Down the road from the Harmar Garden is the Wiggins Community Garden, which has been a neighborhood institution for about 30 years. Community members pay a small fee for the right to grow produce in a specific area. At the moment there is a waiting list for plots, so those in line will have first access to the Harmar Garden when it starts using the same system next season.
For more information about the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan, visit www.pittsburghclimate.com. To learn more about Grow Pittsburgh, visit www.growpittsburgh.org.
