|
|
|
|
the City Grower
Official Newsletter of the City Growers program
|
Inside this Issue:  |
Sharing the Bounty:
How to Give Back this Growing Season 
Do you know someone in need of fresh produce? Each summer, do you find yourself growing more tomatoes than you know what to do with? This month's issue of The City Grower focuses on easy ways that gardeners can give back to their communities--whether by donating excess produce, volunteering, or by simply helping to spread the word about affordable produce options and free distributions. Scroll down and join City Growers in our efforts to make healthy, fresh produce accessible to all.
|
|
Food Bank Programs
aa
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is a huge asset to our communities, distributing around 27 million pounds of food per year throughout southwestern PA. The Food Bank is strongly invested in providing people with healthy, fresh produce whenever possible, and it has many programs that connect local growers to those in need of food.
How to GIVE...
Community Harvest
Grow your own produce? Have excess food? Through the Community Harvest program, you can donate your produce to help Pittsburghers in need!
The Plant a Row program is another way that gardeners can share their bounty. Through Plant a Row, the Food Bank connects gardeners to near-by pantries in need of freshly grown produce. Check out this flier for more info.
Contact: Jeralyn Beach at (412) 460-3663 ext. 214 or [email protected] to participate.
How to RECEIVE...
 | |
Produce to People seedling giveaway in 2012, North Side Pittsburgh.
|
Farm Stand Project
The Farm Stand Project makes fresh produce more readily available in low-income neighborhoods traditionally underserved by full-service grocery stores. In addition to accepting cash, these Farm Stands accept public program benefits such as FMNP and SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps). Produce to People Produce to People (P2P) distributes between 35-50 lbs of food to each household per distribution, with a focus on whole fruits and vegetables. Even if a household or individual already receives food from a pantry, they can still come to any P2P distribution. Check out the distribution calendar for P2P dates and locations.
Volunteer at a distribution! City Growers is looking for experienced gardeners to help us counsel gardeners at the four P2P seed and seedling give-aways planned for this spring. To volunteer, please contact Marisa: [email protected].
|
|
Did you know that EBT SNAP benefits can be used to buy food-producing seeds and seedlings? Make the most of your benefits by growing your own food. Just think: you could grow an entire package of tomato plants for the cost of one tomato (or less)!
Many places sell food-producing seed packets and plants. The East End Food-Coop, located in Point Breeze, Pittsburgh, is a great source for organic seedlings and Giant Eagle recently started selling organic vegetable seeds. Local farmers' markets also accept EBT SNAP and may have some unique crop varieties to offer.
Help spread the word! Print out this poster and bring it to your local corner store.
|
Frick Greenhouse Manager Cassandra Morgan leads a discussion at the 'Starting Your Own Seedlings at Home' workshop in the Frick Art and Historical Center Greenhouse, March 9th.
|
Join the City Growers Team
The City Growers program is seeking an intern who can help to analyze the large amount of data that we collect each season. This is a full-time opportunity, 30-40 hours per week. The internship will begin in late May or early June and run until mid� August, depending on the applicant's academic schedule. Application deadline: April 12th, 2013 Read the full job description here. |
Volunteer with Grow Pittsburgh
Volunteers play a key role in supporting Grow Pittsburgh's work and mission and we are always excited to get people involved in the task of building a stronger and more sustainable community. Volunteer your time at one of the locations below:
 | | Volunteers move soil at Miss Mary's Garden at the Homewood-Brushton YMCA, 2012. |
Braddock Farms: Monthly Work Day
Date: Saturday, April 13th
Time: 10:00am-2:00pm
Location: Braddock Farms
More info: Help get Braddock Farms ready for planting! Please sign up here.
Allegheny YMCA Community Garden: Bed Filling
Date: Friday, April 12th
Time: 10:00am
South Side Community Garden: Mulch DayDate: Saturday, April 13th
Time: 9:00am
More info: Help shovel and spread mulch on this 88 plot garden that used to be a baseball field. Tools, gloves, and wheelbarrows will be provided. RSVP to: [email protected].
Check out more ways to get involved on the Grow Pittsburgh volunteer page.
|
Try Out our NEW Message Board
The City Growers Message Board is live! The message board is a tool that you can use to connect and share with local gardeners. Swap recipes, promote local gardening events, share information about crops, and more.
Check out the message board here. |
Gardeners prepare for planting by mapping out garden beds at the 'Bed Planning' workshop in Upper Lawrenceville, March 9th. The Upper Lawrenceville garden, located at McCandless and Natrona Way, will host 9 raised beds that will be maintained by the community.
|
Upcoming Events
Let Us Eat @ Tender Bar and Kitchen Date: Thursday, April 11th Time: 5:00pm-close Location: Tender Bar and Kitchen Butler Street, Pittsburgh More info: On the second Thursday of every month, check out a fabulous Pittsburgh restaurant, eat great food, and support Grow Pittsburgh in the process! Ten percent of sales from each night will be donated to our organization. A Candidates' Forum on Greenspace
Date: Wednesday, April 24th
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm (doors open at 5:30pm)
Location: Heinz History Center 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, 15222
More info: Mayoral candidates will discuss parks, greenspace, trails, and access to Pittsburgh's Great Outdoors. RSVP here.
Spring Harvest Dates Date: Saturday, April 27th and Saturday, May 4th Time: 12:00pm-3:00pm Location: Construction Junction 214 N. Lexington Ave, Pittsburgh, PA More info: Pick through creative supply items like fabrics, ceramic tiles, glass, three ring binders, specialty papers donated by architecture and interior design companies. Art in the Garden Round Table Discussion Date: Wednesday, May 1st Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm Location: Grow Pittsburgh, 6587 Hamilton Ave, Pittsburgh 15206 More info: Come and join a conversation about how art can enhance your community garden. Look at highlights of amazing projects from around the city and around the world, share your own artistic visions, and take home tips for easy DIY projects to do at your garden. Presented by Kristin Hughes. Register here. Backyard Composting Workshop Date: Saturday, May 11th Time: 11:00am-12:30pm
Location: Construction Junction 214 N. Lexington Ave, Pittsburgh, PA More info: This workshop thoroughly covers the importance of composting, setting up a compost pile, proper maintenance, and ways of using finished compost. Cost $50 single/ $55 couple and includes one compost bin, presented by the Pennsylvania Resources Council. Register here.
For more great workshops, check out the 2013 Community Garden Exchange workshop schedule, |
The soil in these raised beds settled during the first season. This spring, after topping them off, the Riverview Community Garden will be ready for Planting Day on May 11th.
|
Join the Community Farm and Garden Tour
Calling all Community Farmers & Gardeners...
The Grow Pittsburgh Community Farm & Garden Tour is back this year and City Growers needs your help. Scheduled for August 10th, this year's tour aims to bring the Pittsburgh community at large to your community farms and gardens and will feature guided, self-guided, and bike tours. If your farm or garden is interested in participating in the tour, please fill out this form.
|
Help Improve The City Grower!
a
Have feedback about our monthly newsletter? Is there a topic, upcoming event, or picture you would like us to include in the next issue? We want to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: [email protected].
Know someone who is interested in receiving The City Grower? Send them this link to sign up!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
