Phipps Conservatory’s Homegrown Program Installs 300th Raised Bed Vegetable Garden
For Immediate Release: Tues., Aug. 25
Contact: Joe Reed | Director of Marketing and Communications
412-622-6915, ext. 3801 | jreed@phipps.conservatory.org
Phipps Conservatory’s Homegrown Program Installs 300th Raised Bed Vegetable Garden for Families in Food Insecure Neighborhoods
The Milestone Achievement Occurs During a Time When the Program Is More Necessary than Ever
Pittsburgh, PA — On Wed., Aug. 19, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ Homegrown program installed the 300th raised bed vegetable garden since the program began in 2013. This exciting milestone represents 300 families that have grown and enjoyed fresh produce in the raised beds that Homegrown installed in their yards, with support from Phipps staff. The program operates in Pittsburgh neighborhoods with high levels of food insecurity, enabling families to take better control of their access to fresh produce.
After the gardens are installed, Homegrown staff helps the families keep their gardens growing by building and honing participants’ gardening skills and knowledge over the course of two years. Covering topics from weed and pest management to healthy cooking skills, free monthly classes allow new gardeners to realize the full potential of their raised beds while offering opportunities for neighbors to connect. The program started in Homewood — where gardens were installed in almost one in every 10 households — and has since expanded to serve the residents of Larimer, Lincoln-Lemington, Belmar and East Hills.
"It has been a lot of work getting to 300 gardens, but it is worth every minute when I see families enjoying time together outdoors, learning about plants and nature and, of course, eating and sharing their harvest," says Associate Director of Adult Education and Community Outreach Gabe Tilove. "By taking a neighborhood approach, we’ve been able to expand our impact. Even if someone doesn't have a garden, they probably know a neighbor who does."
New garden installations were significantly delayed this year due to COVID-19, but Phipps staff knew that it was more important than ever to remain a resource to the existing participants. All year, staff has maintained support for the 60 gardeners who received gardens last year, including delivering spring compost and seedlings, providing free monthly virtual classes and checking in through a socially-distant visit midway through the season. Homegrown Installation Coordinator Allison Glick says, “The gardens look beautiful this season, with participants crediting all the extra time at home. People told us how much of a blessing their gardens have been in this uncertain time.”
Phipps will continue to nurture healthy communities as the Homegrown program expands into neighborhoods that are challenged by food insecurity and its significant impacts on health and families. To learn more about Homegrown, visit phipps.conservatory.org/Homegrown.
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About Phipps: Founded in 1893, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA is a globally recognized green leader with a mission to inspire and educate all with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and promote human and environmental well-being through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse. Encompassing 15 acres including a historic 14-room glasshouse, 23 distinct indoor and outdoor gardens and industry-leading sustainable architecture and operations, Phipps attracts more than half a million visitors annually from around the world. Learn more at phipps.conservatory.org.
Watch TEDx: What We Can Learn From an Old Glasshouse: A look at the evolving way we connect people to nature at Phipps, demonstrate how human and environmental health are inextricably connected, and show that to age gracefully, we must continually reinvent ourselves to evolve with the rest of the world.
