The week of July 16 to 20, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited farms at seven different sites in three Pennsylvania cities, learning how their efforts are improving their communities as part of Urban Agriculture Week recognized by Gov. Wolf.

“Gov. Tom Wolf and I share the belief that agriculture has the power to change lives, and that power was made clear during this week’s tour,” said Secretary Redding. “During my visits, I met dozens of Pennsylvanians who have come together through the power of a simple garden, building a stronger sense of community and proving that agriculture is truly zip code neutral.”

As part of the Department’s Planting the Seed Tour, Redding traveled to Philadelphia on Monday, touring Bartram’s Garden, Glenwood Green Acres Urban Farm, and the Norris Square Neighborhood Project.

On Tuesday, he visited Pittsburgh’s Ballfield Farm, the Homewood Historical Urban Farm, and Mount Oliver Community Garden.

On Thursday, he stopped at community garden at Altoona’s Providence Presbyterian Church. The Planting the Seed Tour recognizes opportunities to engage and educate the next generation of agriculturalists and those new to the agriculture industry, by bringing to light the wealth of opportunities in Pennsylvania agriculture.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s urban agriculture initiative seeks to raise awareness of the presence of agriculture and food production in urban environments while encouraging an increase in the output of products raised in urban environments.

Redding noted that urban agriculture provides multiple benefits beyond the primary goal of growing food, including creating stronger communities, improving community nutrition, raising real estate values, diminishing crime, reducing blight, opening economic development opportunities, and improving stormwater runoff.

“The socialization that these gardens offer, the ability to harvest food that one has had a hand in growing – these are the meaningful experiences that urban agriculture can provide,” said Redding. “The feeling of being more connected to the land and to the community, in any setting, is valuable beyond words.”

Click Here for a copy of Gov. Wolf’s PA Urban Agriculture Week proclamation.

Visit the Penn State Extension website and search “Urban Farming” for more information, visit Grow Pittsburgh’s Urban Farming webpage and the PA Horticultural Society Farm For The City webpage.

(Photo: Secretary Redding - right.)

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[Posted: July 20, 2018]

7/23/2018