The Pittsburgh Gardening Initiative

Since 1999, PCIA, a neighborhood-based community development corporation, has been a leading force in redeveloping the historic Pittsburgh Community. The mission is to build upon our rich heritage, one that includes a deep-rooted legacy of strong families, self-sufficient neighborhood businesses, resident involvement, and an engaged faith community. Most recently, PCIA is carrying out its mission by acquiring abandoned homes and renovating them to sell and rent to low to moderate income families and creating a more sustainable Pittsburgh Community. There are three components to the PCIA mission that encompass the goals of the organization: Community Service, Community Visioning and Community Transformation.

Within the three components of the PCIA mission, there are three program areas that align with the organizational goals. The program areas include Community Building, Community Safety and Community Economic Development. We have 14 active programs linked to these areas. The Pittsburgh Gardening Initiative falls under both Community Economic Development and Community Building. 

We have two community gardens in our neighborhood. Both gardens not only provide economic sustainability to our low- income families but also a sense of belonging and pride when interacting socially. We have served many residents of the Pittsburgh Community but are in need of a water reclamation system to assist in further in sustaining our project. Since the gardens are in the neighborhood, there are not many water sources close to the garden sites. The youth and elderly residents have to transport water from their homes which is not sustainable. 

We have completed the construction of the intial plots and have had a couple of harvests this year. When we receive funding, we will build the water reclamation system alongside the homes that sit next to the gardens. 

Within the last 12 months, our goals have been to increase resident engagement, decrease the financial burden of the low- income residents in our community and foster community economic development. We have been able to accomplish this goal by building and cultivating two community gardens. We were able to serve 48 families this year thereby saving them money on their grocery bills. This is of great benefits as there is a lack of grocery stores in the community and the corner stores have less healthier options and no fresh produce. Our efforts are giving our families healthier options in our quarterly harvests.