project leader
Dorrie S
location
Observatory Hill
(Observatory Hill)
latest update rss
Garden Space Now Secured

the project

OUR MISSION:  To create a beautifully serene and distinctive community garden that will provide various community events, educational resources of gardening for a healthier lifestyle, stress reduction through mindfulness, healthy cardio strength programming with trail hikes, and mentorship programs for youth.  

The 5 PM Group, Community Garden location, is beside Perry High School's football field on Richard's Way at the bottom of Vinceton Street in Observatory Hill. The project was collectively created by the 5 Points Merchants  Group (5 PM Group) of the business district in Observatory Hill. 

We are raising funds to commit so that implementation will happen immediately when the funds. Right now, our donations are doubled, allowing us to raise just $5k for a $10k result to secure this garden! 

The community garden will provide accessible gardening opportunities for local businesses and residents of Observatory Hill. But the garden will also offer other unique opportunities.  It will feature a labyrinth, a children's gardening section, walking trails, and seating for those who may only want to relax and enjoy the garden's serenity.  

Unfortunately, earlier this year, as we started to implement our plan to begin working on the space, the pandemic COVID-19 shut our world down.  Life became different for us all, and we had to adjust to a "new normal."   The COVID-19 pandemic forced mandatory "stay-at-home" orders, with many living in total isolation and becoming prisoners inside our homes.  Our businesses shut down, schools closed,  and unemployment at an all-time high.  Sadly, the virus has taken many lives, with more deaths expected.  We learned the most vulnerable to COVID-19 is our elderly population, and those with underlying health issues like diabetes, heart disease, asthma are more at risk of succumbing to the virus.  COVID-19 has also proven its ability to attack our healthier population through depression, anxiety, and panic attacks.  We are dealing with losing our jobs, finances, our children's education, and not having outside contact with our loved ones and friends.  COVID-19 has created a sense of hopelessness and fear globally.

5 PM Group met through virtual meetings discussing this virus and its impact on our own fears.  Since we know the fear COVID-19 has caused throughout the world, people have now begun to experience anxiety and panic attacks.  We came up with the idea of adding a mindfulness aspect to the community garden.  We've researched articles on clinical studies on Mindfulness, and results have shown; Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction appears to be an effective tool to reduce anxiety in patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Patients who learned Mindfulness Meditation had less stress reactivity and were more resilient.  Some research also suggests that practicing meditation may reduce blood pressure, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. By adding Mindfulness in the garden, people will be introduced to the benefits of mindfulness, meditation, and how to cope with stress, anxiety, and panic attacks.  The community garden will also become the resource center providing educational classes in combating diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease with classes in growing vegetables, cooking healthier—physical activity with trail hikes. We want the garden to be the stepping stone of providing change for at-risk populations of the COVID-19 virus. 

We can accomplish this with the assistance of our local business owners, residents, volunteers, stakeholders, and partnering organizations. CDC guidelines for social distancing and masks will be followed.

 

the steps

Spring 2021, the 5 PM Group and community volunteers will: 

  • Installation and fabric lining of 15 garden boxes
  • Construction of the labyrinth
  • Purchase and installation of the storage shed
  • Purchase mulch, compost, soil
  • Purchase and installation of signage to bring awareness to the garden

why we're doing it

We are building the 5 PM Group Community Garden to unify and cultivate new relationships with local businesses, residents, and the youth of Observatory Hill and neighboring communities. Current health data shows the surge of diabetes, obesity, and depression among all age groups of those who would be most at-risk for COVID-19.   

The garden becomes a local source of fresh vegetables and fruits for residents who don't have access to transportation to get to a store, or they may not have the finances to purchase the rising cost of fresh produce.  Developing stewardship/mentoring programs provides an opportunity for us to reach out and encourage youth involvement.  The garden will also host numerous events, including small music concerts, family walk-in theater nights, and much more.

OUR MISSION:  To create a beautifully serene and distinctive community garden that will provide various community events, educational resources of gardening for a healthier lifestyle, stress reduction through mindfulness, healthy cardio strength programming with trail hikes, and mentorship programs for youth.  

 

 

budget

Disbursed:




TOTAL RAISED = $10,081.00 $10,081.00
ioby Platform Fee waived $35.00
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $152.43 $151.38
TOTAL TO DISBURSE= $9,928.57 $9,894.62

Original:

15 Raised Garden Beds - $3,000

Soil, Mulch and Compose - $1,500

Fruit trees, fruit bushes, and Various Vegetables - $500

Fencing -  $500.

Solar Lighting - $500.

1 Storage Shed - $2,000

5 Benches - $750

Garden Tools - $750

Signage - $500



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $10,000
ioby Platform Fee waived
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%)
(Donation processing fee does not apply to match funding.)
$76
TOTAL TO RAISE = $10,076
Donation processing fees apply to donations only. 100% of match funding goes to projects. Please note, fees are estimated here and final numbers may change based on the final amount raised and amount of match funding applied to this campaign.  

updates

Garden Space Now Secured

GREAT NEWS!  We now have a permanent place for the 5 Points Garden Project.  The garden's new location is inside beautiful Riverview Park in Valley Refuge.  This is a beautiful, serene and tranquil area of Riverview Park.  We now have begun with the layout and water planning.  We still are in need of volunteers.  Please reach out to us through this page if you're interested.  Thank you to all who gave and believes in this project.

Garden Project Update

Hello Everyone, 

We hope everyone is safe and healthy as we slowly begin to return to some normal.  Unfortunately, our project has hit a few snags along the way as far as locations fell through.  We're currently looking to secure a large park space for the project in Observatory Hill. Still, we now may have to look at one of our bordering communities that share Riverview Park with Observatory Hill.  We are still hopeful and will keep you all updated as the project moves forward.

Thank you

THANK YOU, EVERYONE!!

WE REACHED OUR GOAL TO RECEIVED THE COVID MATCH, AND WE TRULY COULD NOT HAVE  DONE IT WITHOUT YOU!!!   WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING DONATIONS UNTIL DECEMBER 2, 2020!  VOLUNTEERS ARE STILL NEEDED AND WELCOMED. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND EMAIL.  WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU SOON.

WE ARE SO CLOSE...YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED

WE ARE ONLY $1800 AWAY FROM MEETING OUR MATCH GOAL.  PLEASE REACH TO YOUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND COWORKERS TO GIVE WHAT THEY CAN. EVERY DOLLAR UP TO $500 IS MATCH.

THANK YOU, TO EVERYONE FOR DONATIONS AND MANY LEVELS OF SUPPORT...LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN! 

The Location Has Been Secured

A Special Thank You to Perry High School's Principal Dr. Frioni and Science Teacher Vicki Ammer for their part in assisting us in securing this space with the Board of Education and partnering with 5 PM Group in giving this project a home!!  Also, to Rayden Sorock and Redding Jackson at Grow Pittsburgh, for their commitment and support in moving this project forward.

  • The 5 PM Group, Community Garden location, is beside Perry High School's football field on Richard's Way at the bottom of Vinceton Street in Observatory Hill.  

We Are So Close to Our Match

We are deeply touched and thank everyone who has supported this us in our efforts thus far.  We are so close to meeting our $5,000 match to bring this wonderful community garden home. If everyone could reach out to a family member, a colleague, or a friend to help us, it would be greatly appreciated.  

 OUR MISSION, Is to create a beautifully serene and distinctive community garden that will provide various community events, educational resources of gardening for a healthier lifestyle, stress reduction through mindfulness, healthy cardio strength programming with trail hikes, and mentorship programs for youth.  OUR MISSION:  To create a beautifully serene and distinctive community garden that will provide various community events, educational resources of gardening for a healthier lifestyle, stress reduction through mindfulness, healthy cardio strength programming with trail hikes, and mentorship programs for youth.  

Thank you to our Stakeholders

Special Thanks to the Stakeholders:

  • Mayor Bill Peduto, City of Pittsburgh
  • Bobby Wilson, Councilman District 1
  • Bill Duff & Sara Gopal
  • Pipitone Group
  • Clark & Associates Inc
  • DSMI Group
  • Howard Hanna (M. Musico)
  • Fiasco Art Center
  • Deutschtown Garden - Beds #11 & #17
  • Melissa C

 

 

The 5 Points Merchants Group Community Garden - Update

We are still a little over $8,000 away from reaching our goal of $10,000.  Your support whether it's a small donation of $5.00 or volunteering your time, will be greatly appreciated.  Our garden project was the first to receive the COVID-19 match, it's our way of fighting this pandemic for those who are at risk...so we are asking for your donation and support to this cause.

 

photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • ALETHA BATCH
  • Acuity Human Resources
  • Barbara Moeller
  • The Hershberger Family
  • DSMI Group
  • L. Robinson
  • Observatory Hill Deli
  • Sally K.
  • Gina Grone
  • Erin T.
  • Mark M.
  • Anonymous
  • Redding J.
  • Rayden S.
  • Sally K.
  • Anonymous
  • LR MUSIC
  • 5 Points Merchants Group
  • Barbara A Lopez
  • Bill Duff & Sara Gopal
  • melissa c.
  • Kim Meyer
  • Erin T.
  • Fiasco Art Center
  • Deutschtown Garden Bed #11
  • Jeffrey and Lisa Lang
  • Deutschtown Garden Bed #17
  • john j. CLARK & ASSOCIATES, Inc
  • Anonymous
  • Marissa Musico
  • Susan C.
  • Emily R.
  • Anonymous
  • John M.
  • Dorrie S.
  • Anonymous
  • Marc N.
  • Anonymous
  • Ian Syphard
  • Scott P.
  • Joseph Lazar
  • Anonymous
  • Francine S.