The Urban Agriculture Working Group is a collaborative space for growers, advocates, policy experts, and institutions working to make urban farming viable, equitable, and supported across Pittsburgh and the region. We focus on advancing policies, programs, and infrastructure that empower growers and embed food production into the fabric of our city.

Urban Agriculture Working Group (UAWG) – Update

The Urban Agriculture Working Group (UAWG) is moving into an exciting new chapter as we continue to strengthen and realign the group’s purpose and impact. We’ve identified new leadership and refined our focus to better serve the needs of urban growers across the Pittsburgh region.

What’s New

• New Leadership: We’re thrilled to announce Jodi McLaughlin as the new UAWG Chair.

• Urban Growers Scholarship Fund: Applications are now OPEN! We remain committed to supporting the professional development of urban growers, and we encourage you to apply.

• Community Board: The Google Group community board is active again. Posts are now moderated to ensure a respectful and relevant exchange of resources and opportunities.

Moving Forward

UAWG continues to gather input from stakeholders as we reimagine how the group can be a stronger platform for advocacy, resource sharing, and community-building. Your participation and voice are vital as we grow this network together.

Thank you for your continued commitment to food justice and community-based agriculture.

Stay tuned for more opportunities to connect, learn, and lead in the coming months!

For questions, input, or to get involved in the relaunch process, feel free to contact us at info@pittsburghfoodpolicy.org.

Active members of the group include a variety of organizations such as: The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Hilltop Urban Farm, Sankofa Village Community Garden, Grow Pittsburgh, Penn State Extension, BUGS, National Young Farmers Coalition, Allegheny County Conservation District, Trellis Legal, Manchester Growing Together Farm, Hazelwood Urban Ag Team, East End Food Coop, and Phipps Homegrown.

Our Goals:

• Advocate for land use policies that support urban agriculture

• Increase access to resources, funding, and training for growers

• Elevate grower voices in city and state food systems planning

• Promote environmental justice and soil health

• Build partnerships that drive long-term systems change

• Agriculture as a “highest and best use” of vacant lots, providing access to resources to support urban farming

• Providing long-term protection for urban agricultural land

• Fostering environmental sustainability measures such as composting and soil health

• Educating the public on urban agriculture zoning code regulations and processes

Key Initiatives & Impact

Farm-A-Lot Program

PFPC collaborated closely with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to help develop Farm-A-Lot, a program that enables residents to access URA-owned land for agricultural projects. The working group has continued to support the development of the program’s use agreements and policy details, with a pilot implementation in Spring 2019.

Key partners: URA, Allegheny County Conservation District, Grow Pittsburgh, Hilltop Urban Farm, Trellis Legal, Penn State Extension

Farmer Conditions Report

In partnership with regional and national collaborators, we supported the creation of a Farmer Conditions Report, offering data-driven insights into the challenges faced by urban and regional growers. The report, led by Allegheny County Conservation District, Penn State Extension, and Productive Spaces, is expected to frame Pittsburgh's local issues within broader food system trends.

Urban Growers Scholarship Fund

Established with proceeds from the 2018 Pittsburgh Urban Farm Tour, this fund managed in collaboration with Grow Pittsburgh, increases access to professional development for urban growers. It supports eligible expenses like conferences, training, and travel. Founding collaborators: East End Food Co-op, PFPC, PASA Click here to apply.

PA Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee

Several working group members and the group coordinator serve on the statewide Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee to the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, helping shape urban ag priorities across the Commonwealth.

2017 Community Engagement Events

The working group planned quarterly community events focused on grower-informed priorities:

• Soil contamination & health

• Land access

• Composting

• Financial resources for farms and gardens

These sessions helped shape the group’s policy direction and grounded our work in community needs.

Pittsburgh Land Bank Policy Advocacy

Members engaged deeply in the City’s Land Bank policy process, advocating for:

• Prioritization of green space

• A transparent appeals process

• Strong equity and community engagement standards

Climate Action Plan Contributions

Members helped shape the City of Pittsburgh’s Climate Action Plan, especially the Food chapter, by participating in visioning and scoping sessions and providing detailed feedback on draft versions.

Urban Agriculture Zoning Code Updates

The working group helped revise and modernize Pittsburgh’s Urban Ag Zoning Code, resulting in one of the most progressive codes in the U.S., permitting chickens, bees, and goats on private urban lots.