In 2005 the mission imagined by the founders of Grow Pittsburgh was relatively simple. They wanted to teach, model and facilitate sustainable urban agriculture within the Pittsburgh region.

Photo: Ryan Sigesmund

Since then, several communities around the city of Pittsburgh have thrived in the company of this extraordinary organization.

Photo: Ryan Sigesmund

From the beginning dedicated volunteers have made up the core of this remarkable community and they continue to play a key role in supporting Grow Pittsburgh’s work and mission.

Photo: Courtney Thrall

With the support of such organizations as The Heinz Foundation, The Frick and Fairmont Hotel Pittsburgh they are truly thriving.

Listen in to learn hear about their spring planting, Grow Pittsburgh Seedlings, and the development of a web-based toolkit for garden educators. We speak with Josh Burnett, the Director of Educational Programming at Grow Pittsburgh.

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Based on the seed-to-table learning model initiated by Alice Waters in Berkeley, CA, The Pittsburgh Edible Schoolyard integrates garden activities into the regular classroom curriculum to improve young students’ eating habits, invest students in their school communities, and enhance students’ academic performance.

Now in its fourth year in the Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS), The Edible Schoolyard is the fruit of collaboration between PPS personnel, teachers, parents, community members, and the non-profit organization Grow Pittsburgh.

In this podcast we speak with the Director of Education for Grow Pittsburgh, Joshua Burnett. To many young Pittsburgh students, he is better known as “Farmer Josh”.

FARMER JOSH PITTSBURGH 10 9 09-NEW