Growing Food
Fresh, culturally familiar produce for neighborhood families.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Growing food.
Growing community.
Growing hope.
Rooted in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington-Chadwick-Belmar neighborhoods, we grow fresh, nourishing produce and stronger communities through shared work, knowledge, and compassion.
Building Community
Neighbors of all ages working, learning, and sharing together.
Sustainable Practices
Water harvesting, drip irrigation, and long-term soil care.
Sharing the Harvest
Produce distributed to families, elders, and local partners.
Our Mission
We grow more than food—we grow community.
Helpful Hands Harvest is creating a neighborhood-based food system that increases access to fresh produce, teaches practical growing skills, and strengthens resilience through sustainable urban agriculture.
Our gardens bring together lifelong residents, youth, elders, volunteers, and dedicated growers. Every bed is a place where hands meet soil, stories are shared, and local knowledge is passed forward.
Our Garden Site
Growing here, for the people who live here.
The project is located on an active urban agriculture site at 1406 Lincoln Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington-Chadwick-Belmar community.
Project Location
Helpful Hands Harvest Urban Garden
1406 Lincoln AvenuePittsburgh, PA 15206
2026 Project Vision
Practical improvements that help the garden grow more and serve more.
The proposed work is designed to improve productivity without changing the site’s existing agricultural use or requiring permanent foundations, excavation, or removal of standing trees.
Expanded Raised Beds
Additional modular beds for leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and root vegetables.
Efficient Irrigation
Surface-mounted drip irrigation that directs water to crops and reduces waste.
Rainwater Capture
Rain barrels and water-storage systems that reduce dependence on municipal water.
Healthy Soil
Compost, natural enrichment, erosion control, and soil-protection practices.
Hands-On Education
Workshops, youth participation, volunteer workdays, and intergenerational learning.
Harvest Distribution
More produce shared with families, elders, food pantries, and neighborhood partners.
Project vision:
Proposed improvements are concept-based and will be implemented according to
final site assessment, grant requirements, and available funding.
What Success Looks Like
More food. Stronger neighbors. A more resilient community.
Projected Yield Increase
Expanded growing capacity and more consistent irrigation are expected to increase annual production.
Fresh Produce
Track pounds harvested and distributed to families, pantries, and neighborhood markets.
Water Conserved
Track gallons of rainwater captured and improvements in watering efficiency.
Community Participation
Track volunteers, youth, residents, workshops, and hands-on learning hours.
July–November 2026
Project Action Plan
A full growing season focused on infrastructure, planting, education, harvest, and evaluation.
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July
Plan & Prepare
Finalize site plans, procure materials, confirm partners, and assess infrastructure needs.
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August
Build & Install
Expand raised beds, prepare soil, install irrigation, and add water-harvesting systems.
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September
Plant & Teach
Begin planting, host workshops, train volunteers, and start early harvest tracking.
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October
Grow & Share
Maintain crops, host workdays, harvest produce, and distribute through local partners.
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November
Harvest & Evaluate
Complete fall harvest, gather project data, save seed, and prepare the final report.
Get Involved
Help us grow food, knowledge, and community.
Community members, volunteers, churches, youth organizations, food pantries, and neighborhood partners are invited to grow with us.