City of Pittsburgh - File #: 2011-1644

• File #: 2011-1644
• Version: 1
• Type: Proclamation
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 4/19/2011
• In control: City Council
• Final action: 4/19/2011
• Enactment date: 4/19/2011
• Enactment #: 285
• Title: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend Lynne Weber and Joan Kimmel for their work at The Urban Gardner helping neighborhoods and non-profits with their urban gardens and for educating the public on the best ways to create and maintain various types of urban gardens and in honor of Earth Day does hereby declare Friday, April 22, 2011 to be “The Urban Garden Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.
• Sponsors: Darlene M. Harris, All Members
• Indexes: PROCLAMATION - MRS. HARRIS

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
4/19/2011	1	City Council	Adopted	Pass

Body
WHEREAS, Lynne Weber and Joan Kimmel, both of the North Side took an abandoned gas station in Brighton Heights and turned it into The Urban Gardener because there were no gardening facilities convenient to the North Side; and

WHEREAS, their goal focuses on problems particular to urban gardeners and to encourage good gardening practices, Ms. Weber and Ms. Kimmel have gained recognition including being named a Preferred Garden Center by Phipps Conservatory's Project Green Heart, which promotes sustainable garden practices in Pittsburgh; and

WHEREAS, other accolades received by The Urban Gardner include the Business Spotlight Award and Technology Seeding Grant by North Side Community Development Fund, the 2003 Outstanding Neighbor Award by the Central Northside Neighborhood Council and they were voted the Best City Garden Center by Pittsburgh Magazine in 2006; and

WHEREAS, The Urban Gardner was invited by The Mattress Factory Art Museum's 2010 “Gestures” Exhibit to submit a living art work, their piece was called 'Lawn' used ornamental grass varieties and bamboo to demonstrate an alternative to typical gardens and lawns; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Weber and Ms. Kimmel are well known for educating their clientele and non-profits through an informational newsletter and educational seminars held several times a season on topics such as composting, rainbarrels, vermiculture, or gardening with worms, Edible Flowers, and more; and

WHEREAS, The Urban Garden is a member of the Rain Garden Alliance, a group of Allegheny County organizations, committed to lessening the problem of storm water runoff in the county, through education and installing rain gardens throughout the region that drain into our three rivers; and

WHEREAS, throughout their 14 years, The Urban Garden commits itself to customers and public service, collaborating on outreach with many non-profit educational and service organizations, including Penn State Cooperative Extension, Allegheny County Ma...