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WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council is hosting Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding for the 6th annual statewide tour in celebration of Pennsylvania Urban Agriculture Week scheduled to visit Pittsburgh area urban gardens and farms on Tuesday, July 12 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM; and
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WHEREAS, urban gardens and farms provide fresh food, often free, as well as spaces for building community across racial, ethnic, generational and wealth divides, learning the art and science of food growing and earth tending and community food security; and
WHEREAS, residents, such as Ebony Lunsford-Evans of Pittsburgh’s West End/District 2, also known as “Farmer Girl Eb,” stand strong as community leaders and teachers. Farmer Girl Eb turned her backyard into an outdoor classroom and began teaching the youth how to grow over 30 different types of fruits, vegetables and herbs that were shared at a small youth farmer’s market; and,
WHEREAS, 1 Sound Urban Farm was established in 2021 as a nonprofit organization Out of the End Incorporated as a teaching site for community members to learn to grow, sustain, scale and distribute fresh food to the cafeteria located on the Jasmine Nyree Campus. This food will nourish the children and adults with special needs who gather at the Campus; and,
WHEREAS, 1 Sound Urban Farm is a highlighted Pittsburgh stop on Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding’s statewide tour in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Food Policy council in celebration of PA Urban Agriculture Week; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh has acknowledged the increasing importance of urban agriculture through its progressive urban agriculture zoning code and Adopt-A-Lot program. There are currently over 100 community gardens and 61 school gardens in Allegheny County; and,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend urban farmers such as Ebony Lunsford-Evans for helping to build an equitable and sustainable food system that supports our communities, economy and environment; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare, Tuesday, July 12, 2022 to be “Urban Agriculture Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.