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WHEREAS, Mildred's Daughter's Urban Farm is the last remaining farm within Pittsburgh's city limits, operating on 5 urban acres overlooking the Allegheny River that have been deeded as a farm since 1875; and
WHEREAS, Barb Kline and Randa Shannon purchased the Stanton Heights site in 1999 and developed a USDA certified organic farm that currently markets organic vegetables, fruits, herbs and heirloom seedling sales through farmers markets and restaurants; and
WHEREAS, Barb and Randa, both admitted arm-chair farmers, underwent their transformation from contented backyard gardeners to real, if almost accidental, organic farmers in less than a week's time; and
WHEREAS, their story puts them in a rare category in agriculture -- women who own or manage small farms; and
WHEREAS, Mildred's Daughter's Urban Farm is not only a place where Barb and Randa are able to achieve their farming dreams but it has also become a place for young people to visit and work in order to learn about farming; and
WHEREAS, the farm has led to a community of volunteers and friends Barb and Randa have made into a large farming family; and
WHEREAS, Though Mildred's Daughter's Urban Farm requires hard labor, it reaps lots of rewards for Barb and Randa and they plan to nourish the farm so they are able to pass it on to the next generation of farmers;
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Pittsburgh City Council does hereby declare Tuesday, March 8, 2011 Mildred's Daughter's Urban Farm Day in the City of Pittsburgh.