Hilltop Urban Farm
Transforming vacant land into the largest urban farm in the United States
Pittsburgh, PA
Hilltop Urban Farm is an urban ecology learning laboratory, the largest urban farm, and the first adult urban farm incubator in the United States. It hosts the largest orchard and youth farm in the City of Pittsburgh. Located on over 100 acres of land this multi-use facility was designed to produce locally-grown crops, provide agriculture-based education, generate entrepreneurial opportunities, and strengthen communities through youth-centered education, a workforce training program for new adult urban farmers, and an active, accessible farmers’ market.
Partners + Funders
US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Hilltop Alliance, Sota Construction, Common Ground, InSite Design, Lighthouse Cathedral, Grow Pittsburgh, Penn State Extension Allegheny County, Allegheny Land Trust, City of Pittsburgh Department of Planning, Urban Redevelopment Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, American Chestnut Foundation, Allegheny County Conservation District, Penn State University College of Agriculture, PA American Water, Henry L. Hillman Foundation, PNC Foundation, Colcom Foundation, Allegheny Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, Pittsburgh Foundation, Grable Foundation, Whole Foods Market Pittsburgh, EQT Foundation, The Forbes Fund, American Eagle Outfitters Foundation, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Project Roles
Co-Founder, Founding Executive Director, Lead Designer
Site implementation of the Youth Farm (2018), Nonprofit entity formation and organizational design (2018-2019), Site implementation of the Community Orchard (2017-2019), Site implementation of the Farmer Incubation Program (2019), 100+ volunteer events, 3,000+ volunteers
Design Documents
Master Plan Design (2015), Soil Rebuilding Plan (2015), Operations Plan (2015), Tree Inventory Report (2016)
Replanting a Neighborhood in Decline
Between 1951 and 1956, the St Clair Village housing complex was constructed by the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. At its completion it housed more than 70 buildings, housing at its peak 1,089 families. The St. Clair Village was closed in phases completed in 2010. The St Clair neighborhood has lost more than 80% of its peak population since 1960; currently only 209 people live within its limits and there is a 65% vacancy rate.
Like the city of Pittsburgh itself, the site of Hilltop Urban Farm has a story – one that is marked by chapters of decline and resurgence. Originally wooded and then cleared during European settlement for land and residences, St Clair, a south Pittsburgh neighborhood, became a part of the City of Pittsburgh in 1923. Families earned their living farming in the tiny neighborhood selling their produce in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, a neighborhood well-known for its abundance of food options including produce, meats and seafood, and ethnic foods. As steel mills shuttered and Pittsburgh’s population declined, the community of St. Clair faced multiple setbacks. Many residents left, farms dried up, and a neighborhood that once boasted apple orchards became known for crime and decay. Yet despite these challenges, a commitment to the community has remained intact. Past and current residents share a desire to reinvest in the neighborhood. Put simply, it’s a neighborhood that is ripe with the promise of re-imagination. Hilltop Urban Farm ushers in a new and much-need chapter, one rooted in growth and community advancement.
The St. Clair neighborhood, where the Hilltop Urban Farm is located, has been designated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a food desert. ‘Food Deserts’ are low-income communities that are devoid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods. The St. Clair neighborhood was identified as one of the Top 5 locations with low food access in Allegheny County, PA by Just Harvest in its 2013 report “A Menu for Food Justice: Strategies for Improving Access to Healthy Foods in Allegheny County.” The nearest supermarket for St. Clair residents is located 1.8 miles away. Currently 99% of the $700,000 grocery retail demand leaves St. Clair and Mt. Oliver City neighborhoods.
Urban Farming Programs
The Farming Philosophy of Hilltop Urban Farm
By growing farmers, Hilltop Urban Farm aims to transform underutilized land into an agriculturally and economically vibrant resource, one that actively engages the community it serves. A system of intelligent design, permaculture integrates land, resources, people and the environment through mutually beneficial synergies that reflect those seen in diverse natural systems. The result: we are growing food where there is none.
Youth Farm Program
Partnering with the Pittsburgh Arlington School, Lighthouse Cathedral, and the New Academy Charter School, the Youth Farm acts as a living agricultural and ecological laboratory for children and promotes the teaching of nutrition, growing food, agriculture as a career pathway, and ecology through the lens of urban farming with the support of program partners Penn State Extension, Allegheny Land Trust Education Department, Power Up, and Grow Pittsburgh. Children learn, play and interact among raised bed growing areas, youth gardens, a youth orchard and a youth food forest.
Farmer Incubation Program
The Farmer Incubation Program at Hilltop Urban Farm is a multi-year workforce development program for new small-scale organic urban farm enterprises. Participants are provided access to urban farming acres, storage, solar electric, hoop houses, mobile coolers and a shared tool library. Graduates are prequalified to rent preserved farmland with nonprofit partners and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s Farm-A-Lot program. The Farmer Incubation Program at Hilltop Urban Farm has quadrupled the amount of produce grown within the City of Pittsburgh.
Production Orchard
Hilltop Urban Farm planted the largest orchard in the City of Pittsburgh on May 4th, 2019. In partnership with The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation and Plant Five for Life, the one-acre orchard features 175 fruit and nut trees, including Apricot, Elderberry, Apple, Hazelnut, Cherry, Peach, Pear, Asian Pear, Nectarine, and Fig. Within the orchard, Hilltop Urban Farm has planted 52 cider apple trees in partnership with Threadbare Cider House and Meadery in Pittsburgh’s Spring Garden neighborhood.
Youth Farm Orchard
In May 2018, Hilltop Urban Farm planted 47 fruit trees to establish the Youth Farm orchard. In September 2018, Hilltop Urban Farm planted 20 restoration chestnut trees with the support of the American Chestnut Planting Foundation and Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences.
Farmer’s Market
Hilltop Urban Farm provides fresh food for the community of Mt. Oliver City and St. Clair. Hilltop Urban Farm accepts Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) vouchers. The first Youth Farmer’s Market was hosted in July 2019 and featured fresh produce grown and sold by Hilltop youth in the Youth Farm.
A Historical Neighborhood
Between 1951 and 1956, the St Clair Village housing complex was constructed by the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. At its completion it housed more than 70 buildings, housing at its peak 1,089 families. The St. Clair Village was closed in phases completed in 2010. The St Clair neighborhood has lost more than 80% of its peak population since 1960; currently only 209 people live within its limits and there is a 65% vacancy rate.
Like the city of Pittsburgh itself, the site of Hilltop Urban Farm has a story – one that is marked by chapters of decline and resurgence. Originally wooded and then cleared during European settlement for land and residences, St Clair, a south Pittsburgh neighborhood, became a part of the City of Pittsburgh in 1923. Families earned their living farming in the tiny neighborhood selling their produce in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, a neighborhood well-known for its abundance of food options including produce, meats and seafood, and ethnic foods. As steel mills shuttered and Pittsburgh’s population declined, the community of St. Clair faced multiple setbacks. Many residents left, farms dried up, and a neighborhood that once boasted apple orchards became known for crime and decay. Yet despite these challenges, a commitment to the community has remained intact. Past and current residents share a desire to reinvest in the neighborhood. Put simply, it’s a neighborhood that is ripe with the promise of re-imagination. Hilltop Urban Farm ushers in a new and much-need chapter, one rooted in growth and community advancement.
The St. Clair neighborhood, where the Hilltop Urban Farm is located, has been designated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a food desert. ‘Food Deserts’ are low-income communities that are devoid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods. The St. Clair neighborhood was identified as one of the Top 5 locations with low food access in Allegheny County, PA by Just Harvest in its 2013 report “A Menu for Food Justice: Strategies for Improving Access to Healthy Foods in Allegheny County.” The nearest supermarket for St. Clair residents is located 1.8 miles away. Currently 99% of the $700,000 grocery retail demand leaves St. Clair and Mt. Oliver City neighborhoods.
Development Timeline
2013-2015
Feasibility Study development identifies the vision and framework for Hilltop Urban Farm .Partners: Hilltop Alliance, Penn State Center Pittsburgh, Grow Pittsburgh
Spring 2016
Tree Inventory Report mapped existing trees and made recommendations for tree plantings and tree maintenance. Lead Designer: Sarah Baxendell, Partner: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
May-Oct 2015
Master plan development formalizes the operating and infrastructure plan; Master Plan Design (2015) Operations Plan (2015). Lead Designer: Sarah Baxendell
2017-2018
Two seasons of soil rebuilding implementation of compost and cover crops, following the Soil Rebuilding Plan recommendations. Project Manager: Sarah Baxendell
Fall 2015
Soil Rebuilding Plan architects the plan for rehabilitating and rebuilding urban soils for farming. Lead Designer: Sarah Baxendell
August 2017
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Mayor William Peduto and elected officials marks the completion of the soil rebuilding implementations
Fall 2017-2018
Community volunteer events attract 400+ participants. Project Manager: Sarah Baxendell
March 2018-April 2019
Youth farm infrastructure build includes water lines, deer fencing, storage containers, raised beds, solar array, and mobile cooler trailer. Lead Designer, Project Manager: Sarah Baxendell
May 2018
Youth farm orchard phase 1 planting of 67 fruit trees, nut trees, and restoration chestnut trees. Lead Design, Project Manager: Sarah Baxendell; Partners: American Chestnut Planting Foundation, Fruit Tree Planting Foundation
2018-2019
Farmer Incubation Program build out includes water lines, hoop house, storage containers, coolers, solar array, and shared tool library. Lead Designer, Project Manager: Sarah Baxendell
2018-2019
Nonprofit 501(c) entity formation, establishing the founding Board of Directors. Project Manager: Sarah Baxendell, Founding Executive Director
April 2019
Launch of the Youth Farm programs. Project Manager: Sarah Baxendell; Partners: local schools, Penn State Center Pittsburgh
April 2019
Launch of the Youth Farm programs. Project Manager: Sarah Baxendell; Partners: local schools, Penn State Center Pittsburgh
Summer-Fall 2019
First youth farm summer camps. Youth Farm after school programs launch. Partners: Arlington PreK-8 school, Penn State Center Pittsburgh
May 2019
Production orchard planting of 175+ fruit and nut trees. Lead Designer, Project Manager: Sarah Baxendell; Partners: The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, Plant Five for Life
June 2019
Hilltop Urban Farm receives its 501(c)3 nonprofit status. Project Manager: Sarah Baxendell, Founding Executive Director
Fall 2019
Sarah Baxendell begins her transition out of Hilltop Urban Farm and trains the new Executive Director