Little Farm, Big Dreams

At the top of Holland Avenue, on two vacant lots of land, sits a white house that has been boarded up like many others in Wilkinsburg. But this lot of land is also home to Garden Dreams, an urban farm and nursery with hard to find vegetable varieties, organic gardening products, and three farmers whose mission it is to transform the community around them.

From April to September, Garden Dreams will be busy tending to their ⅓ acre plot of garden beds and a nursery store where patrons can find a unique variety of vegetables including asparagus crowns, seed potatoes, and heirloom tomatoes.

But the most important work being done by Garden Dreams is evident in the impact their business has had on the community. This urban farm and nursery is a certified organic organization that is committed to increasing the amount of accessible healthy food in our schools, homes, and retail markets.

Seedling Fundraisers are one the ways in which Garden Dreams is bringing education and opportunity to the community. Rather than advocating the sales of candy bars or catalogue items, Garden Dreams provides seedlings to local school so elementary age children can learn about the entrepreneurial spirit while also doing something good for the environment.

When the selling season has slowed down and autumn approaches, Garden Dreams acts as host to the annual fall Harvest Fest with the Greater Pittsburgh Mad Dads, an organization that has been providing positive male role models to discourage violence among young men for the last decade.

Garden Dreams Urban Farm & Nursery is open for the season. You can find their plants at Whole Food East Liberty, The East End Food Co-op, and City Grows.