Webinar: Community Development with Urban Agriculture – Release of Model Ordinance

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Urban agriculture is increasingly recognized as a beneficial tool for municipalities and communities to achieve goals such as increasing civic participation, complying with storm-water regulations, revitalizing neighborhoods, addressing food scarcity, increasing economic opportunity, and achieving sustainability goals.  Join Sustainable Pittsburgh’s Sustainable Community Development Network, Local Government Academy and special guests Marisa Manheim of Grow Pittsburgh and Jon Burgess of Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD) as we explore the use of community gardening and a newly released model urban agriculture ordinance as instruments of sustainable community development.

Marisa Manheim, Grow Pittsburgh’s Director of Community Projects, will share best practices in establishing long-lasting, stable community gardens based on 8 years of experience starting 27 community gardens in Allegheny County.  Jon Burgess, Senior Agriculture Conservationist and Urban Agriculture Lead at the ACCD, will introduce a newly released model urban agriculture ordinance designed as a reference for municipal leaders to encourage and regulate this growing interest among their residents.

Jon Burgess joined the Allegheny County Conservation District after studying Public Policy at Duquesne University.  His background mixes natural resource management, agricultural extension and policy analysis.  Jon also leads ACCD’s Urban Agriculture Program.  He is co-chair, of the Urban Agriculture Working Group of the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council and participates in the PA Department of Agriculture’s Urban Agriculture Working Group.

Marisa Manheim is Director of Community Projects at Grow Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that teaches and demonstrates gardening and promotes the benefits that gardens bring to our neighborhoods. Marisa has 8 years of experience coordinating community-led efforts to create community gardens and urban farms in Pittsburgh. She also leads Grow Pittsburgh’s efforts to create policy to support urban agriculture. Marisa co-chairs the Urban Agriculture Working Group of the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council, is on the Board of Directors of Common Ground: Greater Pittsburgh Community Land Trust, and participates in the PA Department of Agriculture’s Urban Agriculture Working Group. In addition to a holding a Masters in Human Computer Interaction, Marisa has a certificate in landscape design, is a Certified Master Gardener and a trained permaculturalist.