Somalis transform vacant Pittsburgh lot into their own farm

Abdulkadir Chirambo is president of the United Somali Bantu of Greater Pittsburgh, he’s seen here with Shelly Danko+Day who is the City of Pittsburgh’s urban agriculture and food policy specialist. The group has transformed vacant city lots into a garden farm located in Pittsburgh’s Perry Hilltop neighborhood.

Abdulkadir Chirambo is president of the United Somali Bantu of Greater Pittsburgh, here he holds beans harvested from the garden.

Emily Persico is a food policy intern with the city working on a master’s degree from Yale. She’s spent her summer with Danko+Day learning about the program and watching these gardens grow. Here she holds a small pear shaped tomato. The United Somali Bantu of Greater Pittsburgh has transformed vacant city lots into a garden farm located in Pittsburgh’s Perry Hilltop neighborhood. Okra is just one of the many crops grown in the garden.

The United Somali Bantu of Greater Pittsburgh has transformed vacant city lots into a garden farm located in Pittsburgh’s Perry Hilltop neighborhood. Peppers are just one of the many crops grown in the garden.

Lettuce plants are grown in long rows at the farm.

The United Somali Bantu of Greater Pittsburgh has transformed vacant city lots into a garden farm located in Pittsburgh’s Perry Hilltop neighborhood. This lettuce has been allowed to go to seed. It will be saved and planted next year.

The United Somali Bantu of Greater Pittsburgh has transformed vacant city lots into a garden farm located in Pittsburgh’s Perry Hilltop neighborhood. Okra is just one of the many crops grown in the garden.