Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority is looking to make vacant land it owns available for urban farming.
The URA board on Thursday approved guidelines for the Farm-a-Lot Program. Through the program, farmers will be able to use vacant URA-owned land for personal agricultural or for the sale of agricultural products including fruits, vegetables, herbs, legumes, nuts, grains and flowers.
The program could improve the health and social fabric of communities, while also improving the physical landscape and creating economic opportunities, URA officials said.
The program will give farmers access to land through a three-year license agreement. Farmers potentially could purchase properties after a year of operations through the Pittsburgh Land Bank.
The URA is partnering with the city for inspections to ensure the lots are being operated and maintained in accordance with program guidelines. Inspections will occur between the months of May and September.
