The Youth Farm at Hilltop Urban Farm is a hands-on learning space where young people connect food, land, and community through outdoor, experiential education. Youth engage in seasonally appropriate activities such as planting, tending crops, harvesting, and food exploration, building confidence, teamwork, and an understanding of food systems, nutrition, and land stewardship.

All youth programming takes place within a dedicated, one-acre, deer-fenced space that includes 21 raised garden beds and a youth orchard. Rather than operating as a stand-alone program, the Youth Farm works in close partnership with schools, after-school programs, and community organizations to support existing youth programming through farm-based education.

Interested in partnering or learning more?
Contact Sophia@hilltopurbanfarm.org to explore youth programming opportunities at Hilltop Urban Farm

PRODUCTION ORCHARD

Hilltop Urban Farm planted the largest orchard in the City of Pittsburgh on May 4th, 2019. The one-acre orchard features over 175 fruit and nut trees, including Apricot, Elderberry, Apple, Hazelnut, Cherry, Peach, Pear, Persimmon, and Serviceberry. The original orchard planting was a partnership with The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation and Plant Five for Life. Within the orchard, Hilltop Urban Farm also planted 52 cider trees in partnership with Threadbare Cider House, a local cider house and meadery in Pittsburgh’s Spring Garden neighborhood. Since the original planting, the orchard has continued to receive technical support and additional tree plantings from the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, The Giving Grove, and Tree Pittsburgh.

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.