Tag Archives: farm

Be a Healcrest Urban Farm Fan and Get Market Day Text Reminders!


You will get market day reminders from us on your mobile phone. Checkins at market can also equal rewards from Healcrest Urban Farm (like ice pops!) You can unsubscribe from these messages at any time and we will never share your information with anyone. Sign Up Here On Farm Fan! farmfanlogo

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Filed under Business, Events, Pittsburgh, Tea-pop Shop, Urban Farming

Funding To A Tea: A Networking Happy Hour Event with Healcrest Urban Farm, The Sprout Fund, and New Sun Rising.


https _img.evbuc.com_https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.evbuc.com%2Fimages%2F13601679%2F40699496060%2F1%2Foriginal.jpg rect=0%2C1%2C826%2C413&s=a3bf8c7f2ee0db073adceb78e32eccc6 LET’S HAVE FUN ON THE FARM! 

Propelle is teaming up with Healcrest Urban Farm, The Sprout Fund, and New Sun Rising to throw an early-summer garden party for women entrepreneurs!

With tents, twinkling lights, greenhouse and garden tours, local farm fresh tidbits and specialty drinks made from Healcrest’s own line of herbal teas, shrubs, and tea pops this is sure to be the networking event of the summer. The focus for the evening will be women entrepreneurs seeking funding opportunities, resources, incubation & investment. Speakers will include Dana Launius and Maria Graziani of Healcrest Urban Farm and a representative from the Sprout Fund. What you’ll discover:

  • Funding opportunities and options in PIttsburgh.
  • What funders are specifically looking for.
  • What will set your funding application apart from the crowd.
  • What Maria and Dana have learned from 5+ years of working with funders.

There will also be funding information on hand from New Sun Rising. Get your tickets today and invite your favorite woman entrepreneurs (and future entrepreneurs) to join you for a very special and informative evening. This event is 21+ only.

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Filed under Business, Events, Pittsburgh, Women

Aquaponics at Healcrest – Part 2


Everything’s coming together. The Bottom tank will hold the fish, while the Top shelf will house delicious delicate herbs.

Savi says this is what the fish will do if you put your hand in the tank.

IMG_4430The babies move in.

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Filed under Pittsburgh, Urban Farming

Healcrest Introduces CSA for the Fall/Winter Season!


Community Supported Agriculture allows farmers to remain financially sustainable while connecting members to the bounty of seasonal, local food. Members buy a share of the year’s harvest at the beginning of the season and receive weekly boxes of in-season produce. Healcrest Farm is building upon the CSA model to offer herbal medicines and healing products on a monthly schedule. Our Community Supported Apothecary invites you to explore medicinal plants, learning as you heal. Register Here

How does it work?
CSA membership is a great way to build a home supply of herbal medicines, learn more about how to use local plants, and explore new ways of being in control of our own health.

Each month for six months you’ll receive organically grown herbs and artisanal herbal products. Our CSA gives you the opportunity to try medicinal natural healing products you’ve been curious about and gain knowledge as you learn how your body heals. You’ll be able to pick your share up each month, warming you through the winter, and meeting with the women who grow and make all the products.

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What is in a share?

Each share supplies you with seasonally appropriate medicines and products. Some herbal preparations you can expect to receive this season from October to March are:
~ Herbal Honeys
~ Nourishing Tea Blends
~Infused Healing Oils
~Salves
~ Elixirs: general well being & immune boosting
~Tea Pops!
~ …And More

You will receive educational information every month about the plants included in your share products, and suggestions on how to use them.

Why Join?
When you purchase a share, it helps support the work we do revitalizing the land, growing and processing the herbs into useful natural medicines that nourish the body and enhance vitality. In return, you will receive a variety of herbs that support good health and the health of the environment, while also preserving the agricultural character of our wonderful community.

Join Up Here!

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Filed under CSA Subscription, herbal medicine, local food, natural skincare

AUGUST::Classes and Volunteer Days at the Farm


Sundays in August Join us At the Farm for Volunteer Days 11-4pm, followed by Farm Tours 4-5pm

August 6th, Wednesday 6pm – The Mighty Sourdough Starters
Learn how to make sourdough bread, crepes, tortillas, and pancakes with sourdough starters. Half a cup of Austrian Sourdough is complementary, so bring a jar with you! 1.5-2 hours (rain date: August 20th) Healcrest Urban Farm is located in Garfield at the intersection of Hillcrest and Pacific. Street Parking is available. Cost of each show, tell, and taste session is 25$ per person. Please register one week ahead of each workshop at http://www.healcresturbanfarm.com/events.html. Classes will be cancelled if enrollment is below eight participants. Contact Natalya at pinchuknatalya@gmail.com or 804-319-7377 if you have any
questions about the workshops.

August 11th, Monday 6pm – Old-Style Pickles, Salsas, Hot Sauces and Chutneys
Venture into the endless possibilities of flavor and learn how to stock up your fridge with delicious condiments and compliments to your everyday staples while the farmer’s markets are still bustling with delicious veggies. 1.5-2 hours (rain date: August 18th) Healcrest Urban Farm is located in Garfield at the intersection of Hillcrest and Pacific. Street Parking is available. Cost of each show, tell, and taste session is 25$ per person. Please register one week ahead of each workshop at http://www.healcresturbanfarm.com/events. Classes will be cancelled if enrollment is below eight participants. Contact Natalya at pinchuknatalya@gmail.com or 804-319-7377 if you have any questions about the workshops.

Sunday August 17, 10-12, Medicine Making, Tinctures and Elixirs.  

We will discuss the advantages to making tinctures and even more delicious elixirs using herbs that you can grow, wild harvest, or buy.  We’ll take a talk around the garden to learn about harvesting and processing techniques, how to make the best extractions from different plants and of course, do the entire process!  Everyone will leave with a sample. Please register in advance at http://www.healcresturbanfarm.com/events so we can have enough supplies for everyone. Contact Michelle at 615-804-0064 or healcresturbanfarm@gmail.com with question about registration.

Sunday August 31, 10-12, Farm Tour, Late Summer Apothecary.  

As asters take over our fields and gardens, come learn to identify the common plants of the late summer and how to look for what coming ahead.  We’ll talk about identification, sustainable growing and harvesting practices, and the medicinal properties of many herbs. Contact Michelle at 615-804-0064 or info@healcresturbanfarm.com with question about registration. RSVP at http://www.healcresturbanfarm.com/events

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Filed under herbal medicine, local food, natural skincare, Pittsburgh, Workshops

SUMMER HAS ARRIVED AND IT IS HOT!


So to refresh and recharge you we have Savory Strawberry Creamsicle; Cucumber Lime Mint, and returning champs Chocolate Lavender, & Fresh Apple Mint. In addition we are bringing freshly brewed Iced Tea by the cup. Try our original Tea Blends like Goddess Blend or Everyday Tea. We look forward to hosting you for volunteer days, tours, and classes. And we are always happy to see you at market.

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Filed under Events, Pittsburgh, Urban Farming

Herb Classes and Walks with Michelle


Herb Classes and Walk with Michelle

Join us this summer at Healcrest Urban Farm for herbal education with certified Herbalist Michelle Soto!

Register here http://www.healcresturbanfarm.com/events.html

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June 15, 2014 · 5:06 pm

Chicks in the Hood Pittsburgh Urban Chicken Coop Tour


We’re excited to participate in Chicks in the Hood :: PGH Chicken Coop Tour 2014! WE’LL HAVE TEAPOPS! THIS SUNDAY SUZY’LL BE SLINGIN’ CICLES!!

Come by on Sunday and visit our feathered friends. Suzy is looking forward to showing you the coop, introducing you to the gals, and offer you TeaPop refreshment!

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Tickets can be purchased the day of the tour at

  • Commonplace Voluto www.commonplacecoffee.com at 5467 Penn Avenue in Friendship/Garfield;
  • Tazza D’Oro  www.tazzadoro.com at 1125 North Highland Avenue in Highland Park;
  • Animal Nature  www.animalnature.net at 7610 Forbes Avenue in Regent Square;
  • Thompson 0.08 Acres at 1240 Resaca Place, Pittsburgh  15212;
  • Choderwood at 7665 Lock Way West, Pittsburgh 15206, located at the Highland Park Dam at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Allegheny River Boulevard.

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Filed under Events, market, Pittsburgh, Volunteer

A Rainy Day Photo Shoot!


By Michelle Soto

Meg and I thought we could use this rainy day to our advantage and show some photos of our muscle powered tools that we use to create the gardens.  As we were planning and budgeting to create new gardens and revitalize more green spaces at Healcrest, we made a decision to not rent heavy gas powered machinery and to invest in quality earth moving tools that we can use for years to come.

We still use lawn mowers for grass cutting, but pretty much everything else up at the farm is a hand tool.  This definitely increases the time and energy it takes to build a garden bed, but the finished products are high quality beds that will be around for years to come, completely free of knotweed roots, rocks, and anything else that might impede the growing process.

We’ve found that the beds that we built last year have needed a few wheelbarrows of compost of them and some leaf mulch in the aisles, but are free of invasive weeds.  The hard pan clay that is just right under our top soil was turned with compost last year and has matured into a dark rich layer of soil, perfect for growing.

Planting into these beds will continue for a few more weeks! Official volunteer days are on Sundays from 11-4.  We won’t make you jump on a broad fork for you can help some baby seedlings find a good home!

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Michelle loves to use the little digging fork to turn earth

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Meg attacks knotweed, clearing a new path through the woods

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Michelle jumps on the broad fork, using all her body weight!

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Meg is shifting soil with the brand new shifter that Suzy built or the farm

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Filed under Events, Gardening, organic farming, organic gardening, Pittsburgh, Sustainable Living, Urban Farming, Volunteer

Herbal Energetics Class


at Healcrest Urban Farm
Thursday, May 29 from 6-8 pm

We’re going to learn about recognizing the six tissue states in the body and the corresponding categories of herbs. I’m pulling knowledge from Ayurvedic medicine as well as Southern US Folk Herbalism. Hopefully you’ll leave knowing more about specific indications and what herbs will work well for your constitution and body type.

We’ll spend the first hour tasting plants from the garden and recognizing the movement within our bodies and the second talking about the different energetic systems across the world.

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Filed under Events, herbal medicine, organic gardening, Workshops