Developing a Pilot Community Garden to Empower and Transform Communities (in the Commonwealth of PA)

About the Community

The PACC’s board of directors identified hunger and poverty as top priorities across Pennsylvania, making this Urban Garden project a crucial pilot for statewide expansion. The organization leverages its conservation advocacy experience and interfaith network to create lasting change.

The Council launched this groundbreaking interfaith initiative in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s capital city of 50,000 residents. Strategically positioned near Lower Paxton Township’s low-income housing projects, this project creates an unprecedented faith-based partnership model for the entire Commonwealth.

This community-driven initiative brings together local churches, synagogues, temples, and nonprofit organizations to tackle hunger and poverty through sustainable food cultivation. The project transforms vacant land into productive gardens where residents learn to grow, prepare, and distribute fresh produce—directly addressing food insecurity while building economic opportunity.

The initiative delivers comprehensive training in food cultivation, preparation, and business development, empowering participants to break cycles of poverty through practical skills and entrepreneurship. By combining technical expertise with academic partnerships, the project creates pathways to personal growth and economic autonomy.

This project represents more than community gardening—it’s a replicable model that addresses health disparities, economic challenges, and food justice simultaneously. Through hands-on training and business development opportunities, participants gain tools to transform their communities while creating sustainable solutions to poverty.

The initiative positions PACC as a policy leader, demonstrating how faith-based organizations can drive meaningful social change through collaborative, evidence-based approaches to hunger and poverty elimination.

About the Project

The PACC Community Garden Project aims to establish a pilot program for growing vegetables and fruits that can be replicated throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The project will serve as a model for people to learn and take responsibility for their health choices through the cultivation, harvesting, and preparation of healthy foods. This will result in a healthier community, increased life spans, and greater economic stability. 

The project team will host community gatherings on food cultivation and preparation in collaboration with local partners. Engaging with local faith-based communities, including Christians, Muslims, Jews, Baha’is, and others, the project will serve as a model for community building. The project will also create a space for people to come together and discuss the critical issues facing their communities by enabling them to learn about one another through food conversations, which is essential for all community members. 

The project will:

1. Create a community space for growing vegetables and fruits
2. Provide an environment where people of all faiths can gather, engage in conversation, share experiences, and foster a sense of community.
3. Enable families to learn how to grow, prepare, and serve healthy food
4. Offer an opportunity for people to share their produce with unsheltered individuals who rely on food banks. 

Ultimately, the project’s goal is to empower the community through the cultivation, harvesting, and preparation of healthy food. This will enable the people to learn and experience the importance of organic food choices by engaging educators and healthcare practitioners. This will, in turn, lead to socioeconomic improvement for the community. Additionally, community building is a crucial component of this project. In an urban setting like Harrisburg, green space is a healthy and affirming opportunity for a healthy lifestyle.  The PACC allocated the space for the project with the intention of serving as a catalyst for uniting people around a common cause.  There are also ways in which partner faith communities will promote ministry by addressing the needs of the poor, underserved, and unsheltered members of society. This may be achieved by providing options for healthy food, enabling people to advance by creating opportunities for family and economic stability, and promoting educational opportunities.

The garden project will bring communities together to learn sustainable gardening and organic food production through outreach, education, and collaboration with local academic institutions, community organizations, businesses, and civic associations. Through piloting and training, the community will be empowered to emulate horticulture and sustainable farming for healthy living. 

Timeline and Milestones

• Planning: January – April 2025 
  • Develop community and expert partnerships to plan and implement the project. 
  • Meet with the Lower Paxton Community Garden Project for guidance and input on developing the project. 
  • Establish relationships with Cultivating Roots, an organization that helps with the design and construction of the garden. 
  • Reach out to the community to promote the project. 
  • Host an orientation meeting to introduce the project to the community. 

• Design: April – May 2025   

• • Design the layout and plots for the community garden 
  • Raise / secure funding for the construction phase
  • Analyze soil conditions with the assistance of the Dauphin County Conservation organization, which will lead the soil sampling effort. 
  • Engage constituent congregations and local businesses. 
  • Preparation for construction and planting. 
  • Plan an additional community meeting to check in with participants.  
  • Onboard experts/scientists for the project 

• Production:  May – July 2025  

• • Planting and garden maintenance.  
  • Develop a specialized Salsa garden area that will include tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and peppers, allowing people to make salsa for a Community Garden Salsa Party.
  • Consult experts and scientists on the production phase. 

• August – November 2025 

• • Prepare for Harvest and plan for Winter months. 
  • Perform a project evaluation.  

Community Leaders 

The Rev. Dr. Larry D. Pickens, Esq., serves as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. He has served as a church executive and congregational pastor. His ecumenical experience includes representation of The United Methodist Church on the Executive, Personnel, and Central Committees of The World Council of Churches, and leadership in the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. He is presently a participant in and contributor to the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, which addresses issues of reparatory justice.  Larry is a graduate of North Park University, where he majored in Political Science. He completed theological studies at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Chicago, and the Ecumenical Institute Graduate School at Bossey, Switzerland. He also has a law degree from DePaul University College of Law.

Katherine Marshall Scott. As a Master Gardener who grows herbs, flowers, veggies, and young hearts, Katherine Marshall Scott has a mission to teach gardening.  

She founded a garden consulting business, “Got Veggies Too,” that helps individuals, families, and communities discover the joy of gardening, whether it’s native plants, pollinator habitats, or edible container gardens. Rooted in a faith-based vision to transform the community one child at a time, Katherine has created and taught gardening where youth can gain hands-on skills, confidence, and a connection to the creation. She offers workshops and consultations blending practical tips with spiritual insight, inspiring gardeners of all ages to grow with purpose. In her own garden, people find cheerful blooms, fragrant herbs, and fresh vegetables all tended with love and care for God’s creation.

Community Science Fellow 

Abraham Adhanom is an Associate Professor of Management at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California. He is also a faculty member at the UCLA International Institute. He teaches and develops graduate and undergraduate courses, including Project Management, Operations Management, Business Process Management, Organizational Performance Improvement, International Project Management, and related courses. Abraham also teaches courses in African Languages and Linguistics. He is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Business Process Management Professional (BPMP), and Certified Master Coach (CMC). He also leads corporate, public, and non-profit consulting initiatives in

his area of expertise. Abraham holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Management Information Systems, a Master’s in International Business/Intercultural Studies, and a PhD in Management/Information Systems Management. 

Experts / Scientists Needed:

Urban Agricultural Scientist/Sustainable Gardening Expert 

We are seeking a qualified urban agricultural scientist or sustainable gardening expert to guide and advise our community-focused initiative dedicated to developing and implementing sustainable gardening and food preservation methods specifically tailored to our local community’s unique environmental conditions, cultural preferences, and socioeconomic needs. This provides an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on food security while fostering environmental stewardship and community resilience. The scientist/expert will serve as a technical advisor and educator, providing training and guidance on urban gardening strategies and evaluating the project’s effectiveness and long-term impact on food security outcomes. 

Expected Skills and Qualifications: 

• Knowledge in sustainable agriculture and organic gardening practices, including soil health management, crop rotation systems, planting strategies, and farming techniques
• Proficiency in food preservation techniques such as fermentation, dehydration, canning, root cellaring, and other methods suitable for extending harvest seasons and reducing food waste
• Understanding of permaculture principles and ability to design resilient food systems that work in harmony with local ecosystems
• Knowledge of climate-appropriate crop selection and adaptation strategies for changing environmental conditions

Technical Expertise:

• Urban agriculture expert
• Landscaping expertise for garden site construction
• Plant science expert for cultivation training
• Irrigation systems specialist
• Soil scientist for analysis, fertilization, and waste management training
• Educational and training for gardening, healthy eating, and conservation topics

Thriving Earth Exchange asks all scientific partners to work with the community to help define a project with concrete local impact to which they can contribute as pro-bono volunteers and collaborators. This work can also position the scientists and communities to seek additional funding, together, for the next stage.

Interested in volunteering as a scientist? Apply now!

City  of Harrisburg:

The City of Harrisburg is the Capital of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, located along the Susquehanna River in south-central Pennsylvania. It has a population of approximately 50,000 residents and serves as the state’s political center, housing the Pennsylvania State Capitol building. The city features historic architecture, government institutions, and cultural attractions while serving as a regional economic hub.

Penn State Extension: 

Penn State Extension is a modern educational organization dedicated to delivering broad-based education to individuals, businesses, and communities within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Lower Paxton Township:

Lower Paxton Township is Dauphin County’s most populous municipality of about 54,000 residents. Located near Harrisburg, it offers sparse suburban living with parks and outstanding schools.

Harrisburg Urban Growers:  

Harrisburg Urban Growers is a network of growers and community stakeholders working to inspire, educate, and equip people to grow their own food through urban agriculture, operating community gardens that provide local families access to tools, space, and mentorship to cultivate, prepare, and serve organic foods.