"Certain skyscrapers, now without tenants, were given over unreservedly to horticulture. Then in deadly earnest did the jungle set out to conquer the city of ravines and gulches. Little by little its tides ran up the river valleys and across the abandoned mills, softening angular roofs and turning cupolas into amazing sights. The bridges across the five rivers became fairer than the bridges of vision. The air grew cleaner. No smoke was permitted; only electric locomotives penetrated the city. The roads and highways were banked with shrubs and blossoms. If the wind blew in the right direction, the citizens of Youngstown, Morgantown, or Cleveland could smell the fragrance of Pittsburgh from afar. It seemed to them strange and fabulous as it overpowered the sulfur dioxide to which they were accustomed, and they would say to one another, “Oh to be in Pittsburgh, in beautiful Pittsburgh!" - Haniel Long, "How Pittsburgh Returned to the Jungle"
Braddock, Pennsylvania is very similar to many other working towns in the United States. It had glory days and hard times. Braddock’s first industrial plant opened in 1850. Since then, the town was built on manufacturing and production. Andrew Carnegie built the Edgar Thomson Steel Works in 1873. If you’ve ever read or heard of the novel Out of This Furnace by Thomas Bell, this is where it takes place. Many immigrants from a variety of countries, particularly Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Hungary, moved into the neighborhood to work in the mill. Later, the African American population increased. In the 1970s and 1980s, the steel industry collapsed all across the country. This is also around the time that crack cocaine usage was increasing, and the town was deemed a “financially distressed municipality” in 1988 (“About Braddock History”).
In 2005, John Fetterman became mayor and took Braddock as a personal issue. Since his initial election, he has served many terms and received national recognition for his efforts to revitalize the town. Thanks to Fetterman and countless others, many programs and initiatives have been in the works to improve Braddock. In an interview with Anthony Bourdain, he said, “You need to go outside your community’s borders to bring help in, and that’s what I’ve tried to do” (“Pittsburgh”). One example is the Carnegie Library, which was originally built by Andrew Carnegie to provide services like a bathhouse and entertainment spaces for his steel mill workers. Today, rooms like the boxing ring and bathhouse have been converted to a print shop and ceramic studio respectively. The goal is to bring artists and other industries to Braddock as well as improve community and living conditions for the current residents.
Another program that has been improving the town is a community garden non-profit called Grow Pittsburgh. While Grow Pittsburgh is a citywide initiative, the largest farms are in Braddock and Point Breeze. In 2007, Fetterman reached out to Grow Pittsburgh to start a community farm in a plot of land that, coincidentally, has the town’s last remaining steel mill in the background. Since then Braddock Farms has doubled in size to over an acre.
Why is this important? The issue with the steel industry supporting the town is that the town was basically built around the mill. Generations and generations of families lived in the area and worked in the mills. That was what the town had. When the steel industry collapsed, the town did not have alternative means to support the people who were still living there. In 2016, the population of Braddock borough was estimated to be around 2,100. The average household income was around $23,600. The federal poverty level in 2017 is $24,600 for a household of four. That’s $1,000 more than the average Braddock household. It is estimated that 37.2% of individuals in the borough live below poverty level. For comparison, the total for the state of Pennsylvania is only 12.9% living in poverty and an average household income of close to $53,600 (“Braddock borough, Pennsylvania”).
So how will vegetables fix this? The short answer is that they won’t because there is no quick “fix” to economic disaster. But growing food is an important way to start. First off, it fights food insecurity. Poverty and food deserts go hand in hand. When fresh food doesn’t have to be shipped in, it can be available even when the community is facing economic insecurity. Second, when we don’t have to ship food thousands of miles, we help the environment. Gardens and farms are extremely important in urban areas for a number of reasons, including managing rainwater, reducing heat (because blacktop reflects light and increases heat), increasing pollination, and improve air quality. What’s better for the planet is actually better for the urban population, too.
In terms of economics, local food can be produced more cheaply and save families money. And their food budget can be spent on nutritious food when the price of vegetables can compete with the typically cheaper alternatives (“Why Grow Food?”). It is also a source of fresh produce for local restaurants. Chef Kevin Sousa is opening his newest restaurant, Superior Motors, in Braddock after meeting Fetterman. Anthony Bourdain has the opportunity to meet the young chef and hear about what mission Sousa has past simply making a profit. “His restaurant hopes to provide tuition-free training, and they’re partnering with a local urban farm that employs high school students to grow produce in the shadows of the old steel mill” (“Pittsburgh”). That farm is Braddock’s Grow Pittsburgh.
Finally, one reason why the neighborhood garden is so important particularly for places like Braddock is that it fosters a sense of community. As cliché as it sounds, having a place to come together really does make a difference. People of different backgrounds and stories can all come together to contribute to an important cause. Often urban neighborhoods don’t have many parks or safe communal places.
Spaces are important for a number of reasons. Symbolically, having the community garden in front of the last mill represents how the town is moving forward. They are literally and figuratively growing beyond their steel past. Physically, it’s open, green space. It is a place to get your hands in the dirt and grow food. But the “thirdspace” or the way this garden is lived space is the way people really use the garden (Soja). There is a certain level of pride that comes from working the land and harvesting the fruits of your labor. This is so important for a community that has been beaten by economic distress. It’s a place for locals, professionals, volunteers, and anyone with a green thumb to come together for a cause. The Braddock Farm is more than just a plot of land to grow food. It’s a source of pride, hope, community, and security. When people feel like they have control over one aspect of difficult and complicated lives, they can continue progress, gaining the confidence to move forward in other ways. What may seem like just a farm in an urban setting is the work of many people coming together to better a community. When you hear the history of Braddock, do not pity them. Do not think of their boarded windows or closed storefronts. Think of the people who are going out, creating initiatives, bringing neighbors together, and making a real difference. As Tina Doose, President of Braddock Borough Council, said, “Our community is growing and developing in ways that will astound you. I invite you to drive down our main street, Braddock Avenue and take in the view” (“Welcome to the Borough of Braddock”).
Works Cited
“About Braddock History.” Borough of Braddock Pennsylvania , Braddock Borough, 2016.
“Braddock borough, Pennsylvania.” American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau, July 2016.
“Pittsburgh.” Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, season 10, episode 4, CNN, 22 Oct. 2017, Soja, Edward. Thirdspace: Journeys to Lost Angeles and Ither Real-and-Imagined Places. Cambridge MA: Blackwell Publishing Inc., 1996. 53-70.
“Welcome to the Borough of Braddock.” Borough of Braddock Pennsylvania , Braddock Borough, 2016.
“Why Grow Food?” Grow Pittsburgh.