Farmer Incubation Program
Farmer Incubation Program, The Vision
The Farmer Incubation Program (FIP) at Hilltop Urban Farm is a 3 year workforce development program for new small-scale organic urban farm enterprises. For an annual Program Participation Fee, participants are provided access to rehabilitated urban farming acres, storage, solar electric, hoop houses, mobile coolers and a shared tool library. Through their experience, participants will learn farm business management skills and food growing techniques. Program participants will gain exposure to the local and regional food systems by participating in educational programs and networking events. The FIP graduates will develop a business plan, customer base, and have a 3 year-old business to assist with acquiring capital for business expansion. The FIP graduates will be prequalified to rent preserved farmland with nonprofit partners and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of the City of Pittsburgh vacant urban land through the Farm-A-Lot program. Once under full production, FIP farmers at Hilltop Urban Farm will quadruple the amount of produce grown within the City of Pittsburgh.
2019 Pilot program
In 2019, the Farmer Incubation Program began piloting a three-year opportunity for experienced urban farmers to utilize the rehabilitated urban farming acres at Hilltop Urban Farm. In the 2019 Pilot year, participants had access to site amenities in exchange for a subsidized Program Participation Fee. Throughout 2019, additional infrastructure investments were made at Hilltop Urban Farm to complete the vision of the Farmer Incubation Program.
2024 Growing Season Incubator Application
Click HERE to access the 2024 incubator application.
Get to Know the Farmers
AmBoy Urban Collective
Born and raised in the Philippines, I immigrated to the U.S. when I was nineteen after becoming a permanent resident when I was still young. I have lived across the country ever since after being naturalized, until I settled in Pittsburgh over 10 years ago. Farming is not my first choice and this decision came long after I have invested my career as a professional chef. Living in the US has taught me the importance of food and how it shapes us culturally, after all, “You are what you eat!” After several attempts to introduce Filipino cuisine in Pittsburgh, I have decided to take on a different approach and build my dream from the ground and up. Someday, through urban farming, I hope to open a small eatery focused on contemporary Filipino American cuisine cooking with what I mostly grow.
DECO Resources, Anthony Stewart (compost production and mixed vegetables)
DECO Resources, an Allentown-based environmental firm, will operate a 3000 square foot compost production business at Hilltop Urban Farm in partnerships with Worm Return.
DECO Resources is cultivating an additional 3,000 space of agriculture land for food production.
DECO unifies Design-Engineering-Construction-Operations with sustainability and green tech to improve environmental health for our community. The DECO team uses scientific data to solve challenges for businesses, property managers, and in agriculture. Since 2013, the DECO team has installed green infrastructure at more than 60 sites across the Pittsburgh region, capturing 100,000 gallons of stormwater each year.
Contact DECO via astewart@deco-resources or 412-481-0481.
Bee Boy Honey, Randall Hall (honey production)
“Honeybees live collectively in colonies inside beehives. I place beehives around the city in our neighborhoods. I tend the bees to keep them healthy. Bees make honey from plant nectar, and sometimes they produce surplus honey. I harvest the surplus honey, and then I sell it to you.”
Contact Randall at honey@beeboypgh.com.
Find summer honey (July) and fall honey (September) from Bee Boy Honey at the following local Pittsburgh businesses:
Spring Hill Brewing, 1958 Varley Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Espresso a Mano, 3623 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
4121 Main, 4121 Main Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15224