Background
I was a biologist working for the State of Louisiana, and a few years out of college I was feeling like there might be a more proactive, impactful way to help protect ecosystems and promote biodiversity. These are the values that had driven me into a biologist’s career. I began to realize that modern agriculture, one of the most destructive systems to the natural world, could instead be done in ways that healed nature. That seemed like a cause worth dedicating myself to.
I began looking for small plots of farmland to lease here in Pittsburgh because of family ties. Remembering the grassy hilltops of Reserve township from old memories, I searched satellite imagery for a suitable plot. That’s when I discovered the Pavkovic farm. I learned that the farm was no longer in operation and decided to contact the owner to see if I might lease some land. After several unsuccessful attempts at contact, we finally got through and were informed that the whole farm, 86 acres, was under contract for sale to a housing developer. Only Mr. Pavkovic’s home was to remain- the rest of the farmland and surrounding forest would be converted to real estate after four generations of Pavkovic farmers, not to mention those who preceded them.
I was amazed to learn that this completely unique farm was up for sale, and devastated to learn that it would soon become another example of America “outsourcing” its agriculture to the remote rural reaches of the country. It felt like the farm symbolized one of the last vestiges of resistance to the tide of urban sprawl that would render all our cities as islands in a biological desert. Upon suggestion from my brother, I sent an email to Allegheny Land Trust. That same day, I received a call back from Roy Kraynyk, and I learned that I was not alone in feeling the way I did about this land.
From that point on, the project took on a life of its own, with Roy and ALT fanning the flames as I tried to imagine starting a new life in Pittsburgh as a landowner. In the summer of 2022, I purchased a 15 acre homestead from the Pavkovic family, and ALT purchased the adjoining 40+ acres of cleared farm fields and forested hillside. This purchase satisfied the Pavkovic’s desire to sell the entirety of the farm at once rather than breaking it up piecemeal and dealing with continuing real estate drama. It satisfied my desire to live on the land and see it protected without having to somehow purchase and manage 86 acres. And it satisfied ALT’s goal of preserving undeveloped land in Allegheny county including historic farmland, while avoiding having to take on the burden of maintaining structures like the houses and barns.
I feel like I should write a whole book about this process, because it was so emotional for me and involved so many people without whom it would not have succeeded. But perhaps the story is still being written and I’ll just have to wait til my less mobile days to sit down and tell the whole tale.
Vegetable Farm
Old Reserve Farm is now officially operating as a vegetable farm selling fresh produce on Sunday mornings from 9-1 right here at the farm. Our first farmstand was in early June and we plan on continuing through the summer and into October. We are considering expanding to offer a weekly CSA box next year as well as attending farmers markets in town. However, the goal is for the majority of sales to take place here on the farm, and as such an improved farmstand space will be required. Our mission involves not only providing fresh produce grown by organic practices to the local community, but also to introduce the urban and suburban communities to various forms of agriculture. As such, bringing people to the farm will be central to the business model. I am currently doing most of the work myself while also working full time off the farm. I desire to move to working on the farm full time and I have trouble imagining growing the farm successfully while having so much of my time committed to outside work.
Orchard
The orchard was planted in March 2024 during the first of what I hope will be many farmwork jamborees. In this case, my family and my small group of Pittsburgh friends and acquaintances turned out in force, along with one old friend who flew in from Oregon just to lend a hand (the other one was gripping a cerveza basically the whole time). 8 of the 11 orchard rows are dedicated to apples, the varieties being less common ones that were bred for resistance to common fungal and bacterial pathogens. The other three rows include pears, peaches, plums, and apricots. I designed the orchard with the intent of managing the trees not only by organic practices, but also to completely avoid using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Such orchards are effectively non existent in the eastern (humid) part of the country. I may be fighting a losing battle with this effort, but I am relying on the hope that my customers might be willing to overlook the physical imperfections of the fruits because they value the benefits to nature and human health that can result from this type of management.
Community Livestock Grazing
One way that Old Reserve Farm is unique is its size. Unlike community gardens and most urban farms, there is the real possibility of raising grazing animals here. Intensively managed rotational grazing of livestock can mimic the natural movement of grazing herds through wild ecosystems, and can lead to positive effects on soil health, biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and farm efficiency. This is in stark contrast to the concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) from which nearly all of the meat on the market originates. CAFO’s are often inhumane and even cruel, create water pollution and bad odors, and produce meat that is nutritionally poor compared to pasture raised animals. These facts are so poorly understood, and the alternatives are so scarcely considered, that most people just ignore the problem and continue supporting the system with their grocery dollars. Managing livestock is complicated and I have only brief experience with managing dairy goats and cows. But it isn’t rocket science and it can be learned with experience. I think there is a strong desire in the community to work with livestock in ways that are impossible for most urban dwellers. I envision a community owned and managed livestock herd here at Old Reserve Farm. This may be a natural extension of the Gardens of Millvale, or it may be its own program. I have space on my property for a small herd, but expansion into ALT property would greatly increase the carrying capacity while also serving as a self-sustaining landscape management tool.
Chestnuts/ Agroforestry Co-op
Continuing in the vein of community operated agriculture, I envision an agroforestry program (growing agricultural products in a forest setting rather than a cleared field), in which chestnut trees are the keystone species. Similar to the grazing idea, an agroforestry project represents a management technique for this forest. Recently logged, and containing five clearings totaling 2 acres in area, the forested portions of the ALT land are under the most imminent threat of takeover by nonnative invasive plants. Chestnut trees represent a third tier of the agricultural system that is so unknown to most Americans. Carbohydrate consumption represents approximately 50% of the average American’s diet. The source of much of these carbs is the American Midwest, the breadbasket, where ancient prairies have been converted into an ever-thinning layer of topsoil, tilled up every year so that the soil ecosystem no longer exists.
These fields are vast monocultures managed from a technological, not a biological perspective. If more of our carbohydrates could come from sources that require less physically, mechanically intensive management, and if these systems left space for other plants, animals, fungi, and microbes to co-exist, we could begin to return some of our agricultural “breadbasket” land to something resembling an ecosystem. Enter the chestnut, a tree nut that is uniquely high in carbohydrate composition, can be processed into flour, and is consumed significantly throughout the world wherever it can be grown, with the glaring exception of the USA. A community-operated chestnut agroforest would introduce the community to these important concepts. But more simply, it would provide a good excuse to hang out in the shade of the trees. It would be the nucleus from which management of the ALT forest could expand. In addition to watering, fertilizing, and eventually harvesting, removal of invasive nonnative plants and other weeds would be required. This aligns well with the objectives of ALT. It also alleviates the burden of dedicating significant resources to stewarding this property. Finally it engages the community and provides an opportunity for interested community members to enjoy the land which was ultimately paid for with their tax dollars.
Walking Trails
The walking trails extend around most of the cleared land’s perimeter, as well as down into the forested hillsides. I plan on encouraging visitors to use the walking paths during the hours in which the farmstand is open. Since the only access to the ALT land runs through my property, those trails are typically closed to the public. Adequate signage will be necessary to ensure that nobody gets lost or wanders onto private property. Also, I envision installing educational signage describing the various parts of the farm, both current and historical, as well as the natural landscape and its residents. Along the lines of improving farm access, upgrades to the entrance roadway are overdue, and depending on the season, extremely necessary. 6 different households use at least part of the road, but the farm will be responsible for increases in vehicle traffic.
Education
I hope it is apparent that a consistent theme of all of these projects is educating and exposing the public to the ways that farming and nature interact. While these lessons will be learned intrinsically by visitors, I also envision focused educational programs for children and adults. While the whole farm will be the classroom, a central space will be necessary to meet basic needs. I plan to get the ball rolling by building a pavilion that will provide protection from mild weather events, allow for storage of educational materials, and include bathroom and sink facilities.
880 Geyer Rd Ext Pittsburgh, PA 15209