2024 Swissvale Edible Garden Tour
9:00AM-1:00PM: Open Gardens (private gardens all over Swissvale) - Check out how Swissvalians grow food (and more) and meet the gardeners. Pick up at printed guide at the farmers market or view the map online.
1:30PM-3:30PM: Community Picnic at the Swissvale Farmers Market (Dickson Preparatory Steam Academy, 7301 Schoyer Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15218) - Food, activities for all ages, and entertainment! This is our summer garden party.
Basic Smart Gardening for Everyone with Denise Schreiber
Join Denise Schreiber and the organizers of the annual Swissvale Edible Garden Tour for an informative talk all about gardening, for new and experienced growers! This is a great way to ensure a strong start to the growing season and meet other gardeners in your area.
Denise Schreiber grew up in a gardening family in Swissvale. She was the greenhouse grower and horticulturist for Allegheny County Parks until she retired. She has written for Pennsylvania Gardener (now defunct) as their Ask the Expert, currently writes for several trade magazines, writes web content, and is the co-chair of education and director at large for GardenComm. She has a horticulture degree from CCAC and a B.A. from Carlow University. Denise is also an All America Selections Trial judge and Mrs. Know It All on KDKA radio's The Organic Gardener.
Make Your Own Slippers! - Wet Felting Workshop
Join us to learn about the art of wet felting and make your own slippers! Swissvalian Heather Mikes will be facilitating this fun, casual beginner workshop. Adults and children ages 10+ are welcome if accompanied by an adult.
This program is a fundraiser for the annual Swissvale Edible Garden Tour and the suggested donation is at least $25, which includes instruction and materials. Please register below and donate via our website, Venmo or Paypal (@swissvalegardens).
Materials to bring along if you have them (if not, we will have extra to share):
Empty spray bottle
Plastic shoes or bubble wrap
Scissors
Towels
We’ll be in the lower level of the library - the entrance is facing McClure Ave. There is free street parking along Monongahela Ave and McClure Ave.
House History Workshops
Most of our homes in Swissvale are at least 75 years old, and along with the character of an older home comes a lot of history. Hollen has been collecting a variety of resources most relevant to Swissvale homes and is partnering with the library to share.
2024 Swissvale Edible Garden Tour
9:00AM-1:00PM: Open Gardens (private gardens all over Swissvale) - Check out how Swissvalians grow food (and more) and meet the gardeners. Pick up at printed guide at the farmers market or view the map online.
1:30PM-3:30PM: Community Picnic at the Swissvale Farmers Market (Dickson Preparatory Steam Academy, 7301 Schoyer Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15218) - Food, activities for all ages, and entertainment! This is our summer garden party.
Serviceberry Meet-up
On Friday, June 9, from 5:30PM-7PM we'll gather by the serviceberry trees along the busway path, above the S Braddock overpass where the steps and ramp come up, to hang out, gather serviceberries, and make serviceberry and mulberry syrup! We'll bring a camp stove and stuff to make some berry syrup on the spot.
BYO (bring your own) cup so you can have a drink - we'll mix the syrup with sparkling water and ice (plus lime or lemon and mint, we'll see what we have). You can also bring a bag or container to collect berries to take home if you want.
Feel free to pick serviceberries and mulberries on the way over, too! Some of us have our favorite spots around Swissvale to check out every June.
Plant Sale at the Dari Delite!
Come get your tomatoes, peppers, herbs, flowers, and more! And an ice cream and/or hot dog. :)
Tomatoes!
Brandywine
Cosmonaut Volkov
San Marzano
Mortgage Lifter
Moskvich
Artisan Bumblee
Ukranian Purple
Sweet Million (cherry)
Red cherry
Peppers!
Shishito (mild)
Habanero (hot)
Craig's Grande Jalapeno (hot)
California Wonder (sweet)
Iko Iko (sweet)
Jupiter (sweet)
Flowers!
Strawflower
Chamomile
Celosia - Chinese Wool
Snapdragon
Lavender Cloud Nicotiana
Borage
Calendula
Herbs!
Sage
Cilantro
Thyme
Fennel
Parsley
Dill
Basil (Genovese, Lemon, Lettuce Leaf, Tulsi/Holy, Purple, Blue Spice, Elidia, Thai)
More:
Tomatillo - Everona
Artichoke
Eggplant
Raspberry
Rhubarb
Plant Sale at the Yard Sale
Visit us during the Regent Square Yard Sale! We’ll be on the corner of S Braddock and Sanders St (across from D’s) with plants for sale and a giant nose to pick (to learn about air quality).
Plant Sale at the Still Mill
Join us at Still Mill Distillery on Noble Street for a plant sale with a side of locally-made spirits and cocktails!
Plant Sale at the Library
Join us at the Carnegie Free Library of Swissvale for the first plant sale of the year!
Seeds Over Swissvale
Free seeds and seed swap via our little free libraries around Swissvale!
2022 Swissvale Edible Garden Tour
Save the Date!
The 4th annual Swissvale Edible Garden Tour will be on Saturday, July 23! Join us for Open Gardens (10AM-2PM), followed by a community picnic at the Swissvale Community Garden (2PM-4PM). Details will be added to the event website as they are finalized, including a garden host and volunteer sign up form and donation/sponsorship opportunities.
Intro to Veggie Seed Starting
Learn to start vegetable plants for the spring & summer garden with success! Free to attend and materials included for Swissvale residents!
During this FREE Zoom workshop for adults and children ages 12 and up, participants will discover the secrets to indoor vegetable seed starting success to get a jump start on this year's garden. Swissvale residents have the option to receive everything they need to get started in advance of the workshop, including seeds, pots, and seed starting mix (dirt). You don't have to have a green thumb to join us - this class is for everyone - from total beginners to gardening, to seasoned gardeners who've never started seeds, to those who have started seeds but want a few extra tips and tricks. Join us to discover the joy of watching a tiny seed turn from a simple sprout to pounds upon pounds of fresh, healthy food! Registration is very limited - please register soon - and by February 20 at the latest. Delivery of supplies to Swissvale residents will be made on February 21. Those wishing to donate to support the Swissvale Eduible Garden Tour and the Swissvale Community Garden's projects for this year, including additional classes, raised beds, and more can do so via the registration form. No donation is expected or required! Register here: https://bit.ly/SwissvaleSeedStarting
Seeds Over Swissvale
Join us for the second annual Seeds Over Swissvale: a dispersed seed swap via the many Little Free Libraries of Swissvale from February 26 - May 15, 2022! In 2021 we started swapping seeds remotely as some seed suppliers were restricting sales due to increased demand, and in-person seed swap events were cancelled or in limbo. While that’s still the case, we think Seeds Over Swissvale is here to stay — it’s a great way to get started for the season, and it’s fun to go in a hunt for unique seed varieties all over town. Here’s how it works:
--Check the map for locations: https://bit.ly/SeedsOverSwissvale Inside each Little Free Library you’ll find small plastic containers of seed packets.
--Take anything you want - no need to have seeds to trade! However, please don’t take the whole plastic container!
--Please take only what you think you’ll need - each packet should contain around 10-20 seeds, so take 1 packet for every 3-6 plants of that type that you hope to start. Please take whole packets only. If there are more than you’ll use, bring back the seed packet re-labeled later, share with a neighbor, or save them for next year (in a refrigerator works best).
--If you have seeds to share: please put them in SMALL envelopes/bags and put them into the plastic containers - no large/regular sized seed packets, please (we have limited space in the containers). Feel free to snag some empty ones from the box, or create little ones from paper and tape!
--Label your little envelopes with the name of the fruit/veggie/herb/flower variety and approximate #s of seeds within, plus any other helpful info.
--Feel free to swap garden books and magazines, too!
--Share on the facebook event or on instagram where you’ve added seeds, something you were excited to find, or any questions you have for fellow gardeners and seed swappers. Use the hashtag #SeedsOverSwissvale and #SwissvaleGardens
Want to get involved by helping to keep Little Free Libraries stocked with seeds? Fill out this form to Adopt a Box: https://bit.ly/SOSAdoptaBox2022
Intro to Veggie Seed Starting
Learn to start vegetable plants for the spring & summer garden with success! Free to attend and materials included for Swissvale residents!
During this FREE Zoom workshop for adults and children ages 12 and up, participants will discover the secrets to indoor vegetable seed starting success to get a jump start on this year's garden. Swissvale residents have the option to receive everything they need to get started in advance of the workshop, including seeds, pots, and seed starting mix (dirt). You don't have to have a green thumb to join us - this class is for everyone - from total beginners to gardening, to seasoned gardeners who've never started seeds, to those who have started seeds but want a few extra tips and tricks. Join us to discover the joy of watching a tiny seed turn from a simple sprout to pounds upon pounds of fresh, healthy food! Registration is very limited - please register soon - and by February 20 at the latest. Delivery of supplies to Swissvale residents will be made on February 21. Those wishing to donate to support the Swissvale Eduible Garden Tour and the Swissvale Community Garden's projects for this year, including additional classes, raised beds, and more can do so via the registration form. No donation is expected or required! Register here: https://bit.ly/SwissvaleSeedStarting
2021 Swissvale Edible Garden Tour
2021 Swissvale Edible Garden Tour Digital Event Guide (Pickup printed guides at the Swissvale Farmers Market and Carnegie Free Library of Swissvale)
Buy 2021 Swissvale Edible Garden Tour Merch (through August 14)
2021 SEGT Artwork is a collaboration between Lauren Braun and Sam Laffey.
Pop-Up Plant Sale
Join us at the Carnegie Free Library of Swissvale (Monongahela and McClure) for a pop-up plant sale! We’ll have a variety of vegetable and flower seedlings for $3/pot — everything from cabbage to chamomile and stevia to strawflower. From 1-3 there will also be Mother’s Day Floral Card Paper Making with the Paper Lady/Make It to Grow Residency
Spring Plant Sale Benefitting Swissvale Community Garden
It's the most wonderful time of the year for gardens - it's time to get planting! Many veggie and flower varieties will be available for pick up and limited delivery via online sales starting May 2, and new varieties will be added during the month of May. Most plants are $3/pot. 100% of proceeds benefit projects of the Swissvale Community Garden, and all plants have been lovingly started from seed by Swissvale resident volunteers. Inventory will be updated here beginning May 2: https://swissvaleaction.square.site/ Watch this space for future announcements, like pop up in-person sales!
Seeds Over Swissvale
Join us for a dispersed seed swap via the many Little Free Libraries of Swissvale through May 15! As more people get into gardening, some seed suppliers are restricting sales due to increased demand, and in-person seed swaps are not feasible during COVID, we’re meeting that challenge with Seeds Over Swissvale! Here’s how it works:
Find small plastic containers of seed packets in the Little Free Libraries around Swissvale. Check the map at https://bit.ly/SeedsOverSwissvaleMap for all 14 locations!
Take anything you want - no need to have seeds to trade!Please take only what you think you’ll need - each packet should contain around 10-20 seeds, so take 1 packet for every 3-6 plants of that type that you hope to start. Please take whole packets only. If there are more than you’ll use, bring back the seed packet re-labeled later, share with a neighbor, or save them for next year (in a refrigerator works best).
If you have seeds to share: please put them in SMALL envelopes/bags and put them into the plastic containers - no large/regular sized seed packets, please (we have limited space in the containers). Feel free to snag some empty ones from the box, or create little ones from paper and tape!
Label your little envelopes with the name of the fruit/veggie/herb/flower variety and approximate #s of seeds within, plus any other helpful info.
Feel free to swap garden books and magazines, too!
Share in the discussion on Facebook and Instagram when and where you’ve added seeds, something you were excited to find, or any questions you have for fellow gardeners and seed swappers.
2nd Swissvale Edible Garden (Un)Tour
FREE
The 2nd Swissvale Edible Garden (Un)Tour will take place Saturday, August 8 - Sunday, August 18. 18 garden stops, including those at private homes, the Swissvale Community Garden (7301 Denniston Ave, Swissvale PA 15218), and Pittsburgh Mennonite Church (2018 S Braddock Ave, Swissvale PA 15218) will be open to visitors from 8am - 8pm each day. The twist this year is that most gardens will only be viewed from public sidewalks or alleyways.
Offering a peek into some of the area's most unique private gardens, the tour is an opportunity for Swissvalians and regional garden enthusiasts to get inspired, and learn something new.
The tour includes sites throughout the borough including the work of newer, veteran, and more experimental gardeners. Visitors can expect to see a diverse array of edible garden features such as urban chickens, fruit trees, and pollinators. Attendees to the tour are welcome to start the tour at any stop and visit as many gardens as they like. Tour-goers are encouraged to practice physical distancing at and between all tour stops and to wear masks in accordance with the current PA guidelines.
Through this FREE, community-wide event, SCAC hopes to showcase Swissvale as a great place to garden, visit, and live. We are also seeking to promote the real and tangible benefits of gardening; gardening beautifies and connects community, promotes physical and mental wellbeing, and has far-reaching ecological benefits. We hope to build confidence in newer gardeners and inspire young people to get their hands dirty and get growing.
The 2nd Swissvale Edible Garden (Un)Tour is sponsored in part by locally owned businesses Kopp Glass, Civic Mapper, The Paper Lady, Porter Loves, Tirzah DeCaria, Realtor with ReMax Select and local artist Jenna Colby.
MAP
Map Access Notes
Red pins above indicate gardens where you need navigate to an alley separate from the property address to view the garden.
1435 LaClair: Bamboo Box + More!
You are welcome to view from the sidewalk on LaClair.
1651 Hays: Herbs + Pollinators
You are welcome to view from the sidewalk on Hays and adjacent private sidewalk.
7463 Schoyer: Tomatoes + Cut Flowers
You are welcome to view from the sidewalk on Schoyer.
7460 Schoyer: The Art Garden
You are welcome to view from the sidewalk on Schoyer.
2014 Lacrosse: Just Eat It Garden
You are welcome to view from the sidewalk on Graff.
7634 Westmoreland: **IN ALLEY** The Movable Garden
You are welcome to view from the paved parking spot near the red garage in the alley off of Milligan.
2018 S Braddock: Pittsburgh Mennonite Church
You are welcome to view from the sidewalks. on South Braddock, Dickson, and adjacent parking lot.
7618 Roslyn: The Surprise Garden
You are welcome to view from the sidewalks on Roslyn and Manor.
2209 Manor: Bamboo Removal 2020!
You are welcome to view from the sidewalk on Manor and the alley between Manor and Hawthorne.
2300 Milligan: Happy Place
You are welcome to view from the sidewalk on Milligan and the alley between Milligan and Hawthorne.
2433 Woodstock: Weeds on Woodstock
You are welcome to view from the sidewalk on Woodstock or the alley on Bruce.
2448 Woodstock: **IN ALLEY** Flowers + Fiber “Yarden”
You are welcome to view from the alley on Scott (parallel to Woodstock.)
7411 Duquesne: **IN ALLEY** The Pallet Project Garden
You are welcome to view from the alley on Melcher (parallel to Duquesne.)
7324 Denniston: **IN ALLEY** The Backyard Fruit Garden
You are welcome to view from the alley between Denniston and Burton.
Collingwood + Denniston: Swissvale Community Garden
You are welcome to roam this garden freely. Please be sure to maintain appropriate physical distance from other visitors.
7219 Church: Tiny Harvest Garden
You are welcome to view from the sidewalk on Hanover.
1276 Commercial: Veggies + Wildflowers
You are welcome to view from the sidewalk on Commercial and the adjacent driveway.
2000 Columbia: The Sage Garden
You are welcome to view from the sidewalks on Columbia and Francis.
Getting ready to attend the 2nd Swissvale Edible Garden (Un)Tour? Here's some stuff to know!
This tour is fully self-guided or CYOA (Choose Your Own Adventure.) Start at any stop you like, and visit as many as you like. Even split your visits across multiple days.
The digital interactive map can be found above. Printed garden stop lists will be available at the Swissvale Library and a few other local businesses.
Visitors are welcome at the stops between 8am and 8pm each day from Saturday, August 8 - Sunday, August 16. Please only visit these sites within these times.
There are signs at each garden stop with information about the gardener, features of the garden, our sponsors, and guidelines about where you can view the garden from. Please respect all posted signage. Please DO NOT enter any of the garden properties unless there is specific signage that says otherwise or the property owner invites you.
We expect several, if not all, of the tour days to be hot, just since that’s what it’s normally like here in mid-August. We encourage attendees to bring your own reusable water bottles. Likewise, there's always a chance for sudden thunderstorms so an umbrella is never a poor choice.
There aren't any specific tour bathroom facilities. There are many local businesses throughout Swissvale but many of them are operating on limited hours.
The walkability of the tour is totally up to your comfort level and ability, especially given the expected heat. Swissvale is not without its hills! You are absolutely welcome to drive but please be courteous of the fact that the majority of the tour is in residential areas, so park with an awareness of your surroundings. Likewise, all the tour stops are visible from public sidewalks and alleyways, so accessibility for wheelchairs or walkers is dependant upon the general maintenance of our public rights of way, which varies, unfortunately. We recommend investigating the stops on Google Maps Street View in advance of your visit to see which ones will work better for you than others.
Take lots of photos and use the hashtag #SwissvaleGardens on Instagram!
This event is completely free for all visitors. It is made possible through the tireless efforts of many community volunteers and our sponsors.