Help Soil Sisters Build An Urban Farm

Hello!

We are Raynise and TaRay Kelly, the proud owners of Soil Sisters Plant Nursery, the first and only women/Black-owned nursery in Pittsburgh, PA. Since 2020, we have been dedicated to providing organic and heirloom quality seedlings to farmers, school gardens, local gardeners, homesteaders, and various organizations. Our main mission is to ensure access to fresh food in communities facing food apartheid.

Over the past four years, we have become an invaluable asset not only to underserved communities but to the entire City of Pittsburgh. While we have successfully provided seedlings, our community members still face significant challenges, particularly in accessing land for growing their own food. Urban living often limits space, and the legacy of Pittsburgh’s steel mills has left much of the soil contaminated with lead, which requires time, money, and manpower to remediate. Additionally, many people want to eat healthier but lack the time to grow and harvest their own food. They need a local source where they can easily purchase fresh produce.

Our community has made their needs clear: they want an urban farm in their neighborhood, and they want the Soil Sisters to operate it! This honor motivates us to expand our efforts. We have partnered with organizations such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Land Bank to secure four parcels of land, totaling nearly 17,000 square feet. We are set to purchase these parcels for $20,000 in September.

We are reaching out to you in the hope that you recognize the importance of this mission and are willing to support us. Food is a fundamental human right that connects us all, and no one should be denied access to it. We are working with local organizations to assure we can provide EBT/Snap accessible produce.

Your support will enable us to establish an urban farm that will provide fresh, healthy food to our community, remediate contaminated soil, and create a sustainable source of nourishment for years to come.

Your support will enable us to have a home for one of favorite programs we held in the community for youth to grow their own food and learn to harvest and prepare it will taking field trips to places like Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Oasis Farm & Fishery, Pittsburgh Zoo and more.

Your support will enable us to become greater stakeholders in our community and allow us to utilize our partnerships to create innovative production, sustainable practices, educational workshops, employment, volunteering.

Your support will help secure not only land for a black women owned business but a gamble taken by Raynise to leave her job to pursue her dream own a farm and a passion to serve the community.

Thank you for considering our cause and for any assistance you can provide.

Warm regards,

Raynise and TaRay Kelly

Soil Sisters Plant Nursery