Research, Education, & Production

Internal Research

  • A man sitting on the ground inside a greenhouse with rows of green leafy plants growing in the soil.

    Biochar Thesis Research

    For Matt Oriente's '25 thesis project for his Master's of Sustainability, he developed a research study to understand the impacts of charged biochar on plant and soil health, specifically studying soil composition, plant nutrient uptake, and weight at harvest. More on this project can be found here.

  • Group of people working together in a garden on a sunny day, wearing masks, with some kneeling and others standing, surrounded by plants and a wheelbarrow.

    Program Evaluation

    Led by dual degree student Bernard Sekey 25' MSUS & MBA, the Eden Hall farm team has built out an evaluation plan including surveys, focus groups, data gathering tools, and reports. This information is used to improve programming, write grants, and share impacts with potential funders.

  • A large pile of raw garlic bulbs with purple and tan skins.

    Allium Field Research

    Led by faculty member Dr. Chris Murakami, the Eden Hall farm team grows a wide variety of alliums including heirloom and culturally important varieties. Each summer, we experiment with different planting plans to improve our yields and reduce labor, pests, and weeds.

External Grants & Partnerships

BRIDGES - NE SARE GRANT

Building Relationships with Intersectional, Diverse Growers and Equitable Systems (BRIDGES) in Pittsburgh

Funded by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), the BRIDGES project established two farmer communities of practice that center women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), and LGBTQ+ farmers. Collectively we are building capacity and relationships to foster a seed saving hub in the Pittsburgh region, as well as a multi-farmer wholesale aggregator.

This work uses participatory and emancipatory methods by connecting farmers and leaders on the frontlines of food sovereignty work in the region.

Partners in this project include Hilltop Urban Farm, the Hood Garden, Farmer Girl Eb, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, Mwanakuche Farms, and The Seed Library farm.

TIME - FSA GRANT

Allegheny County Conservation District was awarded a grant to improve success of urban growers in Pittsburgh providing technical service and resources to steward urban growers.

Chatham University is a sub-awardee, with faculty and alumni co-leading an environmental scan of agricultural resources for urban farmers, the development of micro-grant processes, and overall grant evaluation.

Meet some of our Partners

  • Logo for Bloom Cafe featuring a large letter B with floral elements and the text 'Bloom Cafe' arching above.
  • Logo of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, featuring a stylized purple heart made of leaves.
  • Logo for Freeman Family Farm Store featuring a silhouette of a woman with an updo hairstyle, surrounded by text and a leaf design, all in purple on a white background.
  • Logo of The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation featuring a purple fruit with a tree growing on top of it.
  • Logo of Parkhurst Dining in purple text on a white background.
  • Wigle logo with text indicating the company is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and that its products are fermented, distilled, and bottled.
  • A purple graphic design featuring interconnected human figures and a central globe with virus icons, with the text 'Community Cultures' below.

Our Courses

We build connections and collaborations between agricultural work, natural resource management, and culinary work on our campus through experiential learning opportunities in the field and the kitchen.

  • Outline illustration of a tree with a thick cloud-shaped foliage, a smaller cloud, and a lightning bolt.

    Agroecology

    Taught at the graduate and undergraduate level, these classes each have weekly field components where students get to participate in seasonal activities such as maple tapping, fruit and vegetable production, and apiary management.

  • Line drawing of three leaves on a purple background.

    Sustainable Production

    Primarily a culinary course, the students in sustainable production work with the farm team to utilize farm products such as honey, maple, mushrooms, vegetables, and fruit to create Eden Hall inspired products.

  • Soil Science

    This environmental science course works with the Eden Hall farm team to apply scientific principles from soil science to our agricultural spaces, providing real-life insights into our soil health and suggestions for improvements.