A new community garden on Erie’s east side is now open — it’s a meaningful step toward fighting food deserts in the city.
On Wednesday morning, new crops of hope were planted.
A ribbon cutting happened at 650 East Avenue, welcoming a new community garden — this location is crucial because it’s a USDA-defined food desert.
And you can already see what’s growing — tomatoes, peppers, herbs and leafy greens — all meant to give families fresh options they don’t always have close by.
“In this community, there are a paucity of places for individuals to easily get fresh fruits and vegetables. We had a great partnership with the Penn State Cooperative Extension and folks in the community to teach us how to garden,” George Garrow, chief executive officer of Primary Health Network, said.
Primary Health Network partnered with the Erie Regional Chamber ECAT to build the garden.
The project is also deeply personal for Marcus Biswa, the community ambassador for Primary Health Network.
“Being a son to a farmer back in my country, this is really a good place where people can collaborate. It’s not simply growing vegetables — it brings people together,” Marcus Biswa, community ambassador for Primary Health Network, said.
“This new garden is now a first step toward fighting food deserts — giving families a place to grow healthy options,” Stephanie Logue reported.
Organizers say they’ll continue to be focused on improving food access on Erie’s east side.