Food pantries throughout Allegheny County this summer could have a new source of locally grown produce for clients.

County Executive Dan Onorato will seek preliminary approval from County Council today to grow fresh vegetables on two acres in Round Hill Park, a county park in Elizabeth Township. Council approval is needed for the use of county land.

Mr. Onorato announced the new effort, to be called the Allegheny FarmCorps, on Monday.

"The Allegheny FarmCorps ... will promote sustainable agriculture and assist the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in its effort to feed the hungry in our region," Mr. Onorato said in a statement. "We also hope to bolster Allegheny County's agricultural sector by raising awareness of the economic and environmental benefits of local food production."

County employees would plow the ground, then volunteers would plant and maintain it. FarmCorps also would hold seminars on food production and preservation and offer apprenticeships to people interested in careers in farming.

Round Hill Park encompasses 1,100 acres and is home to a demonstration farm. It is a popular site for school field trips, where children can visit with farm animals and see herb, vegetable and flower gardens.

County Council President Rich Fitzgerald and Councilman Nick Futules, chairman of council's parks committee, expressed support for the proposal.

"It sounds like an exciting idea, and I look forward to getting more details," Mr. Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill, said.

"I like the idea of promoting green space and encouraging people to garden," Mr. Futules, D-Verona, said.

After the measure is introduced today, plans call for sending it to council's parks committee for study.

Final action to approve Allegheny FarmCorps could come as soon as April 20, allowing time to plow the field and prepare it for spring planting.

County Council is expected to act on a second issue today linked to gardening.

Mr. Futules has three co-sponsors for a resolution to establish a Garden for Seniors program throughout the county.

The program offers encouragement for creating gardens at senior living and recreation centers. It also calls on the county to evaluate the feasibility of establishing similar gardens on county property. Possible locations include county parks and the four John J. Kane nursing homes. "We want to promote green thumbs," Mr. Futules said.

First-year costs for Allegheny FarmCorps are estimated at about $50,000. They include salaries for two part-time employees, including a program manager, and money for seeds and equipment. The county will seek state and foundation funds to augment the county's contribution.

Allegheny FarmCorps is part of an effort to implement a long-range land-use plan called Allegheny Places. It calls for continued support of agriculture. As of 2007, the latest period for which federal Department of Agriculture statistics are available, the county was home to 534 farms covering 38,023 acres.

After county workers have plowed the tract, volunteers would plant, cultivate, weed and pick the crops. Anyone interested in helping can e-mail farmcorps@alleghenycounty.us or call county special projects coordinator Darla Cravotta at 412-350-4318.

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