Meet Trina

I’m Trina, the grower, maker, and heart behind TheHoodGarden in Pittsburgh PA. What started as a backyard garden for my grandson has grown into a mission to bring flavor, empowerment, and sustainability to my community.

I didn’t grow up with access to fresh food, but learning to grow my own changed everything, my health, my confidence, and my purpose.

Along the way, I’ve partnered with amazing local organizations like Phipps Conservatory Home Grown Program, where I got my start, Grow Pittsburgh, Oasis Farm & Fishery, Chatham's Craft Program and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to teach workshops, lead community events, and show people how to start growing wherever they are. I also partnered with 2 cohorts run by Chatham to bring small farmers together in an aggregate model to bring fresh produce together in a way that also helps sustain our farms, and saving seeds of cultural significance for our communities and farmers to share.

My journey, and TheHoodGarden’s impact, has even been featured in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, sharing how I’m using food, flavor, and farming to make change from the ground up. I began by crafting bold, soul-filled hot sauces from peppers I grew, and that passion evolved into a full line of small-batch products that celebrate homegrown ingredients and sustainable living. Through TheHoodGarden, I share what I’ve learned to help others grow food, use their harvests, and rediscover the power of feeding themselves and their communities.