Cascade Pea Patch — South Lake Union — Seattle
Living in the city yields access to an array of business, theaters, galleries, restaurants, condos, clubs, and boutiques and basically any and everything a modern dweller would need or want. Yet, if you live in a condo or apartment and like to garden, you may be missing one thing…an actual piece of land to garden. Sure, there are planter boxes on rooftops, pots on decks and in your condo or apartment, but digging in the actual earth rules. Gardening outdoors and around other gardens and gardeners is where it’s at. A mere replica of an actual plot of land, well, it just isn’t really a garden. Not saying it can’t be splendid, well designed and groomed, of course, they can be fantastic. I’ve seen many lovely terraces and decks, but they simply aren’t the same as a garden of the earth.
Seattle inner city has 70 Pea Patch Gardens. I have some listed at the bottom of this post. In fact, there are plots available now. Even if you are relocating to Seattle, you can sign up. Most P-Patches have waiting lists, so you may want to get on it! The magnificent thing about these urban gardens is that the environment benefits, not only by nurturing the air, but it also aesthetically enhance our communities within the city. In my garden at the Cascade Pea Patch, locals and visitors from all over walk through the garden to breath in and view the beauty of our garden. There is a cancer clinic down the street. Patients from the clinic take walks through the garden while they are enduring cancer treatment. While I’ve gardened, many of the patients have stopped by to talk to me. They are always smiling and even though I know they are in pain and discomfort, I know something as small as a walk through the garden lightens their spirits, if only a little bit. The kids from the “Seattle Times preschool” down the street have produced a lovely garden there among the plethora of other plots. The kids (mostly the one adorable teacher named Brian) have created a gorgeous, plentiful and artistic plot interlaced with woven sticks, ceramics and hand-made glass pieces. The kids and teachers often take walks through the gardens and seem to love it. I’ve gotten questions like, “what are you doing?” I’ve said, “Weeding”. They’ve said, “Why?” and I’ve replied in many supposed adult-like ways. I said, “I’m cleaning the garden.” “Because I need to make room to grow vegetables.”, “because the weeds take away the nutrients for the plants I DO want.” Most of the time, they reply with the same question – “Why?”
Gardening is therapeutic. When gardening, digging, pruning, plucking, weeding, picking, sowing and even dropping piles of compost and manure around, one can become entranced to a higher level of consciousness. I call it Garden Zone Out. Both mental and physical health practitioners recommend it as “therapy”. In this Information-tech Age and mass media mania, we forget how connected we are with the earth. We forget the origins of our food sources. When we eat a delicious baguette from Macrina Bakery or devouring delicacies at Dahlia Lounge, Campagne or Ray’s Boathouse or any of the fine restaurants here in Seattle – do you think about from where your food originated? Even buying at the grocery store, we forget or we don’t always consider. Knowing that the Swiss Chard on your plate came from a seed that you’ve sewn, nurtured, and harvested is beyond satisfying. It’s comforting. The entire process is strangely therapeutic. It’s an accomplishment of the simplest form. Gardening in a community is an act that you can do that is “just yours” or you may garden with your mate and family. We give extra produce to shelters and churches and fellow gardeners unite with pleasure! Who needs spending mass amounts on therapy – GARDEN NOW! In Seattle, we also have winter gardens, because of our awesome Pacific Maritime weather. Rarely does it get too hot and only freezes maybe a couple days of the year! September and most of October in Seattle are soooo gorgeous. It was nearly 80 degrees today and now I’m leaving the office to go pick red raspberries from my garden. Please read on for more information on The P-Path community gardening program…..
Kathryn Lewis, Realtor/Coldwell Banker Bain, Seattle
P-PATCH COMMUNITY GARDENING PROGRAM
The Department of Neighborhoods’ P-Patch Program, in conjunction with the not-for-profit P-Patch Trust, provides organic community garden space for residents of 70 Seattle neighborhoods. The community based program areas of the P-Patch Program are community gardening, market gardening, youth gardening, and food policy in the City of Seattle. These programs serve all citizens of Seattle with an emphasis on low-income and immigrant populations and youth. Our community gardens offer 2500 plots serve more than 6000 urban gardeners on 23 acres of land.
P-Patch community gardeners show their concern for the value of fresh organic vegetables by supplying 7 to 10 tons of produce to Seattle food banks each year. Supporting a strong environmental ethic, the P-Patch Program allows organic gardening only and since community members maintain all our gardens, we have an 8 hour annual volunteer requirement in our allotment gardens. Due to high demand, only one plot per household is available at most sites.
HOW DO P-PATCHES WORK?
Gardeners are collectively responsible for all the basic work to keep the P-Patch looking nice. Gardeners like you volunteer to team up and coordinate the tasks and activities that keep your garden running smoothly. This leadership group organizes work parties, watches over the site and coordinates with Program staff and P-Patch Trust. Please identify which activities interest you from the Preference List following the application. Please be aware it’s your responsibility to get involved, don’t wait for someone to call.
WHAT CAN I GROW?
Any vegetables, small fruits, flowers or herbs you choose. Organic gardening only. Produce may be shared with friends or donated to food banks but may not be sold.
WHAT SIZE ARE THE PLOTS, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
PROGRAM PLOT FEES
$23 application fee
$11 for each 100sf gardened
Please refer to the examples below:
10 x 10 (100 square feet) – $34 annual fee
10 x 20 (200 square feet) – $45 annual fee
10 x 40 (400 square feet) – $67 annual fee
Plot fee assistance is available if you qualify; please call.
WHAT ELSE DO I RECEIVE?
· Annual spring meeting at your P-Patch
· Festive events: Harvest Banquet.
· Organic fertilizer, water, use of hoses, tools at most sites.
· Organic gardening educational opportunities (to be announced).
· Quarterly newsletter, the P-Patch Post, published by the P-Patch Trust.
· P-Patch Listserve: a moderated tool for gardeners and staff to share ideas, horticulture information, and events. New gardeners will be automatically added to the listserve and can expect zero to five e-mails a day. You may opt out by checking the “Do not add” box on the application page.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?
· You must contribute a minimum 8 hours of time to the common areas of the garden
· You must give four of those hours at your P-Patch site.
· You must care for your plot (keep it weeded, watered and harvested!) and paths on a year-round basis
· You must provide soil improvements, seeds, tools (some tools available for loan) and labor.
· Keep in mind, as a gardener, you reflect the P-Patch program to the surrounding neighbors – please be nice.
HOW LONG IS THE GARDEN SEASON?
If you have a year-round garden (most plots are year-round), you should begin gardening as soon as the soil is workable orupon plot assignment. Then you must maintain your plot all year (plant, weed, water, harvest, and winterize!).
Fall and Winter Gardening options: Please remove all non-organic material (tomato cages, trellises, etc.) and choose one or a combination of these options to help with weed suppression and protect your soil from the winter rains. Tending the soil in the cool season pays you back in the warm!
Option #1: Grow winter crops such as garlic, onions, kale, etc.
Option #2: Plant cover crops: Cover crops are also called green manure because in the spring you dig them into your soil and they feed nitrogen and provide organic material as they decompose.
Option #3: Mulch /Sheet Compost to protect and build bare soil.
If you have a short season plot at Picardo, you may begin gardening in early April and must finish by the third weekend in October. Short season plots are rototilled in the spring and the fall.
HOW ARE PLOTS ASSIGNED?
Last year’s participants have priority to renew their plots. New participants are assigned by waiting list rank. You may place your name on a waiting list for a more preferred site while still at your current site. Confirmation letters are mailed throughout the Spring.
P-Patch Community Garden Wait List
WHAT IS THE P-PATCH TRUST?
P-Patch Trust, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, partners with the P-Patch Program to nurture a strong community gardening organization for Seattle. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to the P-Patch Trust and please join. Click Here to visit the P-Patch Trust web site.
WHAT IS FOOD BANK GARDENING?
Most P-Patches have a food bank or “giving garden” program to provide fresh produce for those in need. In all P-Patches, individual gardeners can grow food in their own plots to donate to local food banks. Please think about planting an extra row to donate. Many P-Patches also have plots designated as “food bank plots” that are communally or individually gardened specifically to grow food for donation. Lettuce Link coordinates with food bank gardening leaders at each garden and will connect you to your nearest food bank. To get involved in food bank gardening, please call Michele Bates Benetua at 206-694-6754, or email michelleb@fremontpublic.org or talk to the food bank coordinator at your garden.
Article source:
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ppatch/gardening.htm
