Did you know there are 85 P-Patches in the City Of Seattle? P-Patches have been around for 20+ years in Seattle’s urban areas. They reach far north as Bitter Lake and as far south as Leo Farm. These last two p-patches are still in construction but it’s a great time to get in on the action! Like everything else that’s good (like Molly Moon’s Ice Cream), P-Patches have waiting lists too! Count on two years in some cases. And no, you cannot give your plot away. You have to notify the P-Patch staff.
One P-Patch me and my dog Zeus walk to alot is the Good Shepard P-Patch in Wallingford. It’s nestled in the same place as Seattle Tilth and Wednesday’s Farmer Market. I love seeing the homemade signs that “onions” grow here or the smell of fresh soil as a patron is digging a hole for her lavendar plant. Seattle Tilth’s innovative urban sustainable gardening classes are perfect for adults and kids.
Another quite random P-Patch is the University District Pea Patch. It’s just one street east of I-5 and the Express lanes and it’s been loving cared for by her community for over 25 years. It has 48 plots and 97 people on the wait list. So yeah, another waitlist.
How do these sustainable and extremely gratifying p-patches work? The city’s Department of Neighborhoods combined with the P-Patch Trust (and some other authorities) get together to support, develop and manage community p-patches. The community gardeners volunteer to coordinate the patches and loving grow and maintain the plots. Oh, and there’s some paperwork to fill out.
If you’re interested in finding the nearest p-patch in your neighborhood or if you’re interested in getting on a wait list you can sign up here.
Oh and if you’re interested in finding a home within a p-patch radius, contact me!
