Although we traditionally think of gardens situated in a suburban setting, the truth is gardens can be found in some pretty unlikely places. In Seattle, for instance, there are several so-called community gardens organized by residents who have no land of their own. They join together--on common ground and with common intentions--to gain a better understanding not just of gardening but of themselves.
Master gardener Barbara Conette oversees several community gardens known as pea patches in Seattle. The pea-patch program began in 1973 when a woman asked the city for some open space so she could teach some kids about gardening. Nearly 26 years later the program and the pea patches are blooming all over Seattle. Citywide there are 35 garden sites with a waiting list of 800 to 1,000 people. And for a mere $20 to $50 a year gardeners lucky enough to go from wishing and waiting to watering and weeding can do whatever they want with their 50- to 400-square-foot plots.
Another is one maintained by members of Seattle Tilth Association, a public demonstration garden where people of all ages can get hands-on gardening information that's enormously practical, especially for beginning gardeners or those new to the area. Coordinator Carl Elliott is as savvy a gardener as I've ever met. The garden site with its dark compost enriched soil was once a basketball court.
To learn how to get a community garden started in your area, visit one in Seattle or in cities all across the country, or contact the American Community Gardening Association.
Resources Tilth Gardens
Tilth Gardens
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N Room 1
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 206-633-0451
URL:
www.seattletilth.org
American Community Gardening Association
American Community Gardening Association
Website:
www.communitygarden.org
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