Last Night
Last Night
Last night, I inaugurated my new P-Patch! (Yes, after months of complaining, my name finally came up). Ordinarily, new P-Patch tenants get the news in April---in time for the growing season---but apparently, because of staffing shortfalls, a lot of people just got the news this month. No big deal---I can still plant bean starts, tomato starts, and late-summer vegetables like squash and corn.
But first, I had to clear out my patch, which, until yesterday, was 100 square feet of weeds.
The last gardener left quite a while ago, it seems.
Most of the weeds can go right into the compost bin. But some, like dandelions and morning glory, have persistent roots (i.e., they're pretty much immortal), so you have to chop off the roots with a machete. Oh, yeah.
That dandelion never knew what hit it.
Some facts about P-Patches: According to the city, there are 73 P-Patches, comprising 23 acres, around the city. Some 2,000 people have P-Patch plots, and the waiting list for a typical plot is about a year. (As I've written, I believe I had to wait a little longer).
As I've also reported, the city's parks department has considered (and, I found out yesterday, since shelved) a controversial proposal to place term limits on P-Patches so that new gardeners have a better shot at getting a plot. Since I'm in now, I officially oppose that idea.
I know I'm evangelizing here, but I can't emphasize enough how cool Seattle's P-Patch program is. For the cost of a few organic seed packets or plants, plus eight volunteer hours a year, you get a free plot of land that's yours to do with more or less as you please. All you have to do is take care of it.
To get on the waiting list for a P-Patch in your neighborhood, sign up here.
But first, I had to clear out my patch, which, until yesterday, was 100 square feet of weeds.
The last gardener left quite a while ago, it seems.
Most of the weeds can go right into the compost bin. But some, like dandelions and morning glory, have persistent roots (i.e., they're pretty much immortal), so you have to chop off the roots with a machete. Oh, yeah.
That dandelion never knew what hit it.
Some facts about P-Patches: According to the city, there are 73 P-Patches, comprising 23 acres, around the city. Some 2,000 people have P-Patch plots, and the waiting list for a typical plot is about a year. (As I've written, I believe I had to wait a little longer).
As I've also reported, the city's parks department has considered (and, I found out yesterday, since shelved) a controversial proposal to place term limits on P-Patches so that new gardeners have a better shot at getting a plot. Since I'm in now, I officially oppose that idea.
I know I'm evangelizing here, but I can't emphasize enough how cool Seattle's P-Patch program is. For the cost of a few organic seed packets or plants, plus eight volunteer hours a year, you get a free plot of land that's yours to do with more or less as you please. All you have to do is take care of it.
To get on the waiting list for a P-Patch in your neighborhood, sign up here.
