Gardening 508 results

Community Harvest plum-picking update: Half a ton of fruit!

It’s been a big week for Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle since our last report on their fruit-picking season, in more ways than one. For one, they’ll be featured on TV later this week – KING5 shot CHoSS volunteers harvesting plums at Margaret‘s house earlier this week. The story is tentatively scheduled to air tomorrow morning and noontime, according to Aviva from CHoSS, who adds:

Community Harvest would like to thank all the tree owners who have been donating their trees for picking. Since the posting last week, we have harvested over 1,000 pounds of fruit from 12 trees. We appreciate all the new harvest volunteers who have responded as well, and especially those folks who have picked their own trees for donation.

Tree owners do help – like Margaret’s daughter Hazel, walking here with a CHoSS volunteer:

Donated fruit goes to keep local folks from going hungry. If you can volunteer to help pick, and/or have a tree to “donate,” contact info for Community Harvest is on its website, gleanit.org. (Thanks to Margaret for sharing the pix!)

Don’t let the fruit rot – help pick it with Community Harvest!

This morning, Steve wrote to share this story:

> So, we have this gigantic plum tree in our yard. Way more than we could ever eat on our own. Way more.

Typically we spend the end of the summer wiping smashed plum off our shoes and depositing plums into the yard waste bin. This year, we got in contact with a cool organization called Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle (in West Seattle). You call them or fill out an online form about your fruit trees. They show up with a bunch of volunteers, pick the ripe fruit, deliver it to local food banks that night. You can help pick or not. Really nice people, super easy to work with. They came and harvested the plums last night, they left us as many as we wanted for ourselves and took the rest. Might be cool to let people know about this — I was vaguely aware of the idea, but finally remembered to track them down this year.

Shortly after Steve’s note, we coincidentally heard from Aviva at Community Harvest, who says they’ve got more trees waiting to be picked – 10 new tree donors this week alone! – but they need a hand – more than one hand, actually:

This year has been an amazing year for plums, and it is hard to keep up with the calls and e-mails. We are looking for more volunteers to help pick plums, figs, apples, and pears, and supply our food banks with fresh local fruit. Volunteers can pick standing or from a ladder and are welcome to take home a small bag of fruit. If you are interested, you can contact Aviva at 206-762-0604 or info@gleanit.org. You can sign up directly from the website: www.gleanit.org . Help your community with a fun evening picking fruit.

And if you have friends in other neighborhoods – a citywide tree-mapping effort has just begun at cityfruit.org (recently featured by our fellow independent neighborhood-based news-service providers at Rainier Valley Post).

Also tonight: High Point P-Patch party; House Blend at The Mount

August 14, 2009 9:55 pm
|    Comments Off on Also tonight: High Point P-Patch party; House Blend at The Mount
 |   Gardening | High Point | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

That dragon “guards” the new MacArthur Lane Community Garden/P-Patch in High Point, where volunteers have recently finished assembling its beds and decorating its framework, culminating in a neighborhood party tonight:

Julie Bryan told us the plots will be assigned soon – as will P-Patch plots at High Point Commons Park (scheduled for the 20th), a long-awaited event. Here’s a closer look at the dragon:

The park’s outer fence is festive too:

(ADDED 10:35 PMJoni’s sharing many more photos via Whrrl – she’s been working on the project all along, and her photos include the ribbon-cutting celebration and check presentation that happened tonight after our brief visit:)

Powered by Whrrl

Meantime, a couple miles north, early-evening sunshine graced the second of four Summer Concerts at The Mount (WSB sponsor) at Providence Mount St. Vincent:

Maia Santell and House Blend headlined – these are free concerts, but if you bring a few dollars, you can buy food/bevs – we took a closer look at the dinner options this time around – check out this Philly sandwich:

A special feature tonight, Jeanne H. Nordquist was doing caricatures.

Next Friday night’s Concert at The Mount: Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana, 6 pm. (And the night before that, it’s another Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha presentation, the Brian Waite Band, 6:30 pm Thursday.)

Crop Circle (to be) spotted in West Seattle

… but it’s not likely to be suspected of extraterrestrial or supernatural links. West Seattle Crop Circle is a new group that Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle is organizing in West Seattle to follow up on the success of the Edible Garden Fair and Edible Garden Tour – and the growing popularity of edible gardening. The first meeting is a little more than a week away – read on for the full announcement from Susanne at CHoSS:Read More

West Seattle scenes: Beer (in the) garden; ice-cream open house

Sure, you need a sweater, but otherwise there are music and beverages to keep you warm at West Seattle Nursery till 5 pm today. It’s a fundraiser for Furry Faces Foundation, with Beveridge Place Pub‘s Gary Sink pouring:

We also have a photo to share from an outdoor celebration in the Roxhill area night before last:

(Thursday photo courtesy Lutheran Alliance To Create Housing)
Paul Hogle and other board members from The Lutheran Alliance To Create Housing (LATCH) served ice cream during an open house/ice-cream social at Longfellow and Westwood Courts. LATCH, with 36 member congregations, oversees more than 200 apartments around the city, including these West Seattle properties.

Also happening today: P-Patch work, free car wash, more sales

August 8, 2009 12:08 pm
|    Comments Off on Also happening today: P-Patch work, free car wash, more sales
 |   Gardening | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

More stories at MacArthur Pea Patch
Powered by Whrrl

P-PATCH PROJECT: Originally found that via Facebook, and Joni says it’s OK to share with you — she’s updating progress (Whrrl allows you to keep adding photos) on another day of volunteer work at the new MacArthur P-Patch in High Point. Just click to see what’s happening. (A celebration of the new garden is set for 5-7 pm this Friday – more info here.)

FREE CAR WASH: Also via Facebook, Nancy sent word that hubby Kevin has organized a free car wash in the parking lot at Ginomai, southwest corner of 42nd/Genesee. Scheduled to be there till 2 pm. (Just a stone’s throw from tonight’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall site!)

TWO RETAIL EVENTS: Ann at smallclothes (which recently moved to 3215 California SW) says today’s the last day of their summer sale – “everything in the shop is 20% off including all resale items, Imp Wear and SKR shoes.” And Coastal on Alki is having a “Happy Hour” event 2-5pm with 20% off Smith and Nikita items – plus DJ Sean Majors. Don’t let the weather ruin the summer mood; fall is still six weeks away. (By the calendar, anyway.)

GARDENING AND BEER: They’re together again at West Seattle Nursery, 1-5 pm today, benefiting the animal advocates at Furry Faces Foundation.

Happening now: West Seattle Edible Garden Tour

That’s “The Bee Keeper’s Yard” at 6750 35th SW – one of 10 stops on the West Seattle Edible Garden Tour, free and self-guided, happening till 4 this afternoon. Those boxes you see are for the bees – no, they don’t live in the iconic conical “hives.” Beekeeper and gardener here is Brian Allen:

You may also know Brian as secretary of Sustainable West Seattle. Visit his garden and any or all of the 9 others till 4 pm today – find the addresses and a downloadable map at ediblewestseattle.org.

Church cleanup, Edible Garden Tour today; “Footloose” tonight

August 1, 2009 7:20 am
|    Comments Off on Church cleanup, Edible Garden Tour today; “Footloose” tonight
 |   Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

Highlights from the West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Work parties today include a one-of-a-kind event – St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Admiral invites neighbors as well as parishioners to an “Ivy Out Day” to clear a spot along SW Hanford that will become a “park-like” space for the whole neighborhood – 9 am to noon with a free barbecue to follow. Also: You can take the FREE West Seattle Edible Garden Tour today, self-guided, 10 am-4 pm, get your map here. Then tonight – everybody gets “Footloose” at West Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall, doors open 7 pm in the courtyard by Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor), preshow fun at 8:30, movie at dusk, bring $ for concessions and raffles to benefit local nonprofits.

Also under way now: West Seattle Garden Tour

(photo added 12:30 pm)
The West Seattle Garden Tour continues till 5 pm, lots of time to make it to all eight gardens, ticket info here. Also if you’re looking for lunch, received this from Patty at Blue Willow Catering in The Junction:

Blue Willow Luncheonette is open for business today in honored of the West Seattle Garden Tour. We are on the map as a rest stop, we are also serving our full lunch menu and some breakfast type specials from 11-2:30.

They’re on SW Oregon across from the entrance to the parking lot behind Chase/the liquor store/etc. 12:29 PM UPDATE: Making the rounds of some of the gardens – at the Hailey Family Garden in Admiral, you’ll find beverage sales on behalf of WestSide Baby and today’s “Stuff the Bus” diaper drive:

Also a reminder that the West Seattle Garden Tour proceeds themselves benefit nonprofits, such as the Junction Plaza Park construction fundraising:

The Haileys’ garden is also where you can see the stone bench that’s one of today’s raffle prizes for WSGT attendees (in the background is Shon Robinson, the designer who’s part of this garden’s team):

We’re off to a couple other locations and will add more photos later. The West Seattle Garden Tour continues till 5 pm. ADDED 1:21 PM: More than one of the featured gardens is in Gatewood’s gorgeous Orchard Street Ravine area – we dropped by the one that belongs to West Seattle Internet proprietor Bill Hibler:

This is the “Chez Hugh …” garden featured on the WSGT website – beautiful art glass, too:

Not too late for tickets – West Seattle Nursery and Metropolitan Market are the places to go.

Also today: Mediterranean Fest, Garden Tour, Farmers’ Market

We’ve already mentioned it’s the day to “Stuff the Bus” for WestSide Baby – 10 am-2 pm at the Farmers’ Market (we’ll be there for “live” updates). Also – the Mediterranean Fantasy Festival is in day two:

Thanks to Dina Johnson for sharing photos from today’s Day 1 – that’s Shamandura with her 8-year-old granddaughter Princess Tori – here’s West Seattle dancer Mirabai:

The festival continues at Hiawatha from 10 am to 9 pm today. (ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT – Two Hiawatha scenes from Sunday – also both courtesy of Dina Johnson – first one is Lisa Yasmine, West Seattle bellydancer, and Katia Sahar completing their duet … second one, knights in semi-shining armor)

GARDEN TOUR: Today’s also the day for the West Seattle Garden Tour – 9 am to 5 pm, self-guided tour of eight residential gardens, with admission price including Ciscoe Morris‘ noon lecture at The Kenney. Ticket info here.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Looking for a deal while you’re there dropping off diapers for “Stuff the Bus,” or vice versa? Here’s today’s fresh sheet.

8 gardens, raffles, Ciscoe: West Seattle Garden Tour this Sunday

We’ve talked a lot about the West Seattle Grand Parade at midday Saturday, the first Outdoor Movie on the Wall Saturday night, and other big events in West Seattle this weekend – but before your plans are set in stone, a shoutout for one more major event: The 15th annual West Seattle Garden Tour is this Sunday – and since it’s self-guided, 9 am-5 pm, you can tour at your leisure. We got a sneak peek at one of the 8 featured gardens a few days ago, the Hailey Family Garden in Admiral (see it here on the WSGT website). Above, a photo of just one tiny corner, showing one of the ways small and large in which color are texture is wound throughout this garden – with open sunny “grassland” out front, and a shady refuge (including beautiful birches) in back. In addition to the Haileys, the team that created this garden – wrapping around a classic, remodeled Admiral home — includes designer Shon Robinson, who was there to do a bit of tidying when we stopped by:

Every stop on the Garden Tour will feature something special. Along with the 8 tour stops, your West Seattle Garden Tour ticket includes admission to Northwest gardening legend Ciscoe Morris‘s lecture at noon at The Kenney, and a chance at winning raffle prizes including a bench donated by Capers (one of the places where tickets are still available) and a stone bench that you’ll see on display at the aforementioned Hailey Family Garden, plus many other items listed here – including, from WSB sponsor Endolyne Joe’s, a $100 gift certificate and $175 gift basket. Here’s where else to get tickets – including online at Brown Paper Tickets (which you in turn can exchange at two places Saturday or Sunday for ticket books).

Happening now: Farm stand @ Market Garden in High Point

Just back from the Seattle Market Gardens farm stand at 32nd/Juneau in High Point, open till 7 pm (and every Tuesday 4:30-7 pm through Oct. 6). Brought home peas-in-pod for $3/pound, also noticed carrots, baby bok choy, onions, potatoes, lettuce, salad greens and beautiful flowers including fiery crocosmia. Everything harvested this morning, we were told; the growers were a bit shy but we did manage to snag this photo:

Looking east from the southwest end, over the actual garden (mini-farm), the stand is under the white tent:

Here’s a map to 32nd/Juneau. This is one of two Seattle Market Gardens, both in Seattle Housing Authority communities, and their farm stands are new this year – read more here. (They also offer weekly subscriptions.)

Also today: Fresh produce/flowers @ Market Garden in High Point

July 14, 2009 11:49 am
|    Comments Off on Also today: Fresh produce/flowers @ Market Garden in High Point
 |   Gardening | High Point | West Seattle news

Starting today, every Tuesday from 4:30 pm-7 pm through October 6th, the Seattle Market Gardens Program will present a weekly farm stand at the Juneau Market Garden in High Point, 32nd SW and SW Juneau, selling fresh produce and flowers, grown locally! Here’s a map.

Not too late to plant: 2 fundraising West Seattle plant sales

Spring and fall may be the perfect planting seasons, but it’s not too late to get something new in your garden – and we have word today of two opportunities, plant sales that also happen to be fundraisers: First, Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle is selling vegetable starts at SSCC this Wednesday afternoon/evening:

Plants raised with care and donated by South Seattle Community College Dept of Horticulture

Wednesday, July 8 4-7 PM
SSCC – on campus

* Heirloom Tomatoes * Basil * Peppers * Tomatillos *
Lots of interesting varieties

30% off already great prices + bonus plant for sales over $20

Sample Prices
4″ Heirloom Tomatoes – $1.75
4″ herbs – $1.00
1 gallon Heirloom Tomatoes – $3.75
1 gallon Peppers – $3.00

Community Harvest of SW Seattle is a local non-profit helping to share the abundance of our local harvests as well as inspiring and educating on the joys of growing food. We sponsor the Edible Garden Fair and Tour, canning classes, gardening classes, as well as coordinating the fruit harvest in West Seattle. More info – 206-762-0604 info@gleanit.org

The other plant sale is continuous all month long at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor), in the courtyard, benefiting the Hip to Be Snipped program by Furry Faces Foundation — flowers and grape vines among other items — drop by whenever Hotwire’s open and check ’em out.

Also happening now: Furry Faces plant sale @ Beveridge Place

June 27, 2009 11:13 am
|    Comments Off on Also happening now: Furry Faces plant sale @ Beveridge Place
 |   Gardening | How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

Christy and friend are part of the Furry Faces Foundation animal-advocacy crew you’ll find at a plant sale that just started at 11 am between the Beveridge Place Pub deck and neighboring Morgan Junction Park. It’s “Blooms for Bow-Wows” – and one highlight, we were told when we stopped by for a photo, is a table of $3 grape vines – table and wine varieties. The sale’s on till 3 pm today, with all plants at this fundraiser priced $1-$5.

West Seattle Clean and Green, report #2: The results; the reason

That’s the site of the new Genesee P-Patch late this afternoon – just a few hours after the big city-supported Clean and Green work party (first report here) that mixed mountains of Cedar Grove-donated compost into the soil:

Among the dozens of volunteers was John Legge, among those who received certificates today in honor of the plots they’ve been awarded in the new community garden:

(If you noticed some lighter spots in the compost pile in that photo – that’s actually where steam rose as the volunteers dug in — pungent steam, at that.) Among the others – Rahn Lee and her 9-year-old daughter Mei Lee Vandervelde, who are with a Girl Scout troop that meets in South Delridge:

The new P-Patch is on a spot of land along Genesee just east of West Seattle Christian Church, which donated the site (and has also been donating food grown on another patch of church land). In this video clip, you’ll hear WSCC’s Pastor Dan Jacobs talking about how the gardening sideline came to be:

As we mentioned in our first report, Mayor Nickels and wife Sharon Nickels volunteered today too. In his kickoff speech, the mayor mentioned this was the city’s 99th Clean and Green event:

And a shoutout to the organizational efforts of two more people who helped make today happen — Stan Lock, one of the city’s two Neighborhood Service Coordinators on our peninsula – he works out of the office in The Junction, next to Rocksport:

Plus, Erica Karlovits, president of the Junction Neighborhood Organization, which held its quarterly Adopt-a-Street cleanup in connection with today’s Clean and Green:

And these events do require planning down to the last detail, like treat procurement – Erica told us these cupcakes, with icing-drawn carrots and radishes, were donated by Coffee to a Tea with Sugar in The Junction:

Side note: In our first story on today’s event, we mentioned the three other West Seattle sites proposed for funding under the Parks and Green Spaces Levy. One is the “southern triangle” near California Place Park, the subject of a story you’ll see later tonight (because of the celebration in the park today); the other is in High Point; and we just noticed this brand-new sign up at the third, in Westwood (34th and Barton):

The sign makes it clear that the proposed disposition of that site (which we originally wrote about here) is as a “community garden,” and says you’ve got till July 20 to send comments to the city (same person that’s listed here).

Happening now: “Clean and Green” at new West Seattle P-Patch

After the speeches and before the digging, there was of course a group photo op for everybody who showed up at the start of this morning’s city-sponsored Clean and Green event at the new Genesee P-Patch on a Junction site donated by West Seattle Christian Church. Right after the photo op, it was time to start digging into a mountain of donated Cedar Grove compost — which is made from the yard waste you put out every week – Mayor Nickels (who volunteered today along with wife Sharon Nickels) talked shovel-turning strategy with Aaron Hernandez, the almost-unsung hero who hatched the idea for the P-Patch:

Lots more coverage to add later – including the awarding of certificates to the 10 applicants (many of whom had been on a long waiting list) who are receiving P-Patch plots. If you’re still on the waiting list, no worries – as we’ve reported previously, at least three other West Seattle P-Patches are in the works, thanks to funding from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy passed by voters last year – including the 34th/Barton site east of the Exxon/Propel station. And if you see this story before 1 pm, you can still go grab a shovel and get involved, or join up with the folks you may see picking up trash along 40th, 41st and 42nd between Dakota and Hudson, as part of the Junction Neighborhood Organization Adopt-A-Street cleanup being held concurrently with today’s Clean and Green.

Garden or 2 still needed for West Seattle Edible Garden Tour (8/1)

June 16, 2009 3:10 pm
|    Comments Off on Garden or 2 still needed for West Seattle Edible Garden Tour (8/1)
 |   Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle)
It’s this year’s hottest gardening trend – growing your own food – like the arrangement above that lends a new meaning to “salad bowl.” If you have an “edible garden,” you might still have a chance to be part of the 2nd annual West Seattle Edible Garden Tour – the date’s set for August 1st and Aviva from Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle says they’re still seeking “one or two more gardens to round out the tour” – if yours might qualify, or you have one to suggest, info@gleanit.org – Meantime, CHoSS is also looking for volunteers to help pick cherries for distribution to local families in need:

With the warm summer weather, fruit harvest season is right around the corner and cherries are ripening. Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle connects volunteers with fruit tree donors, picking surplus fruit for donation to the food bank. Help distribute our local abundance. Want to harvest? Know of a tree? Have a couple of hours to help with some computer/office tasks? Contact
info@gleanit.org

They’re also starting a “Grow Your Own Groceries Project” to help low-income (or recently unemployed) people learn to grow some of their own food; mentors are being sought as well as participants – same e-mail address.

Want a cheap compost bin? Get one (or more) from the city

June 15, 2009 9:40 am
|    Comments Off on Want a cheap compost bin? Get one (or more) from the city
 |   Gardening | Utilities | West Seattle news

Compost bins for yard waste and food waste – plus rain barrels (it’ll rain again SOMEDAY) – are being offered at what Seattle Public Utilities calls “big discounts” – read on for details:Read More

West Seattle Garden Tour: Get a sneak peek online

Just found out via one of the spotlighted households that the gardens in next month’s West Seattle Garden Tour are all now described online, with photos. July 19 is the date for the self-guided WSGT; this year’s guest speaker is gardening star Ciscoe Morris, whose presentation at The Kenney at noon on tour day is included in the ticket price.

Happening now: P-Patch progress, plant sale, apartment tour

More work today at the new P-Patch in The Junction: Aaron Hernandez from the Friends of Genesee P-Patch sent that photo from Thursday – a city crew has been by to help clear the garden site, which as we recently reported, is one of four new P-Patch sites in line for city funding from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy (the P-Patch also has received a Small and Simple Grant, according to Aaron). Site volunteers are doing some more work there today; if you’re interested in future involvement with the P-Patch, you can reach Aaron here. No matter what kind of gardening you’re doing, you need something to grow. You’ve got myriad plant-buying options this weekend – for one, Village Green Perennial Nursery has just rejoined us as a WSB sponsor – they’re only open for the season till June 28 – and then there’s the Furry Faces Foundation fundraising plant sale:

Lora Lewis from F3 and Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) sent that petunia photo. The sale — with most plants from $1 to $5, Lora notes — continues till 4 pm, and again 10 am-4 pm tomorrow, at 3809 46th SW (tomorrow adoptable pets will be there too, noon-4 pm). Back in The Junction, till 2 pm today, you can enjoy free treats and get a tour at Mural Apartments (WSB sponsor), which has thrown open the doors to show off in its first month of renting brand-new units in “Downtown West Seattle.” 42nd SW, right across from Jefferson Square. Say hi to manager Rose (posing with some of the aforementioned free snacks):

Again, the full slate of what’s up this weekend is in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.

Who needs sun? We’ve got fun: What’s up today/tonight

June 6, 2009 7:20 am
|    Comments Off on Who needs sun? We’ve got fun: What’s up today/tonight
 |   Fun stuff to do | Gardening | West Seattle news

Full slate of today’s events can be found in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup. Gardeners in particular have much to choose from – GardenFest at SSCC, the Furry Faces Foundation plant sale, and the Garden Party at Transitional Resources – but there are indoor events too, such as the Mural Apartments (WSB sponsor) open house, more Seattle International Film Festival screenings at the Admiral, and the Community School of West Seattle auction. We’ve also got an update on the “Great Duwamish Clothing/Book Swap” at Duwamish Cohousing (6000 17th SW; map) – it’s happening 10 am-2 pm.

Tuesday evening notes: Race results; ‘hood vs. ‘hood; garden party

RACE RESULTS: If you were among the 1,000-plus participants in Sunday’s first-ever West Seattle 5K (WSB coverage, with video of the entire start and the top finisher, here), you can now see the results (and photos) online.

HOOD VS. HOOD: Beth points out that West Seattle is so far “winning” the Hood-to-Hood challenge in the KEXP public-radio pledge drive: “The winning neighborhood will get them delivering some of their shows at a local neighborhood venue for the day as well as bringing in some bands to play at local neighbor hood music venues. Right now West Seattle is in the lead.” Yes, we are beating BALLARD, in fact, with Capitol Hill in third (!?). Check it out here.

GARDEN PARTY: Transitional Resources sends a reminder that its annual Garden Party is coming up this Saturday. It’s a chance to help out in our area’s smallest certified organic garden and also check out noted chef Christine Keff‘s cooking demo, among other fun aspects – full details here.