Thomas Street Gardens
Thomas Street Gardens
Seattle is celebrating 50 years of p-patch gardens. CHS reported here on the milestone — and the long wait for the coveted plots on Capitol Hill. We under-reported the wait — readers have described some of the waitlists as apparently never ending. Instead of raising hopes when we should be planting kitchen counter herb containers, here is a smaller celebration of the sights and scenes from some of the Hill’s planted corners that even in this winter season shows signs of color and activity. We can all enjoy the spaces of growth with strolls around and through and, for some of us, the perpetual hope that our name will be called and we, too, can plant part of a neighborhood garden.
CAPITOL HILL’S P-PATCHES
- Thomas Street Gardens P-Patch is a community garden at 1010 E Thomas. It was established in 1997 and covers an area of 3,200 sq. ft. with 28 plots and 2 ADA beds. The garden was designed by architect, landscape architect, and Master Gardener, Lyle Grant, and features a three-foot high curved aggregate wall that creates an illusion of the site being larger and provides a feeling of being a neighborhood pocket park. The main path is made of stone and accessible to all, while the tool shed is modern in design. The front gate and trellis are also well-designed to tie in with the neighboring houses. The garden includes herbaceous borders and perennial beds, and a rockery planted into the aggregate wall. There is also a wrought iron bench designed and made by Lambda House youth and artists from Pratt Institute. The wait time for a plot is 1-2 years.
- The Broadway Hill P-Patch is a community garden located in the Broadway Hill Park. It was established in 2015, with funding provided through the Parks & Green Space Levy and Parks Opportunity Fund. The garden comprises of 16 plots and is known for its beautiful park-like setting. Despite its relatively recent establishment, it has already become a popular destination for local gardeners, with a wait time of 2 or more years. Despite the lack of information about its size, the Broadway Hill P-Patch offers a lovely and serene environment for gardening and community building.
- The Howell Collective P-Patch is located at 1514 E Howell and was established in 2011. It is a unique type of community garden that operates as a “collective” with no individual plots. The 4,200 sq. ft. garden is maintained and harvested together by P-Patchers and is designed to support urban agriculture, increase public green space, and bring neighbors together in nature. The garden also features a Giving Garden and a water catchment system. The wait time to join the collective is 6-12 months.
- The Pelican Tea Garden is a communal garden established in 2001 and located at 1909 E Roy. It is a small garden of only 1,000 sq. ft. with a wait time of 1-2 years. It is tended by a dedicated group of gardeners and is known for its freshly-painted periwinkle-blue fences, cherry tree, and various crops. It is a peaceful oasis where neighborhood residents can contribute art, rock sculptures, or poetry, making it a popular spot for an afternoon break or evening stroll. The garden also features honeybees.
- The Republican P-Patch is located in the Miller Park neighborhood. Established in 1986, it features 23 plots and is 2,600 sq. ft. in size. With its 20 or so gardeners, this garden is a mix of novice and experienced cultivators. Some plots are outlined with blue glass bottles, while others have secret treasures hidden away. The garden is a proud and lively community, with fences bordered by flowers. The wait time for a plot is 1-2 years.
- Unpaving Paradise is a 31-plot P-Patch community garden that was established on the site of a former parking lot. The garden was developed as a result of the efforts of the Capitol Hill Community Council and funding from the 2008 Parks & Green Space Levy. In the 2000s, Seattle Parks and Recreation purchased the land and the community saw an opportunity to create a garden for the many apartment dwellers in the area. In 2010, the community began transforming the parking lot into a garden and after several months of work, the Unpaving Paradise P-Patch was officially dedicated in December 2011. Today, visitors can enjoy the garden’s bountiful flowers and produce with a unique view of the Seattle skyline.
- Central District’s Spring Street P-Patch is a 13-plot, 1,900-square-foot garden with a reported 6 to 12 months wait time . Purchased in 2008, the patch is a community garden located at 25th Avenue and East Spring Street in Seattle’s Central District. The garden was designed by the community “with both gardeners and community in mind.”
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50 years! That’s pretty incredible! I hope the program continues to add gardens. We really need one (and a dog park and bus line) in the NW corner of the hill.