Kicking off the new year!

We had a fantastic growing year in 2010. Our spaces went from rocks and dry dirt into lush and productive plots.


Please remember to Save The Date for our 2011 kick-off meeting: it'll be on March 5, time to-be-announced.

Stay tuned for more exciting changes to this space!

Construction Update and March 21 Grand Opening

The new railings are installed on the cistern plaza. Photo: Toby Thaler

Construction is wrapping up at Hazel Heights!

The drain tie-ins to the City system at 42nd and Baker Ave NW were finished in late January, and the sidewalk was poured and reopened in early February. Railing installation started in late February with the cistern plaza and first flight of stairs, and another set is scheduled for this week. The contractor has pledged to complete the railings in time for the March 21 grand opening (see below).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You are invited!

Seattle’s Newest P-Patch Opens Sunday, March 21

Public Celebration at Hazel Heights P-Patch Community Garden

WHAT:
Supporters and neighbors, gardeners and “locavores” are invited to the grand opening celebration of Seattle’s newest P-Patch, the Hazel Heights P-Patch Community Garden in the Fremont neighborhood. The celebration will include light refreshments, live music and a presentation and ribbon-cutting by local dignitaries. The event will be held “rain or shine.”

WHEN:
Sunday, March 21, 2010, noon – 3:00 p.m.
Noon: Grand Opening event begins, light refreshments served
12:30 p.m.: Program with entertainment and presentations by local dignitaries
1 p.m.: Ribbon-cutting followed by garden tours, more refreshments & live entertainment

WHERE:
Corner of NW 42nd St. and Baker Ave NW, Fremont neighborhood, Seattle

Contact:
Beckey Sukovaty, event chair, 206-783-6443, bsukovaty@email.fielding.edu

P-Patch Construction Update - Updated January 21, 2010

With the addition of the beautiful new fence, the garden is continuing to take shape.

Although it seems like construction is taking forever, we really are nearly done. If you have ever built or remodeled a house, you know that there are always snags in the schedule. And since we're doing several environmentally progressive projects, such as the rainwater cistern, we have been exploring new territory with the City's permitting process. Our work should ease the path for future gardens that may also want to harvest rainwater and reduce stormwater overflow into Puget Sound.

Construction on the main site itself is 90% complete, with only the handrail installation and a few "punch-list" type items on the irrigation and cistern systems left to go before the contractor turns over the site for gardening to begin.

A major focus now is completing the drain tie-ins to the City system at 42nd and Baker Ave NW. This work will include digging up a portion of the street at 42nd and Baker Ave NW. We are continuing to work with the City to finalize the details for this work and expect it to be complete by the end of this month. When this is complete, the sidewalk along Baker Ave NW will be reopened.

We are currently assigning P-Patch plots with the City's P-Patch Program. Priority is given to those who have volunteered their time to the creation of the garden. If you want to be included in the waiting list for a garden plot at Hazel Heights P-Patch, please call Rich Macdonald at the P-Patch Program (386-0088) and specify that you are calling about a plot at Hazel Heights.

Be sure to save the date for Sunday, March 21 at noon for the grand opening of the garden!

Hazel Heights Site Plan

Click on the image to see an enlarged version.

The site plan for Hazel Heights P-Patch was created by Barker Landscape Architects in cooperation with the community, including the Hazel Heights P-Patch Steering Committee.
www.barkerla.com/portfoliothumbs.html
Seattle's P-Patch Trust (the owner of the property) and the City of Seattle P-Patch Program have also been deeply involved in the planning and design of the garden.

The site will include 19 garden plots, including one dedicated to growing organic produce for food banks through the Lettuce Link program. www.solid-ground.org/Programs/Nutrition/Lettuce/Pages/default.aspx

It also features an innovative rainwater harvesting system, including an 8,000 gallon underground cistern that will provide water for irrigation.

There are opportunities for future artwork on surface walls, seating areas and walkways, as well as plaques to commemorate the donations that have made the garden possible.

Numerous public meetings were held to plan the park, and onsite meetings are being held with the Hazel Heights P-Patch Steering Committee during the construction phase.

Hazel Heights P-Patch is part of the City of Seattle P-Patch Program, one of the largest municipally supported community gardening programs in the nation. www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ppatch/locations.htm

If you are interested in applying to garden at one of the Hazel Heights plots, information is here:
www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ppatch/gardening.htm Priority is given to those who have volunteered at the site.

Rainwater Harvesting

Hazel Heights P-Patch will contain an 8,000 gallon cistern that will catch rainwater from the roofs of two adjacent houses.

The cistern is shown below in the construction stage. When the garden is graded and construction is complete, the cistern will be underground with a plaza gathering space on top. The plaza will feature panoramic views to the west, including the Ship Canal and the Olympic Mountains.

The stored rainwater will be available for irrigating the 19 garden plots at the P-Patch. There will be hand pump and a spigot, and a hose can be attached to water the plots that are downhill from the cistern.

This innovative rainwater harvesting system is one way that the neighborhood and the community garden are utlilizing and demonstrating sustainable practices. It is hoped that the system will be a demonstration model for other gardens or sites.

The rainwater harvesting system is primarily funded by a WaterWorks grant from King County.

More information about this Water Quality Block Grant Fund is here: http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/grants-and-awards/grant-exchange/waterworks.aspx

Most Recent Grant - Groundswell NW: 3 to 1 Match!

Groundswell NW has just announced its pledge to match up to $5,000 for contributions made through Groundswell NW for the Hazel Heights P-Patch.

In addition, Seattle's P-Patch Trust will match these donations. So in effect, contributors will get a great value - a match of 3 to 1 for their tax-deductible charitable gift.

To be eligible for the match, contributions must be made through Groundswell NW by December 31, 2009.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To maximize your donation, and to ensure that your donation is targeted for Hazel Heights P-Patch, send your check to:
Groundswell NW
PO Box 17163
Seattle, WA 98127.

Please make out the check to "Groundswell NW" and in the memo part of the check just write "P-Patch".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alternatively, you can use the PayPal "Donate" button on the Groundswell NW website.
http://www.groundswellnw.org/participate.html
This option will allow you to use your credit card.
In this case, please also send a follow-up e-mail to Mark Dexter at dextercowley@gmail.com indicating that the donation is for the Hazel Heights P-Patch. Thanks!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hazel Heights sends a big thank you to Groundswell NW!

Most Recent Grant: Parks Levy

2008 Seattle Parks and Green Spaces Levy

Thank you to everyone who worked on and voted for the successful 2008 Seattle Parks and Green Spaces Levy.

The levy included $2 million for the acquisition and development of new community gardens.

http://www.seattle.gov/parks/levy/parks_levy_poster.pdf

In the summer of 2009 the City designated $20,000 of this funding toward construction of the Hazel Heights P-Patch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hazel Heights Fundraising Summary

The community raised the funds to acquire the property, which is quite unique for a p-patch in Seattle. The property is owned by Seattle’s P-Patch Trust. http://www.ppatchtrust.org/

The community has also raised most of the funding for the planning, permitting and construction of the community garden, including the 8,000 gallon underground cistern and the innovative rainwater harvesting system. City, County and State grants, as well as foundation contributions, have played a huge role in this project, in addition to hundreds of individual donations.

In 2009, a contract was signed with the construction contractor, and a final budget was determined. The community set a goal of $80,000 to complete the fundraising for construction of the garden.

Funding raised to date toward the 2009 goal of $80,000:
· $20,000 from the Seattle Parks and Green Spaces Levy
· Up to $10,000 pledged from the P-Patch Trust to match community contributions.
This leaves a current balance of $50,000 to be raised as of September 2, 2009.

The fundraising plan for the remaining $50,000 includes:

- Groundswell NW has pledged up to $5,000 to match individual donations that are raised through their tax-deductible organization. More information will be posted about this pledge in a separate post.

-Any portion of the construction contingency fund that is not needed for the actual construction contract will be applied toward the fundraising goal. As of 9/2/09 the balance available in the contingency fund is approximately $20,000.

- Donations from Fremont's generous residents and businesses, and citizens interested in Seattle's p-patches, open space, and livable communities.

Hazel Heights P-Patch History

Fremont's newest public green space is the result of extensive community collaboration.

Hazel and Don Hurlbert lived for nearly 50 years at 4204 Baker Avenue NW on the west side of Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. Don worked at Seattle's Washington Park Arboretum and was a proficient beekeeper. The Hurlberts gardened on the extra lot between their house and NW 42nd Street. The p-patch is named in honor of Hazel Hurlbert.

When Hazel Hurlbert died in 2003, nephew Tom Hurlbert generously held the house and extra lot off the market long enough for the neighborhood to organize its purchase, and to secure the vacant lot for future use as a community garden.

Fremont is Seattle's ninth mostly densely populated neighborhood and there has been no community garden to serve the area west of Fremont Avenue.

Former Fremont Neighborhood Council president Beckey Sukovaty had worked with the City of Seattle for years to identify suitable p-patch sites in Fremont and approached every source she could think of about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

In 2003, Beckey and other neighbors collaborated with Jack Tomkinson of Urban Sparks, an anonymous donor, P-Patch Trust and Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods to purchase and preserve the vacant lot at 4200 Baker Ave NW. The land is now owned by P-Patch Trust and a conservation easement was recorded guaranteeing that the site will be used for "community garden and open space in perpetuity."

The Hurlbert's house at 4204 Baker Ave NW was purchased by lifelong Seattle resident Pete Hanning, who is a strong supporter of the adjacent community garden


A new steering committee, ably led by David Clarridge, obtained a $100,000 Neighborhood Matching Fund grant, and we were off on the dollar chase. Due to the steep slope this is the only Seattle p-patch to date to require a SEPA review and master use permit, so the cost of construction is higher than a typical community garden. Midway through the project, Dave was taken from us by cancer. A memorial will be established at the garden.



To promote environmental sustainability, Hazel Heights P-Patch will have an 8,000 gallon cistern under the central plaza, fed by rainwater catchment from two neighbors' roofs. The rainwater system and improved alley will reduce stormwater runoff.

Contributing to Seattle's food security is a major aim of the project. One of the nineteen garden plots, plus on-site fruit trees, will be maintained by volunteers to provide fresh produce for local food banks.

We are grateful for the significant funding and support provided by:

• The anonymous donor who made possible the acquisition of the P-Patch site
• Jack Tomkinson and Urban Sparks
  
• City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Department of Transportation and P-Patch Program


• Seattle City Council, particularly Councilmembers Jean Godden and Richard Conlin


• Family and friends of David Clarridge


• Dan Mageau (Geoengineers), Frank Shields (Excavators Northwest), John Bjorkman (K&L Gates)


• Fremont Neighborhood Council and Fremont Neighborhood Fund


• Hurlbert family members
• King County Council, particularly Councilmember Larry Phillips


• King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks


• Norcliffe Foundation, The Seattle Foundation, Ferguson Foundation, Starbucks Coffee Company


• P-Patch Trust


• State of Washington Legislature, particularly Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Representative Mary Lou Dickerson


• Groundswell NW


• Everyone who voted for the 2008 Seattle Parks and Green Space Levy


• Countless grass roots supporters.
  

Children and Education at Hazel Heights P-Patch

Children and students have already been actively involved at the site, and will be involved again this fall when the construction is complete.

In addition, the larger community will benefit from the demonstration rainwater harvesting system, as well as programs on composting and master gardening.


Photos of neighborhood children at community potlucks at the p-patch.





School Involvement:
Hazel Heights offers an opportunity for students to learn about gardening, nutrition, their community, and green space. The view and natural environment of the site provide opportunities for learning about our beautiful natural geography, city topography, and native flora and fauna. Two public elementary schools are within walking distance to the site. B.F. Day is looking forward to partnering with the project once the garden is established. West Woodland Elementary is one mile away and will be invited to become involved with the garden. Many neighbors send their children to West Woodland and B.F. Day, as they are the reference schools for the neighborhood.

Pacific Crest Montessori –
Pacifci Crest Montessori is a Pre-K through Eight private school within walking distance to the garden. Pacific Crest students explore the neighborhood and community as part of their curriculum, as well as the environment. This will be a walk-to destination for some students. The head of the school is eager to partner once the garden is established.

Billings Middle School –



Middle school students eradicated invasive plants and stabilized slopes in a yearlong service project. Hazel Heights hopes to continue a relationship with the school once the garden is established.

Service Learning Opportunities:
Gardening the Patch for the food bank – Volunteers will maintain one plot for our food bank partner Lettuce Link. All produce harvested from that plot will go to underserved neighbors. Additionally, extra produce from the other plots can be donated to Lettuce Link. A training session will be held to instruct growers about which foods best fit the needs of food bank clients. Food security is on the minds of many friends and neighbors in the community and being able to meet their needs is critical.

Teaching Opportunities:
Hazel Heights P-Patch will serve as an educational outlet for all neighbors, not just those who have a garden plot. Master Gardening and composting classes will be offered to instruct neighbors on best practices and soil building.

Seattle Tilth and Master Gardeners will assist the community in establishing a garden and teach best practices.

Master Composters will train our gardeners and neighbors on how to compost and build soil.

Water conservation demonstration project – drought-tolerant plants, composting, drip irrigation system.

Rainwater catchment system involving two neighboring houses –
The site will have an innovative 8,000-gallon underground rainwater cistern to hold runoff from two neighboring houses. Signs and display boards will explain the project.

Honeybee project –
A neighbor has expressed interest in having a bee demonstration project in the garden. She has established hives and a successful honey business. The former property owner, Don Hurlburt, was the apiarist for the Arboretum.

Groundbreaking Event, May 11, 2009

On May 11, 2009 volunteers and elected officials celebrated the groundbreaking for the construction of Hazel Heights P-Patch.

City, County and State funds have contributed to the construction of the garden on this steep site, and to the innovative rainwater harvesting system and 8,000 gallon underground cistern.

On hand at the celebration were the following elected officials, or their representatives, who have played key roles in this project: State Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, State Representative Mary Lou Dickerson, King County Councilmember Larry Phillips, Seattle City Council president Richard Conlin and Councilmember Jean Godden.

Media coverage of the event included:

Seattle Channel's CityStream 6/4/09: http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=3070922
Fremont Universe blog: http://www.fremontuniverse.com/2009/05/11/groundbreaking-at-hazel-heights-p-patch/
Ballard News Tribune: http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2009/05/06/news/groundbreaking-new-fremont-p-patch-monday
P-Patch Post: http://didia.smugmug.com/Fremont/Hazel-Heights-P-Patch/Media-Hazel-Heights-P-Patch/4525926_9TyBf#564922737_ZwT5V-X2-LB

Night Out potluck

Tonight was another of our fun annual potlucks, part of Seattle's citywide "Night Out" parties. These gatherings are a good way to get to know your neighbors, and to catch up on what's happening in the community, like the progress on our Hazel Heights P-Patch.

And there is always great food, such as Steve's homemade peach ice cream.