Water -- It's Everything!

What a great summer we had!  We all love the warm sunny days.  But many of us don’t ever think about the fact that a sunny summer means the potential of a drought. 

Here in Seattle, and specifically Hazel Heights, we were heading toward a drought.  Seattle Public Utilities asked residents to conserve 10% of their water usage.  And as of August 7^th, we had just 19 inches in our cistern.  That means at c. 100 gallons per inch, that's 1900 gallons, or about 950 of our watering cans.  At 50 watering cans a day, we forecasted that we had enough water in our cistern to last just three weeks.

After our mid-August rain storm, the water level increased about 6 inches, or 700+ gallons.  Giving us enough water to get us through September. 

As of 9/10, the water level is about 1,800 gallons above the lower tap. Our storm on September 5th, gave us another 1/5^th  of an inch.  We are well positioned for the fall.  

Here's a graphic showing the water level of our cistern over the summer.

The 2015 Summer Growing Season

8 Water Saving Tips for the Rest of the Summer

It’s been a tough summer for gardeners and plants in the NW.  July 2015 was the hottest month ever recorded in Seattle, with an average temperature of 71.2 degrees – which doesn’t seem very remarkable until you consider that in July alone, we experienced 10 days with high temperatures in the 90s.  In over 120 years of weather records, Seattle had never seen more than 9 days with temperatures at or above 90 degrees in a single year, let alone a single month.

Due to our unusually warm and dry summer, the City of Seattle has asked residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce their usage of water by 10%.  Here are some ways to save water at our P-patch: 

1. Water in the morning.  Watering in the middle of the day will speed evaporation and can burn foliage on particularly hot days
2. Be proactive about watering plants in containers, once the soil has dried out in pots, it’s difficult to get it rehydrated
3. Prepare the dirt around the base of your plantings to allow greater absorption
4. Water close to the ground rather than spraying water from up high
5. Use mulch around the base of the plant to insulate the any moisture.  Up to 70% of water can evaporate from the soil on a hot day if you don’t have mulch as a protective layer on top. 
6. Increase organic matter – it builds humus in the soil which allows it to absorb many times its own weight in water that is then available for plant growth. 
7. Weed control:  Weeds steal water that would otherwise be available for desirable plants.
8. Be picky about which plant you water.  Don’t waste water on unhealthy or undesirable plants remove or replace them instead.

I’m sure there are more water-saving tips. Please feel free to share them.

Gardening Tricks for the Rest of Us

One of the reasons we all like gardening is the affordable produce we get from our plots.  Fresh, organic produce gets really expensive when you shop at local grocery stores and farmers' markets.  Growing your own organic fruits and vegetables is a way to save on your grocery bill.  But, if you aren't careful, gardening can get expensive too.  

Here are a couple garden hacks that HH P-Patch gardeners may find helpful:  

1.  Use cattle fencing for vining produce.

You can buy a 2-foot by 6-foot piece of cattle fencing – a raw steel wire grid – for about $20. You can turn it into an arch, or clip the piece in half and zip-tie the top to create a narrow V. Either option is great for trying tomatoes, beans, melons and other vining produce. The fence is sturdier than traditional tomato cages, and it lets you use your garden space more efficiently.

2.  Make your own compost bin.

Many of us struggle with the dirt we were dealt in our gardens.  Compost is one of the best ways to boost your garden’s fertility. But it typically requires a lot of it to change the composition of your dirt -- which can get expensive if you buy it.  Compost is easy to make and you don’t even need a fancy compost bin. For smaller space, you can make a simple trash can compost bin.

3.  Try companion planting.

Companion planting is an excellent way to increase the overall health of your garden – for free. Just take your plants and position them so they benefits from their neighbors. For instance, marigolds repel pests, so plant them next to your tomatoes. 

These ideas were taken from 10 Garden Hacks for Under $20.  

You Won't Want to Miss the Edible Plant Sale - May 2nd - 3rd

This weekend is the Edible Plant Sale!  It's the largest selection of organically, sustainably and locally grown vegetable plants.  




When:  Sat. and Sun., May 2 and 3, 9 a.m.-3 p.m 
Where:  Meridian Park (4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, Seattle 98103) 
Cost:  FREE 

The Early Bird Sale begins Friday, May 1, 5-7 p.m.

For more information and tickets, visit Seattle Tilth 

It's Spring! Who needs more inspiration than that?

You know it's spring when the city water gets turned on at the P-Patch.  

Last weekend was a gorgeous day to be in the garden.  David and I did our spring cleaning, planted a few things and even started tomatoes.  Wish us luck!  We picked up on Karen's cup-n-copper strategy to keep the slugs away.  It seems to be working so far for Karen!

Karen's Beautiful Spring Garden

Cup-n-Copper to protect the pea vines

Toby and Peter worked hard to get the city water spigots turned on last weekend as well.  Thank you boys!  Keep in mind, the snow pack levels are still far below normal & city water is a huge P-patch program expense, so please conserve where you can. 

How is your garden shaping up so far this spring?  Please send me your pictures.  I'll get them posted to the blog for all to see.

Spring Work Party - What a Success

Thanks to everyone who participated at the Spring 2015 work party.  The P-Patch is looking really good!  Plus, we got to enjoy a lovely pot-luck brunch.

Prepping for Spring	The Brunch Buffet	Beautifying The Front Entrance

Our Youngest Gardener	Men and their tools	Two minds are better than one!

March 7: Spring Brunch Organizing Meeting, Potluck & Work Party

Kick-off the 2015 growing season with your fellow Hazel Heights p-patch gardeners and neighbors

Date:  Saturday of every March--3/7 (Rain or Shine)

Time:  promptly at 10 a.m.

Where:  4212 Baker Avenue NW (two doors up from the P-patch site)

Our organizing meeting which usually takes an hour or so, will be followed by our work party/new gardener orientation (usually about another hour or so, wrapping up no later than 12:30).

Bring a dish to share and wear your gardening clothes. 

Proposed agenda items & activities include:

• Welcoming new gardeners

• Reviewing P-Patch guidelines & other great info from P-Patch program

• Planning,site leadership & committees

• Sharing our gardening ideas & seed swap (bring your extra seeds!)

• Free gardening goodies & supplies from the P-Patch program & others

• Update on how our honey bees are doing

• Preparing our community garden for Spring!

Mosaic: Installation time!

The time we've all been waiting for is here! Our Hazel Heights mosaic sign is going to be installed next week. And we need your help!

Here's the schedule of events, and how you can help:

Tuesday, June 25 - 9am start* - Mosaic gets put up on the wall

We need volunteers to bring food/beverages & photo document the process.

Wednesday or Thursday, June 26 or 27 - Clean up/grout prep: remove tile tape, remove excess thinset, etc [specific times TBA]

Volunteers needed to help with clean up/grout prep, bring food/beverages & photo document.

Saturday, June 29 - 8am start* - Grouting 

Volunteers needed to bring food/beverages & photo document.


Contact us if you'd like to help!

New bees on the block

A new queen and were installed our hive at Hazel Heights on April 15... here's a peek at the process! The lovely pictures were taken by Mileaux Welty.

Our volunteer Beekeeper, Paul Bryant, is all suited up! He's taken the top cover off of our bee hive. He shared a lot of information on bee culture during the installation. We're getting Italian bees and a new queen. The majority of the hive has travels coach, but the queen gets special treatment in a private box of her own. The white plug is a marshmallow that her workers will eat to let her out. In the few days it takes to work through the plug, the queen will acclimate to her new home and be likely to stay.

New Italian worker bees

Our new queen bee

Paul takes a frame out of the hive (with some work-in-progress from the previous tenants)

And then transfers the bees to their new home. He does this by simply shaking the box, and the bees fall out like cereal! (Not quite the honey-crunch I want to eat, however.)

Ready...here we go!

Gentle shakes get the bees out of their box.

When all the bees are out, Paul places the queen in the hive, still in her travelling box.

Finally, the frame is carefully replaced... and the hive closed back up.

 We hope these bees will find our garden a sweet new home!

Mosaic update!

The mosaic work for our P-Patch sign is coming along beautifully, thanks to Vicki and Cheryl! Vicki sends us these pictures from the work parties held on Nov 26 and Dec 7.

Here is the progress of the mosaic to date! Beautiful, isn't it? I've tried to get the colors to match from picture to picture, but they might be different in reality.



The volunteer group (Cheryl, Vicki, Paula, Jack) at work!

Beckey and Toby working away on the work party on December 7:

Hazel Heights gardeners Judy & Sara busily working away!

Mosaic in progress

After over two years gathering great ideas from our gardeners, neighbors and other community members, the design work for our mosaic is almost complete! Artists Vicki Robinson and Cheryl Knox have a template for the final artwork. There will also be more opportunities to participate during our mosaic production and installation process, so make sure to keep an eye out for those announcements if you'd like to help out.

Mosaic design taped to front wall

The materials will be very durable (grouted glass). Seattle Mosaic Arts in Wallingford has volunteered their time to tutor the two artists though the process, as the 4x 7' mosaic involves a good deal of steps. Claire and her assists have provided ongoing support to the process.

The glass pieces are put on a semi-adhesive surface (contact paper) underneath is the original drawing.  

Vicki and Cheryl try out iridescent glass on the honeybee's wings.

When the image is ready to be put in place, a much more adhesive film of plastic is put on top, and then it's pulled away from the contact paper. The piece is then ready to be set into the permanent surface with thinslip.

Here's Claire Barnett at Seattle Mosaic Arts tutoring us in the process.

Claire Barnett at Seattle Mosaic Arts

Vicki and Cheryl created sample mosaics to learn more about the indirect process of making mosaics.

Sample "test" leaf made by Vicki and Cheryl

It's going to bee beautiful!

Neighborhood Night Out 2012

Hazel Heights P-Patch has been the organizing sponsor of the Night Out for the 4200 block of Baker Avenue NW for the last 6 years. This is an annual event hosted by the Seattle Police Department as a national Crime Prevention event. Night Out is an opportunity for neighbors to close down their streets and get to know one another through social activities. Both police and elected officials have graced our events in past years.

This year, Hazel Heights P-Patch was again the organizing sponsor for Night Out 2012 for a potluck gathering in front of the P-Patch. We met some new neighbors and had some tasty barbecue!

Pictures to come!

A place for tools

Our new small but mighty permanent "Dave's Tool Shed" is ready to use!

There's a place for a broom and garden tools ...

... a seed exchange and first aid kit ...

 Walt's organic fertilizer and various other gardening supplies.

We even have a growing library of gardening books ready when you have a question when you're on site.

Hooks for the garden cart are on the outside, with garden buckets/totes, burlap & bamboo poles for all to use tucked in alongside.

Special thanks to Peter Wilson, who took the lead on working out all the design details based on the sketchy input from site co-coords & gardeners, and volunteered his great craftsmanship over many hours with beautiful and durable results. He also donated the metal roofing material.

Thanks also go to Salat Tawinwong & Toby Thaler for helping out with construction, and to Jack Tompkinson for the glass tiles.

And of course we're so grateful to Judie Clarridge and the Clarridge family for funding. The tool shed project, which is named in memory of her late husband Dave, who was instrumental in getting Hazel Heights off the ground.

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).

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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.

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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".

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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!
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Hazel Heights sends a big thank you to Groundswell NW!