Native Plant Slope Rehab Project

We are lucky urban farmers.  Our P-patch comes with a gorgeous view.  Along with that view, however, comes a very steep slope.  In order to ensure that our P-patch has a stable foundation, we need to protect and maintain the long-term integrity of the slope.  

That's why, in mid-July, geotech engineer Dan Mageau, helped to train our Native Plant Slope rehab team and volunteers on how to properly maintain the south slope of the P-patch with hand-shovel work. 

This hand-work is necessary to remove excess soil buildup over the years from some ongoing normal surface erosion (on lower part of slope and where it's starting to encroach on the street), without compromising the slope's currently stable underlying glacial till.

The purpose of the training session was to ensure anyone working or supervising the rehab of the slope had a good base of knowledge and skills to deal with any minor ongoing normal surface erosion that may occur going forward.

Dan also showed the volunteers how to securely protect any exposed soil with burlap or similar material.

Thank you Dan for your generous ongoing support!!!

Fall Clean-up and Overwintering Options

The October 25^th pot luck and work party signals the official end of the summer growing season for the Hazel Heights p-patch. 

But the growing season doesn’t have to end if you don’t want it to.  With our temperate Pacific Northwest climate, we can plant February through November and harvest year round.

Here are some things to consider if you are interested in overwintering.

What to Plant

• Root crops, brassicas (broccoli, kale, cabbage), salad crops and peas. Can be enjoyed up to the first frost of November or longer if the winter is mild. 
• Hardier crops like fava beans, garlic, purple sprouting broccoli, and hardy greens like kale, collards and Brussels sprouts will keep growing through a wet winter. 
• And don’t forget, the Giving Garden harvests all year round as fresh vegetables are needed no matter the season. With fewer gardeners growing duing the colder months, overwintering has an even bigger impact for the Giving Garden.

How to Prep

• Loosen the soil where other plants have been harvested, use compost to mulch around the new plants when you set them out
• Too much nitrogen in the soil increases the water in the soil and plans for faster growth but makes plants more susceptible to frost damage.
• Use no fertilizer at all September through February. Come spring, you can top-dress the soil around your overwintered plants with a high-nitrogen organic fertilizer or composted manure to spur faster spring growth.

Plan ahead for the Spring

•          What you do with your garden in the fall can make a difference to your spring planting.
•          Plants pull different types of nutrients from the ground so consider where your vegetables were planted in the fall and plan to change locations.
•          Different plants breed or are susceptible to different types of pests, take inventory of your soil and plantings to ensure you aren’t hosting a breeding ground for pests.

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.