Fall 2017 Work Party

Every fall, the Hazel Heights gardeners get together to prep the P-Patch for the winter months.  It's one of two events that requires all gardeners to attend.  It is always held the last Sunday in October and is a fun time to catch up with fellow gardeners, work together on a common goal and learn about pruning and other winter preparations.  It's a big reason why Hazel Heights is such a close knit community. 

Our work party kicks off with a bountiful pot-luck brunch.  Then it's off to the P-Patch.  This fall we accomplished so much!

Weeding the Common Areas

Cleaning up the back entrance

Prepping the Giving Garden for winter

Ridding the South Slope of Invasives

Working on the South Slope

Cleaning up the Front Entrance

Tending the Raspberry Patch

Inspecting the Grapevine

Raking the Fallen Fig Leaves

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!!!

October 25th - Our 6th Annual Hazel Heights Fall Work Party and Potluck

Come one come all to the Hazel Heights Work Party and Potluck 

Date:  Sunday, October 25, 2015
Time:  11am to no later than 1:30pm 
Place: 4212 Baker NW (Toby & Beckey's, two houses north of p-patch) 

Please sign in, catch up a bit with each other over goodies from our potluck feast and figure out who's doing what for the work party, then on to the garden. 

All Hazel Heights supporters and neighbors are most welcome, not just plot gardeners, so please help spread the word! This is one of only two "everyone" events each year, requiring  attendance from at least one representative of each individual plot (other is spring brunch organizing meeting & work party on first Saturday of every March).

Here's more important event details, please skim through:

* There's always the chance we'll get more rain than shine--finally--but that just emphasizes the importance of getting our P-Patch community garden ready for winter. So please start digging out those rain coats & rubber boots just in case. We'll set up the large umbrella or canopy on cistern plaza if needed.

* For the potluck please bring whatever you'd like, great if has some HH-grown ingredients but not necessary. Coffee and assorted teas provided. (If you find yourself short on time just bring yourself, there's always plenty.)
* Planned work party activities: 

> Tending front entrance & other common areas by weeding, bark mulching, planting winter colorspots
> Digging up summer weed growth from main access paths & upper cistern tap area

> Grooming raspberry patch & railing repairs 

> Digging & replanting horseradish> Getting Giving Garden plot ready for winter harvests & collecting donations for food bank

> Light pruning of any larger common area plants that have gotten out-of-control (heavier pruning needs to wait until they're dormant)
>  Toolshed tidying

> Finish beating back any overgrowth by native plant slope fence along North 42nd Street (soil likely too wet to work on slope behind fence)
> Pre-prepping beehive area for our new colony arriving next spring (volunteer beekeeper Paul's order wasn't fulfilled this season due to nation-wide shortage, already has on order for next year & backup "Plan B[ee]" so we can welcome our honey bees back!)

* Be sure to double check & update your info on spreadsheet records provided by our volunteer hours coordinator Debbie Murray! All hours volunteered by everyone are important! She sends to P-patch Program following 10/31 reporting deadline.  

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!

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