Interbay

One Hundred Gardeners Strong
(submitted by an Interbay P-Patch Gardener)

In the mid-seventies, just as community gardens started in Seattle, the Interbay P-Patchers began gardening on a thick clay cap of an old landfill between Queen Anne and Magnolia. The site was large, in the middle of a wasteland and phantom dumping was common; but, so were pheasants, quail, and songbirds. The sound of the rail yard was always near. The drainage on the clay was poor, but the gardeners were a hearty bunch, hauling mountains of organic materials to build up their soils. 

Then came the nineties, and visions of a golf course planned for the P-Patch land came ever nearer. The City plan for the golf course was drawn; the gardens had to move! Bulldozers invaded the peaceful turf of Interbay. Gardeners, one hundred strong, moved plants to safety. As soon as the new garden site was ready, they moved precious soil and plants collected from loved ones to the "New Interbay P-Patch". Gardeners worked all through the summer of 1992 to make themselves a new home. A tool shed--always dreamed of--became a reality. A Food Bank collection station was built to hold the bounty of donations for delivery to those in need. Real compost bins graced the site. Fruit trees formed the foundation of an urban orchard.

And today the Interbay P-Patch is a place of peace, beauty and productivity. It was designed and built by the many who cared passionately about preserving a place to grow food and friends!