Invasive Plants – Do you have them in your plot?
July 19, 2023
You might be surprised to learn that Calendula is listed on the P-Patch Program’s Invasive Plant Guidelines. Calendula is listed in the column “Plants of Concern” and “Containment is recommended.”
“Best practices are to deadhead prior to seed set and frequent harvesting.”
If allowed to go to seed, Calendula broadcasts thousands of seeds to other plots across the P-Patch. If you have Calendula in your plot, please be considerate of your plot neighbors and deadhead the seed heads or remove the plants to the green waste bunker in the next week or two. Your plot neighbors will be grateful.
P-Patch 50th Anniversary Celebration
July 12, 2023
Save the date for the 50th Anniversary celebration! This celebration will take place at Magnuson Park P-Patch on Saturday, September 9th from 3:00PM-6:00PM.
Reminders
July 5, 2023
COMMUNITY HOURS: July 15th is the “best practices” deadline to have performed and reported at least 4 of your 8 community hours. The work party this coming Saturday would be a good opportunity!
WORK PARTY: 2nd Saturday Work Party – Saturday, July 8th, 9 am – 1 pm. We’ll be teaming up to work on tasks from the Task List in the shed.
PATHWAYS: Please take time to weed the pathways surrounding your plot, including gravel pathways. Weeding pathways adjacent to your plot is part of the required maintenance of your plot, and it doesn’t take long.
Bulk Compost Order
March 8, 2023
The wonderful Kathy Dugaw is organizing our yearly bulk compost purchase, to be delivered around the first week in April. Gardeners may purchase compost by wheelbarrow (large orange or blue wheelbarrows – around 6 cu ft each).
Cost: $8.50 per wheelbarrow. Gardeners can pay by check or cash. Note: This is an increase from last year in cost from Cedar Grove both for the compost & the delivery.
If you are interested in ordering compost, please submit your order by Wednesday, March 29.
How to Purchase
- Email Kathy Dugaw and indicate how many wheelbarrows load you want.
- Make arrangements with Kathy to mail your payment or meet at the garden.
Any gardeners who are interested but cannot afford to order compost may request one wheelbarrow load at no cost.
2023 Friendly Seasonal Reminders
February 26, 2023
Despite the snowy weather this weekend, spring is on it’s way! Below are a few friendly reminders as we begin a new year of growing and harvesting.
Work parties will be held every second Saturday of the month through the growing season, from 9 am to 1 pm. We also have “Third Tuesday” evening work parties from 6 to 8 pm on April 18th, May 16th, and June 20th. We have a lot of fun, no experience is
required, and everyone is welcome. For more information, contact Mark Huston.
Perennial Plots Available: Magnuson P-Patch has several small perennial plots available for gardeners and outside volunteers who would like to be able to garden and participate in P-Patch activities. For more information, contact Mark Huston.
50th Anniversary Celebration! 2023 is the 50th anniversary of Seattle’s amazing P-Patch Program! If you’re interested in helping to organize a celebration event
at Magnuson, contact Jason Schneier.
Friendly Fall Seasonal Reminders
September 9, 2022
As we approach Autumn, excitement about fall foliage & heartier soups abounds! Also, no better time than the present to share a few important seasonal reminders:
Much Appreciation! First and foremost; thank you to all who stepped up in so many ways to support one another during these continued unprecedented times by watering for others, harvesting for the food banks and checking in on your neighbors. The power of community gardens was clearly on display over these past seasons. Thank you for being a resource to your communities by donating fresh produce, answering new gardener’s questions and for setting examples of how to maximize yields in small growing spaces. I am inspired by your work and look forward next season.
Winterize your Plots: The P-Patch program requires each gardener to continue planting through the winter, plant cover crops, or apply mulch to protect soil over the wet months ahead. The expectation is that your plot is ready for winter by October 31.
To winterize your plot, please remove all non-organic material (i.e., tomato cages) then choose an option below:
Option #1: Grow winter crops such as garlic, onions, kale, etc.
Option #2: Plant cover crops to dig your soil in the spring to add nitrogen as they decompose.
Option #3: Mulch. Protect your soil with a layer of organic material then dig it into the soil in the springtime:
a.) Chop up spent plants and cover your plot.
b.) Create a blanket of leaves on your plot, or
c.) Create a good blend of green (spent plants) and brown (leaves). Layer 12” deep. Cover with burlap.
Plots can use any combination of the options. The goal is to minimize bare soil to prevent compaction and weed growth.
Community Service Hours: P-Patch gardeners are required to complete a minimum of 8 hours of community service per year (counted November 1-October 31); not related to the date of plot assignment. Log your volunteer hours on a tracking sheet in the tool shed/chest, OR enter your community hours on the on-line portal, by Oct 31st.
End of Season Celebrations: Celebrate, keep your P Patch active with fun events, while keeping each other safe! Safety in the Garden
Growing for Giving: Let’s not waste food but rather continue to share our bumper crops with our neighbors in need. In November, P Patch Staff will be reaching out to your garden’s Giving Garden leads to collect 2022 donation totals. Share the Harvest
SeedMoney Grant for New Retaining Wall
August 25, 2022
In the early fall we’ll build another retaining wall, which is the major part of our SeedMoney grant.
Just to briefly recap, SeedMoney awarded Magnuson P-Patch $5000 to improve our food bank plots in several ways. One of these was to build an additional retaining wall, similar to the one we built last year near the dog park entrance to the P-Patch. The purpose of this retaining wall is two-fold: (1) to make the food bank plots more level; and (2) to prevent weeds in the accessibility gravel paths.
The work itself will be done on three Saturday-Sunday weekends: September 24-25, October 8-9, and October 15-16, all 9am to 1pm. Susan Eggers and Steve Morales will be supervising the project
Magnuson P-Patch’s 20th Anniversary Celebration!
June 24, 2022
The 20th anniversary celebration for Magnuson P-Patch was a big success! Greg Wong, Director of the Department of Neighborhoods, gave a thoughtful presentation. Alex Pedersen, District 4 City Councilman, joined in the fun. P-Patch Garden Coordinator extraordinaire Kenya Fredie attended, along with former P-Patch Garden Coordinator Wendy McClure who traveled all the way from Lopez Island to attend! We had several photo boards showing the garden under construction. Best of all, the celebration was followed by an awesome potluck, with plenty of food, beverages, and lively conversation. Everyone agreed that it was good to be able to have these gatherings again, and we need to have them more often.