Cool Gardens: A gardening gem in the Emerald City
In my series Cool Gardens, highlighting inspiring and unusual growing places, I found a real gem – Pike Place Urban Garden, Seattle. The Emerald City lives up to its nickname. Pictures by Gary Welford.
Yes, Seattle! This year, I took Gary on a surprise rail trip across the USA (Seattle-Chicago-Boston-New York) for our joint 50th birthday.
Washington State and Seattle captured my heart. It didn’t rain, people were laid-back and friendly. What a scenic location! On the Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific, with the 14,411ft glacier-covered volcano Mt. Rainier and the Cascades in one direction, the almost 8,000ft Olympic Mountains over the Sound, still snow-capped at the end of May.
For other great parks in the US, read my reviews of the Waterfall Garden in Seattle; the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston and Strawberry Fields in Central Park, New York.
Pike Place Urban Garden – Hidden rooftop garden
A prime tourist spot is Pike Place Market, a maze of fish, fresh produce stalls and unusual little shops. What you might miss is on the roof – a 2,000sq ft community garden. In May 2013, Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority and Seattle Urban Farm Company (SUFC) teamed up to create the garden on the underused roof patio.
In true North-West ecological style, SUFC designed the Pike Place Urban Garden around materials on site. Reclaimed juniper lumber from an abandoned construction project created the raised beds. The wide beds and pathways, built with disabled access in mind, so Senior Center residents can join in.
Produce donated to the elderly and poor
There’s a tool shed, miniature library and schedule of chores, with a great bunch of volunteers. Pike Market Senior Center and Food Bank receive the produce.
A reflective and peaceful place, despite the Alaska Highway beneath you. There’s a replica of Pike Place Market’s mascot, Rachel the Piggy Bank to welcome you. There are eclectic pieces all around – a pig-footed chair, sticks painted like snakes and giraffes – it’s fun.
Crops grow out of every conceivable container – cans, zinc baths, etc – lettuce, herbs, onions, tomatoes and much more, brightened up by annuals and companion plants to keep away pests. A sign tells you how many pounds of produce has been donated so far to the Senior Centre and Food Bank.
Belltown, home of grunge, goes upmarket
The space is open during daylight hours – a great place to chat and admire the stunning view. One of the volunteers lamented how much the Belltown area had changed. The home of grunge is now hip, with nowhere decent to live under $1,000,000 and a $70,000-a-year income classed as low-paid.
The dichotomy of Belltown was summed up by an experience of mine. The Whisky Bar on 2nd Street, with the most expensive tot at $1,200, was opposite a hostel for the homeless.
To find out more about the Seattle Urban Farm Company’s projects, visit www.seattleurbanfarmco.com.
