Luckily I live close in an area where there is a communal garden, the P-Patch. The term "P-Patch" originated in the Seattle area and refers to an urban communal public site that provides small leased plots to individuals for organic gardening. The “P” in P-patch stands for Picardo. The original Seattle P-Patch was Raine Picardo’s 2.5 acre farm, located in Seattle’s Wedgewood neighborhood. The P-patch program was developed during the hard economic times of the early 1970s as a way for people to grow and share their harvest with neighbors and friends.
There are currently 73 P-Patch sites in the Seattle area and every one of them is unique. If you have not wandered to your local P-Patch plot yet, you should make an effort to do so in the near future, as most of them are open year round. It’s a great place to meet and talk to gardeners of various skill levels. Most people are very open to sharing advice and plants with you, so just ask!
If you are looking for your very own plot, check out the Seattle.gov P-Patch site for more information and to find the nearest P-Patch in your area. The cost is minimal and is usually just an annual fee with a chance for renewal each year.
This is my third year at my little patch. This year I brought lots of seeds packets to plant this year along with a detail planting sketch and hopefully, I will not deviate from, like I did the previous two years. I mainly order my seeds from Johnny's Selected Seeds, which I found to be a very reliable seed and plant source with organic and heirloom choices.
Hopefully you have studiously weeded out your garden before they go to seed. Now is the time to plant your peas, beets, onions, carrots, lettuces, and mustard greens. Also think about what items that you need to sow indoors to transplant later like your squashes and pumpkins, and remember now is NOT the time to plant your tomatoes, wait until after Mother's Day - be patience and you will be rewarded with plump juicy tomatoes later this summer!
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