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Giving Gardens really are productive–
It’s important to tell the city what your GG has Donated. 2020’s harvest exceeded 20 tons of fresh, organic, local produce given to food banks and mission kitchen programs in Seattle. We know even more was grown and given because we provided seeds and starts to programs which do not participate in reporting to the city, including gardens supported directly by the food banks, and food bank clients. We’re thinking that despite the heat and dry weather 2021 was even more productive. Please respond to the city’s survey for 2021’s produce pounds: that way we know that the Giving Gardens will be given the credit so totally deserved.
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How Did Our 2021 Spring Greens Grow?
They grew very well indeed. (Thanks Delridge GG and Hillman City GG for sharing some harvest pictures.)
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2021 Update – SGGN continuing its mission
SGGN’s committed Ballard Sprouts volunteers grew and distributed more than 22,000 vegetable starts to Giving Gardens, Food Bank clients and kitchen gardens. An experienced and passionate gardener is requesting seeds for distribution to the Giving Gardens and food banks in 2022. Giving Gardeners were reimbursed their expenses for tools and rabbit fences. Despite the best efforts of local rabbits, the Giving Gardeners themselves are continuing to harvest TONS of produce for food banks. It’s joyful work, outdoors — please consider your own opportunities to help out in 2022’s spring.
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Master Gardeners Growing Groceries Classes Registering for Spring 2021
Here’s a link to the schedule of classes and registration and to resource information. They’re dividing the classes into three presentations: brassicas and other greens, peas & beans, & warmer weather crops like tomatos, eggplant and cukes.
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Thank you, Seattle
Our deepest gratitude for the support of our crowd-funding campaign in November. Thanks to you the Sprouts planting and distribution program continues, the seeds from donors will be distributed, and we can help the Giving Gardens with maintenance needs. Funds are used for seed-starting mix, seeds, transplanting soil, and heating mats; additional funds are used to support the food bank giving gardens themselves with replacement wood for raised beds, repair of water systems, and purchase of small tools. We are so grateful to the local nurseries City Peoples, Urban Earth Nursery, West Seattle Nursery, Swansons, Sky Nursery, and Bellevue Nursery — and to Renee’s Seeds/Cornucopia and to Territorial, Burpee, and…
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Gardener Updates
We Reached our Goal!
Seedmoney Donation Campaign Starts Nov 15th!
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In English & Español: el Programa — cultivo de hortalizas; vegetable gardening, natural yard care
¡El Programa de Control de Malas Hierbas Nocivas del Condado de King, en colaboración con Seattle Public Utilities, está ofreciendo un taller gratuito en español sobre el manejo natural del jardín, cultivo de hortalizas y el control de las malas hierbas. Este taller es perfecto para los profesionales del jardín y el paisaje, y también cualquier otra persona interesada en el manejo natural del jardín. ¡Nos encantaría verlo allí! Fecha: 6 de noviembre de 2019 Hora: 6-8pm Cómo registrarse: Rsolo únete a nosotros Lugar: Centro comunitario de Tukwila, 12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila, WA 98168 Para más información, póngase en contacto con 206-218-3343 o molson@kingcounty.gov. Se servirán comida y refrescos gratuitos. Créditos de recertificación…
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Winter Veggies
Some of the Gardens want to extend the veggie growing season so that produce can be provided (nearly) year-around. We agreed to try growing a limited number of starts for those who’re going to brave the rains, slugs, and grey days. We’ve started collards, two kinds of chard, tatsoi, and Winter salad greens including lettuces. These WERE ready to go the week of August 12 and a notice was sent to the giving gardens through the listserve. Do let us know how your own winter gardening experience unfolds.
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Seattle Giving Gardeners: 2019’s Greens likely ready April 5-6
Assuming the weather continues with mild temperatures and sunny afternoons the greens — Asian greens of various types, a couple of kinds of lettuce, chard and kale will be ready to pick up at the Ballard location the weekend of April 5-6. Hope your beds will be as ready as the plants will be: they’ll need some protection from unexpected storms (such as row cover) and hungry slugs, snails, robins and crows.
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Sprouts Plans 2019 — What and When
The first six trays of sprouts -- there will be many more
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Giving Gardens really are productive–
King County has cover crop giveaway
Welcome!
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Spring Gather
Despite the recent snow and ice: we gardeners know we need to begin planting. We shared wisdom and seeds on February 16. Thanks to donors: Swansons, Skye, Bellevue Nursery, City Peoples, Urban Earth Nursery, Magnolia Garden Center, Burpee, Renee’s Garden and Johnny’s Seeds.
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Small Grants Available 2022
2021 Update – SGGN continuing its mission
Sprouts 2022
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Seed Donations for 2019
Sometimes we just need to roll up our sleeves: and November 17 we’ll be sorting about 5000 donated veggie and herb seed packets for distribution this coming spring. The packets need to be organized and their flaps (which tend to come loose) taped or re-glued. Then they’ll be distributed to the Giving Gardens at the Spring Gather, to food banks and to food bank clients (either directly or through Northwest Harvest). If you’ve an interest in the seed distribution or for sprout distribution (in spring, 2019) do let us know by responding to this post.
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The Challenge of Fruiting bushes and Trees
Here’s an update from one of our local heritage orchards — gardening is about hope and the chance to do things better next year 🙂
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2021 Ballad Sprouts grew more than 22000 vegetable starts!
Many of these were Spring and summer greens; others were warm weather crops such as squash — and 2900 of these were tomatoes. So how did your Giving Garden Starts produce in 2021? We were tired and are happy. Already we’re thinking about 2022. Within the next several weeks you should see a survey sponsored by the City of Seattle asking how the Sprouts grew for you in your Giving Gardens. But we can tell you from our own personal experience: those starts resulted in many tons of produce sent to food banks and to their clients, to shelters, and to kitchen missions. Seattle’s Gardeners: you’re great!
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May 18-20 Tomatoes (and last plant distribution of the year)
Confirmed: we’ll distribute tomatoes May 18-20, 2018 at the Ballard greenhouse location. We planted the seeds and this year they ALL sprouted: so please come and get them for their new homes. Some summer lettuces also remain. There’ll be a few boxes to use to take them to your giving garden, but it’s best to bring your own. And this will also be a good time to bring back those 4 inch square pots. (Preferably clean).
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Information about tomato sprouts (and other warm weather starts)
This distribution is TENTATIVELY scheduled mid to late May each year, if nighttime temperatures continue to be 50 degrees farenheit. We chose to plant a diverse variety this year: in part because our summer weather is uncertain. Here’s what they are: TOMATOES: in general, plant out when nighttime temperatures are reliably at or above 50 degrees F. Apply about ¼ c of complete fertilizer into the soil around each plant, add bone meal if the soil is acidic. Water when dry and fertilize monthly (some instructions recommend fertilizing twice a month). All seeds started between March 3 and March 22. Slicer: Beefsteak Determinate may be planted in a large pot…
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Greens, beans, squash, cucumbers & onions for pick up May 4th, 5th & 6th.
SGGN’s Sprouts second distribution for 2018’s growing season will be greens, beans, squash, cucumbers & onions over May 4th, 5th & 6th at the backyard greenhouse location in Ballard. Tomatoes will be ready approximately mid-May (when night time temperatures are consistently close to 50 degrees.)
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Tomatoes are a challenge in the PNW — we’ll provide starts, you grow them
SGGN will have tomato starts ready for the giving gardens, kitchen gardens, and food banks approximately mid-May, 2018. Despite the cold April weather, we have lots of starts, and lots of varieties including slicers (beefsteak, Money Maker, Siletz) cherry tomatoes: (red and yellow) paste and pasta varieties (San Marzano varieties). For those who’d like some tutoring before taking on the responsibility for new tomato starts, here’s one class: Growing Vegetables including Tomatoes, Sunday, April 22nd – 10:00 am – 11:00 am at Magnolia Garden Center. In this class, owner Chuck Flaharty will go over planting and fertilizing vegetables with a special emphasis on Tomato growing in our area, including best…
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2018 Sprouts ready April 6 for Giving Gardeners
To all the Giving Gardeners: plant starts are ready for pickup at the Ballard Greenhouse starting Friday April 6th at 9am and continuing until Sunday April 8th at 6pm. If you need to know where this is please ask! (We will not post the address on this public site.) There are 5 plants per pot. Take what you can grow and donate to food banks or food programs. Only take the pots, leave the trays. It is best to bring a box to transport your pots. Please return the pots and labels back for our reuse. Please be sure to fill in the pickup sheet in the plastic box with…
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2018’s Starts – looking good
We are happy that Spring is near — here’s an advance peek at the work of our dedicated volunteers. Estimated time until they’re ready for pickup: another 4-6 weeks (depending on the weather, of course!)
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Seed Distribution for Giving Gardeners February 10 2018
at the Spring Gather. The Spring Gather will be near the Immaculate P Patch on Capital Hill in a room in the Lake Washington Girls Middle School. We are grateful that the Middle School has made space available for this event. Address: 810 18th Avenue Date and Time: Saturday, Feb 10th, 2018: 10 AM to Noon We will have seeds for giving gardeners available for pickup at that time. There will not be another distribution of seeds until the Starts are distributed by the Sprouts program in Ballard (most likely some time in early April until May.) If you are responsible for a Giving Garden but cannot attend the Saturday…
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SHOULD I pick those squash?
If you were growing summer squash: you know the season is over and that it’s time to be thinking about pulling those vines and composting them. My own winter squash, however, still have nice looking fruit and some decent looking leaves. When to harvest, and how to ensure long shelf life for the food bank clients? Fortunately, Territorial’s blog just had some good information (and pictures). Happy harvesting.
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Three Greenhouses
The Ballard Sprouts, South Park’s Providence Regina House Food Bank, and a small back yard greenhouse grew more than ten thousand starts for Seattle’s Giving Gardens. 2017 should be a very good year. Thank you to all of the volunteers who planted, nurtured, transplanted and transported these wonderful plants.
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2017’s STARTS seeded by Sprouts volunteers
Volunteers have seeded lettuce, chard, tomatoes, peppers, kale and Asian greens for distribution to Seattle Giving Gardeners. Later there’ll be summer squash and cucumbers. When will these be ready to distribute? It depends upon the weather: our greenhouses are passive greenhouses but cozy, even on our snowy days. We’ll send a notice through the city of Seattle’s listserve when they’re ready. Hint: perhaps late March or early April for the cooler weather crops; May for warmer weather crops. And THANK YOU to the volunteers who make this happen every Spring.
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Resources — about compost
And, in particular, information about using coffee grounds in compost can be found at the WSU website.
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Wow — Over 12000 starts provided to giving gardens this year
Just in time for the Return of Summer Weather — Happy Growing every one
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Free soil testing for King County residents
The King County Conservation District will process up to five free soil tests (lifetime, per address.) To learn more (including how to send the samples and how to take a sample) contact the district. Worried about heavy metals? The Department of Ecology has an interactive webpage to check services available at your specific address.
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Permaculture education – Beacon Food Forest
We recently heard about these coming classes: Date: Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 From 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. (Pre Registration Required) Early season vegetable seeds and plant cuttings propagation. Start some cool weather veggies, and start fruit shrubs from cuttings. Bring some home! For more info: http://beaconfoodforest.org/education/classes/start-your-garden-feb-2016/ – and – Fruit Tree Pruning with City Fruit and BFF Date: Sunday, March 20, 2016 From 10 a.m. – noon. (Pre Registration Required.) Learn the reasons for pruning, the theory behind different cuts, as well as what tools are necessary and how to care for them. Pruning practice with the help of food forest stewards. http://beaconfoodforest.org/education/classes/fruit-tree-pruning-march-2016/ Location: the Beacon Food Forest: S.…
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Late Tomato Blight can break the gardener’s heart
I haven’t seen it in my own gardens yet (and hope that I don’t this year, especially since it’s been so hot) but we DID just have some rain! There’s great advice at the garden hotline!
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A Giving Gardeners Plea: Dealing with Club Root (aka slime mold)
A Giving Gardener (who volunteers at several gardens) wanted to alert everyone to the challenge of club root. The gardener sent the pictures which we’ve uploaded and also shared research and experience with us. Susceptible crops include but are not limited to: rapeseed, mustards, brassicas, broccolis, the –chois, turnips, radishes, cauliflower, kale … We also asked the broader community what they have tried in their gardens, and what was helpful. Here’s pictures of infected and healthy roots, the Giving Gardener’s comments about the problem and some solutions that’ve been considered — and some advice from other gardeners in the community : Clubroot; Fungus Pasmodiophora Brassiecae, alias Clubfoot Clubfoot is a…
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Making Compost is Simple? Not!
Making compost is simple: vegetable waste + water+ heat = rot and (eventually) soil. The tricky part comes when we realize that what we put into the compost doesn’t always rot into something that’s healthy. ( School compost programs should think carefully about how to compost: see for example compost.css.cornell.edu/faq.html for examples of ways that compost can become a problem.) To share my own story: when I first started composting I didn’t realize that the bins let the rats and raccoons in. I fed them, made my neighbors mad, and didn’t get much compost for my garden. There are other issues with compost: it needs to be really hot to…
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Where, Oh Where to plant the kale?
Planning Garden Beds: Oh, Where Oh, Where to Plant: I like talking with neighbors about their plants — I like the sense of community, and it gives me a chance to prevent problems in my own garden. Recently, a neighbor was telling me about club root in her garden. Since I don’t want club root in my garden, her story reminds me to prevent it! Club root infects the brassicas: a long list of the plants we really like to grow here, including cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, kale, mustards, turnips, and radishes. (And the weedy herb shepherd’s purse harbors the disease—a good reason to closely manage its re-seeding!) Club root…
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Food and Faith Programs
We’ve met involved gardeners with the food and faith initiative these last couple of years. Sometimes the folks are growing food for the public food banks, sometimes supporting their own kitchen-based feeding programs. More information about the these groups (and resources for starting or for maintaining your own) can be found on Seattle Tilth’s site. The Food and Faith Initiative provides support for faith-based organizations who want to grow veggies: including information about incorporating food gardening into existing ministries, education and training for congregations, ongoing technical support, guidance on volunteer engagement that will sustain these gardens for many years.
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GROW provides fiscal sponsorship for SGGN
GROW (formerly the P-patch trust) has served as a fiscal sponsor for SGGN. We are so grateful for this help. (Accounting n’ stuff isn’t our strongest suit: we’re gardeners at heart. So GROW’s help has been very welcome.) Want to know more about them? Start with the Seattle Foundation’s review. Want to donate? Funds should be sent to the P Patch Trust. Tools should be sent to your closest P Patch, community, or faith-based garden. You can learn much, much more about the p-patch program (including how to apply for a p-patch) (and there’s also wonderful resources for those who want to garden organically, save seeds, plan a planting and harvest…
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Saving Vegetable Seeds
While doing the last of the fall clean-up (pulling down vines and pulling out old plants for the compost bin) I am finding “mature” heirlooms (they’ve set seed!) What to do? Photo: red chard gone to seed; onion seed head (white star-shape in center.) 1. Pea and bean: harvest dried pods from plants (or pull them off and dry indoors because it’s been so wet.) Once dry & brittle twist ’em open and place in an envelope or jar in a cool dry place. (I put those water-absorbing packets that seem to come in every package in with them.) Note: peas and beans self-pollinate. 2. Basil: let seed heads dry on…
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Theft from P-Patches
Safety, Vandalism, Theft in the Garden was recently shared online by P-Patch@talk2.seattle.gov which hosted a very active discussion by gardeners about theft of veggies: carefully nurtured tomatoes, carrots, and fennel bulbs being some of what was stolen; also anything copper or brass (useful for recyclers), themometers, ladders, and gardening tools. Gardeners shared strategies: physical barriers (a short two foot fence; planting the desirable stuff in the back of the patch so it’s hard to reach and keeping hoses and tools in a locked shed) signs; codes of conduct; engaging those who walk through the garden in dialogue; deliberately labeling a part of the p-patch for public harvest; keeping the garden neat and tidy to…
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Preventing Problems from pests
Believe me: I’ve had ample opportunity to test advice about pests in the last couple of years. First: be cautious: even if some things are considered “organic” they aren’t necessarily ok for frogs or fish populations. And some proposed solutions (such as those involving tanglefoot products) kill all insects including beneficial insects that control problem insects. 1. Start out right: grow in soil that is 6.3-6.9 (note that if you’ve got lead in your soil it’s recommended that you grow in neutral soil — close to 7.0). Add lime or wood ash (from untreated wood) every 1-2 years — our soil tends to be unbalanced because of the rain. Add compost (1-2 inches/year) and/or…
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Washington State University advice for veggie gardeners
Evidence based gardening information and downloadable handouts and pamphlets http://gardening.wsu.edu/
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Too late for Autumn starts?
South Park’s greenhouse usually hands out garden starts to our food bank clients in September. (These have been chards, kales, winter lettuces and herbs to grow on a windowsill). This year, because of the heat & water challenges I’ve deferred beginning these until August 2. I know that I’ll need to have these as big as possible before the cold weather sets in (because after that time they really don’t grow until the onset of the warmer spring weather.) Your advise would be appreciated: how can I get them to grow quickly?
