Interbay P-Patch

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Interbay P-Patch Garden Shed and Kiosk

The Interbay P-Patch is a community garden in Seattle, Washington, originally established in 1974 as one of the earliest P-Patch gardens in Seattle. Originally located on landfill that is now the northwest corner of the Interbay Family Golf Center's driving range, it has been moved twice. Since the spring of 1997 it has been at its current, permanent site extending north from Wheeler Street along 15th Avenue West.

Finding a permanent home for the Interbay P-Patch had been a long and difficult process. In 1980 the Seattle City Council passed a resolution that guaranteed an acre for community gardening on the Interbay landfill. In 1992, however, with gardens established 18 years, Interbay P-Patch gardeners had to move the P-Patch to the northeast corner of the landfill to make way for a proposed golf course. The soil in the new location was heavy with clay and lacked humus. Gardeners labored to build the soil. A Neighborhood Matching Grant was used to build the first tool shed and compost bins. A food bank area was added, and gardeners built raised beds.

Four years later, in 1996, new plans for a golf course were announced. Gardeners feared the Interbay P-Patch was doomed. But with the 1980 resolution still in force and broad public support, Interbay P-Patch survived and was moved to is present site on the landfill. A new resolution adopted by the City Council called for funds to move the Interbay P-Patch and ensure garden plots equal to or better than the existing gardens. Each gardener was guaranteed 18 inches of soil and raised beds.

Because the new soil was without life, Interbay again went into serious composting and soil building. In addition to recycling the garden's plant material, grass clippings from local landscapers who do not use pesticides or herbicides and leaf deliveries from the Street and Parks Departments are recycled to make tons of organic compost. Recycling is a part of the garden's culture: The main north-south walk is made from recycled pavers from Alki Beach, and the main walk includes granite pavers from South Africa that did not meet the standards for Westlake Mall. The Rowe family donated the greenhouse to the garden in 2000, and the city donated the arbor entrances added in 2003.

The east side of the garden features an orchard of plum, pear, and apple trees, many of which were moved from the previous garden. Honey bee hives are nestled in a secure enclosure near the back of the garden. At the north arbor entrance is a memorial bench donated by Interbay gardeners in honor of Claire "Pappy" Watkins, Interbay's late King of Compost. Over 4,400 sq. ft. of garden space along the fence lines are dedicated to food bank gardening, which traditionally furnishes about two tons of produce to community food banks each year.

Interbay's award-winning tool shed/library/kitchen designed by Cast Design/Build, was completed in 2002. The shed and surrounding open space are the focal point for many community events, including Friday night potlucks, Saturday lunches, a New Year's Day celebration, and several garden fundraisers each year. The kiosk, also designed by Cast Design/Build, and materials donated by Lease Crutcher Lewis, and Starbucks, was added in 2004. The kiosk's water feature, designed by Bruce Swee, honors long-time Interbay gardeners Anne and Mac Magruder, who planted the grape arbor. The 30-ft aluminum flag pole was one of the original 50 poles placed in front of the 1962 World's Fair Flag Pavilion. The structures, the garden and community areas were built by and are maintained by volunteers who garden at Interbay.