kirke park’s P-Patch

The raised-bed vegetable garden at the north end of Kirke Park is a P-Patch, part of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ P-Patch Program. This 38-plot P-Patch was established in 2012, as part of the park’s creation, and this corner of Kirke has been a cornucopia of veggies, flowers, birds, bees, gardeners, and neighbors throughout the seasons ever since!

Seattle’s P-Patch Program, an Overview

The name “P-Patch” commemorates the Picardo family who operated a truck farm — a farm dedicated to growing produce for market — in the Wedgwood area in the early twentieth century. In 1973, part of the former farm was acquired from the Picardo family and became the first community garden in Seattle: the Picardo Farm P-Patch.

There are now more than 90 P-Patches located throughout the city, and community gardeners grow food and provide stewardship for almost 34 acres of public land.

Any Seattle resident can apply for a garden plot. If you’re curious about P-Patch gardening, get your name on the interest list! There might be a waiting list, but hang in there — you’ll be able to get your hands dirty before too long.

A mosaic by p-patch gardeners adorns a window box on the garden shed.
Please Don’t Pick

We hope you enjoy the community garden here at Kirke Park, but please do not pick the produce, step on the soil in the beds, or otherwise disturb the planted areas of the garden.

Those who garden here pay for their individual garden space and work hard to grow their produce. They also:

  • donate to the food bank
  • let plants mature to collect seed
  • volunteer their time to maintain the entire garden
2023: 50th Anniversary

Officially started in 1973, the City of Seattle’s P-Patch Community Gardening Program is celebrating its 50th anniversary all year long!

Over the years, the P-Patch Program has grown to serve more than 3,500 households in 91 gardens located in neighborhoods throughout Seattle. True to its origins, the P-Patch program continues to grow food for those in need and focuses on supporting low-income and historically underserved community members.

The Giving Garden

The Kirke Park Giving Garden raises food — mostly herbs, by request! — for our partners at the Ballard Food Bank. We have 3 1/2 dedicated plots, and also plant in “extra” space that’s donated by other P-Patch gardeners.

In 2023, the Kirke Park Giving Garden donated:

  • 184 pounds of food
  • 1,025 packets of herbs and edible flowers, including Basil, Borage Petals, Calendula Petals, Chives and blossoms, Garlic Chives, Daylily Buds and petals, Dill, Lemon Balm, Lovage, Marjoram, Nasturtium Flowers and leaves, Greek Oregano, Parsley, Peppermint, Rose Petals, Rosemary and blossoms, Sage and blossoms, Salad Burnet, Sorrel, Spearmint, Sweet Cicely, Tarragon, French Thyme and blossoms, and Lemon Thyme and Blossoms.
  • over a hundred volunteer hours

The Giving Garden is volunteer powered! Many Thanks to leaders Diane and Michael, and core volunteers Abby, Jeanne, Linda, and Audrey.

You don’t need to have a plot at the Kirke to be able to volunteer at the Giving Garden. If you’d like more information, please get in touch.

Curious about the P-Patch Program?