resources
links
Below are links to partner organizations and other resources.
Partners
Seattle Parks and Recreation
The Parks Department manages all the parks and landmarks throughout the city, and oversees the P-Patch Community Gardening program. The site now known as Kirke Park was first purchased by the City as part of the 2000 Pro Parks Levy.
Seattle Parks Foundation
Seattle Parks Foundation connects donors with community-led park projects — spanning almost every neighborhood in the city — to champion thriving and equitable parks and public spaces.
Groundswell NW
Groundswell NW is an all-volunteer organization with the mission to “Empower NW Seattle to create, activate and care for parks, open space, and habitat.”
Gardening
edible & ornamental
Seattle P-Patch Program
Kirke P-Patch is one of 89 community gardens scattered across the city of Seattle. Originally started in 2012, Kirke has 28 garden plots of 100 square feet each. The P-Patch program was established in 1973 and is administrated through the Department of Neighborhoods. Any Seattle resident can apply for a p-patch by contacting the p-patch office.
City Fruit
City Fruit helps residential tree owners grow healthy fruit, harvest and use what they can, and share what they don’t need. FOKP depends upon City Fruit to help us maintain the orchard in the park. Whenever possible, City Fruit fruit tree maintenance sessions will be open to the public so we can all learn more about growing fruit.
Seattle Tilth
Seattle Tilth inspires and educates people to garden organically, conserve natural resources, and support local food systems in order to cultivate a healthy urban environment and community.
The Seattle Tilth Demonstration Garden features edible plants, herbs, and plants that attract beneficial insects. Seattle Tilth aims to teach you how to grow fresh organic produce using organic methods, drip irrigation, cover cropping, mulching, and composting.
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program
The Washington State University (WSU) Extension King County Master Gardener program provides a multitude of resources for home gardeners. This gardening information is available to the public, research-based, and focused on environmentally friendly and sustainable gardening practices.
Simple Gardening and Nature Activities for Children and Youth
WSU suggests fun garden ideas for kids; everything from bug races to scavenger hunts, plus activity sheets to download!
Nature & Ecology
Birds
• Great Backyard Bird Count: Every February, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over four days, citizen scientists are invited to spend time in their favorite places watching, counting, and reporting as many birds as they can find. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.
Pollinators
• The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats.
• Celebrate Pollinator Week, an annual celebration of pollinators in June, managed by Pollinator Partnership.
• Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Pollinator Habitat information.
• The Pollinator Pathway Project, by designer Sarah Bergmann.
• Pollinator Toolkit — Tips from Molbak’s and Woodland Park Zoo about how to identify and care for backyard pollinators.