Tag Archives: Community Garden

Swan Creek Park Community Garden

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Swan Creek Park in Tacoma, WA is the largest community garden that I have seen and I’ve been to many. All of the plots except one (there is always one!) were full of produce and/or flowers. It was an interesting range of plants including tomatoes, squash on a lattice frame, corn, peppers and flowers. The entire garden is protected by a black chain-link fence and I had the sense that the gardeners would not suffer fools gladly.

There was also an environmental art show going on and had I more time, there would be more photos of that.

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Gallucci Learning Garden

photo 2 (1)This salamander at the Gallucci Learning Garden (South 14th & ‘G’ Street) was featured in several gardens when the Community Garden Tour occurred. It is really a sweet garden with a large wagon, a lovely round courtyard, shoes filled with plants and, of course, plenty of plants. The garden, which was named in honor of local activist Bob Gallucci, was dedicated in August 2011. Their extensive website is here.

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Point Defiance Ruston Senior Center Community Garden

9695554301_a9906875f1_zPoint Defiance Ruston Senior Center at 4716 N. Baltimore St., Tacoma has a community garden that I went to visit today as part of the 2013 Community Garden Harvest Tour. Actually I got a late start, so it was the only garden I got to. Guess that makes it the best! Really it was a very nice smaller garden. I was looking at it through the fence and somebody who works at the center came out to open up the gate for me. The garden, which had both vegetables and flowers, is part of the Master Gardener Program sponsored by Washington State University, Pierce County Extension.

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Hat ‘n Boots, Georgetown

The way cool Hat ‘n Boots Roadside American Art is located in Oxbow Park in the Georgetown Neighborhood of Seattle. Oxbow Park was created in 2003 and at the end of that month, Hat ‘n Boots were installed there. The art was fully installed by the middle of 2005. The art was originally part of a cowboy themed gas station, “Premium Tex”, that was built in 1954. The hat was over the gas station office and the boots were the restrooms (black for the guys and blue for the girls). The station closed in 1988 and fell into disrepair.

The park also includes a community garden, a children’s play area, some nice artistic touches and grassy picnic areas. It was pretty busy on this cold and foggy Saturday.

georgetownUpdate 2/13 there is a model of the Hat ‘N Boots at Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry. Hat & Boots

Dometop Community Garden

The Dometop Community Garden is really something! Located in Roger’s Park at 3151 East L Street, it has amazing view of Mt. Rainier. The garden was created in 2011 cooperatively with the Eastside neighbors and Metro Parks. There is water throughout the raised garden beds and when I stopped in one of the organizers was watering the individual gardens. It was a pleasure to chat with her. The plots themselves are gorgeous and well tended. Scattered throughout there are bits of whimsy and cheerful flags flapping in the breeze. There is a real pride of ownership here. Perhaps my favorite area was the small field of huge sunflowers planted in a boat 🙂

There is a great website that shows the garden being developed. http://tacomadometop.com/mckinley-hill-community-garden.php

 

And this site details all of the area’s community gardens and farmer’s markets. http://www.growlocaltacoma.com/

 

Madronna Oakland Community Garden

 


 

The community garden at the corner of Center Avenue and Tyler Street has the most unusual art of any of the local community gardens. The entry arch is appropriately titled “Working”and features a hammer, chisel and gears. A near by bench has pliers and a saw. The art is by Otto Youngers. The garden itself, known as Tyler Square Park, is only half occupied, but that half is full of healthy looking vegetables.

Tacoma Weekly recently wrote an article on the space, It can be found here:
http://www.tacomaweekly.com/citylife/art/know_your_public_art_oakland_madronas_working_gateway/

The artist’s website is here: http://www.ottoyoungers.com/

  

 

Grace Community Garden, Coming Soon

 


Grace Community Garden, Coming Soon

Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

Today I drove past the future site of the Grace Baptist Church Community Garden at 2507 N Vassault St, Tacoma WA 98406. The church’s website says “Our Community Garden is longing for gardeners! Contact the church office by phone (253.752.6643) or by email, gracebaptist@harbornet.com”.

There are several community gardens in Tacoma. The go to website for more info is http://www.growlocaltacoma.com/