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Lettuce Link partners with the
Department of Neighborhoods P-Patch program to encourage and support Seattle gardeners
in growing extra produce for Seattle food banks, meals programs and shelters. Gardeners at over 30 P-Patch community gardens donate more than 25,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables to over two dozen providers each year, helping hundreds of people supplement their diets with fresh, organic and local produce.
Giving gardens come in all shapes and sizes – backyard gardens, an extra row in an individual plot, a P-Patch plot dedicated solely to growing for the food bank – but the mission remains the same: to engage volunteers in growing fresh food for families and individuals living on limited incomes.
Feeding ourselves, feeding our community
Gardeners are a valuable community resource, and in Seattle we’re blessed to have a fruitful growing season and a plethora of gardens. By sharing fresh, local and quality produce with food banks and meals programs, gardeners give back to their community and increase access to nutrient-rich foods.
Lettuce Link supports Seattle P-Patch gardeners with one-on-one help for setting up a Giving Garden and systems for engaging volunteers. We provide seeds and plant starts, connect gardens to emergency food providers and track donations from year to year. See below for tips on starting your own Giving Garden, for the type of vegetables that are most desired by food banks and meal programs, and for information on participation.
- Giving Garden Tips: This document outlines how you can create a successful Giving Garden at your P-Patch. It includes: 1) a food bank growing calendar for Seattle; 2) tips to help you solicit donations, improve soil, grow big yields in small spaces, protect your crops from pests and save seeds; and 3) a Produce Donation Record form to help you track donations to report to Lettuce Link.
- Where to Donate: A list of Seattle-area food banks, meal programs and low-income apartment buildings that gladly accept fresh produce donations of all sizes, including contact information, best hours to donate, and preferred types of produce. This is not a complete list, and many additional service providers are open to receiving produce donations. Give the organization a call to find out what their produce needs are and the best time to donate.
- 2009 Giving Garden Donation Totals: See how the different gardens contribute.
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Gardening for Good Nutrition: A Guide to Growing Your Own Healthy Food: This guide offers simple-to-follow gardening and food preparation advice, basic nutrition information on over two-dozen crops, steps a beginning gardener can follow to set up container gardens or yard gardens, composting advice and a list of community resources. For a free printed copy of the full 32-page guide, please call 206.694.6761 (donations to Lettuce Link are happily accepted).
Volunteer
There are a variety of ways to get involved in growing and giving.
- Plant an EXTRA row for a local food bank or meals program and help promote growing a row in your neighborhood. Most food banks in Seattle accept fresh produce donations.
- Work in a food bank garden. Several Seattle P-Patches have food bank plots and regular work parties.
- Volunteer at your local food bank. Volunteer at your local food bank to pass out fresh produce and talk with food bank clients about how to prepare it.
- Share recipes. Share your favorite recipes for those strange vegetables – garden fresh kale, chard, and patty pan squash to name a few – with your local food bank.
- Interview service providers. Interview Seattle service providers to determine their produce needs, best times to donate, and other details.
Lettuce Link & P-Patch Giving Gardens in the News
Growing & Giving Partners
- City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods P-Patch Program works in conjunction with the nonprofit P-Patch Trust to provide community garden space for residents of 44 Seattle neighborhoods.
- Blues for Food Fest celebrates the P-Patch food bank and giving gardens while also promoting and protecting the rich history of American Folk Music. Check back later for more information, photos and updates for potential volunteers and others interested in food bank gardening.
- Giving Garden sign (pdf): Post this generic sign to identify the Giving Garden plot at your P-Patch.
- Giving Garden sign template (Word): You can personalize this sign with your P-Patch name and where the food will be donated. Change the sections highlighted in yellow.
- Produce Donation Tips sign (Word): Fill in the information about where donations will be delivered, and post it on community boards or food bank sheds.
- You Are Invited to Donate sign (Word): Fill in the information about where and when donations will be delivered, and post it on community boards or food bank sheds.
- Plant an EXTRA Row sign (pdf): Another great tool for encouraging gardeners to donate.
- Translated vegetable signs (pdfs): These signs name common Giving Garden produce and briefly explain how to prepare them. Print and fold them over for double-sided signs you can use to mark rows of vegetables in your garden. (Please note: These are high print quality pdfs, so they may take a few moments to download.)
CHINESE:
Beets | Chard | Kale | Leeks | Winter Squash | Yellow Squash
KHMER:
Beets | Chard | Kale | Leeks | Winter Squash | Yellow Squash
LAO:
Beets | Chard | Kale | Leeks | Winter Squash | Yellow Squash
RUSSIAN:
Beets | Chard | Kale | Leeks | Winter Squash | Yellow Squash
SPANISH:
Beets | Chard | Kale | Leeks | Winter Squash | Yellow Squash
VIETNAMESE:
Beets | Chard | Kale | Leeks | Winter Squash | Yellow Squash
Phone: 206.694.6754
TTY: 7.1.1
Email: lettucelink@solid-ground.org
FAX: 206.694.6777
Blog: Lettuce Link.
Address: Lettuce Link
Solid Ground
1501 North 45th Street
Seattle, WA 98103-6708