Gardening Tour at Rainier Beach Urban Farm & Wetlands
For the DOH Spring Forward Project, the Nepal Seattle Society arranged a gardening tour at Rainier Beach Urban Farm & Wetlands in partnership with Tilth Alliance. The garden tour was led by Laura Matter, Program Director of Natural Yard Care at Tilth Alliance.
Rainier Beach is a 10-acre farm dedicated to organic food production and distribution as well as environmental education and wetland restoration. Laura started the tour by showing the pollinator hillside which had different types of plants and weeds to help pollinate the garden. Across it was the learning farm where sections for kids were designated and varieties of berries, herbs and edible plants were available free for community use. We all went around the farm exploring and eating different types of herbs and plants.
She also showed us their classroom and kitchen area where they have classes and community meals. She mentioned how she enjoys food from different backgrounds and comes to enjoy food together.
Laura took us on a trail explaining its history and how they still preserve the unceded lands of the Duwamish tribe. We also stopped at the Apiary, a place where honey bees are kept. Before heading to the greenhouse, we stopped at the community U-pick. The community U-pick is a spot for people to pick whatever is growing there.
We also stopped at the Apiary, a place where honey bees are kept. Before heading to the greenhouse, we stopped at the community U-pick. The community U-pick is a spot for people to pick whatever is growing there.
Laura distributed some plants such as tomatoes, eggplant, jalapeno, and more with the group. She also offered vegetable seeds and flower seeds along with some hangouts that she had brought with her.
At the end of the class, all the participants had the opportunity to pick vegetables from the U-pick Garden which we then weighed and logged before enjoying them at home.
Please find the article “Growing Food in the City ” where it covers all necessary gardening topics required to grow food in the Seattle Area / Pacific Northwest Region. You can find the article and beginners gardening calendar in both Nepali and English versions.
Have more questions on Gardening? Garden Hotline is also available and can be reached out for any garden related inquiry.
