Urban Gardening

So, I've been learning about P-Patches as a way to delve into slow food and un-learn some of the instant gratification practices I've picked up living in the City. Here's some of the data:

There are 7 to 10 tons of fresh organic produce grown in Pea-Patches in Seattle that are donated to local food banks.

For a plot of land 100 square feet, it costs $34 annually.
For a plot 400 square feet, $67 annually.

There are 23 acres, utilized by over 6,000 gardeners in the greater Seattle area.

At first, I was curious about the availability of these garden spaces in lower income areas where access to organic gardening and a means to provide fresh food sustainably. It turns out that, although garden plots are more numerous in higher income areas (due, in part, to greater access to open spaces) they are distributed throughout diverse areas of the Seattle area. Unfortunately, many of these P-Patches have waiting lists 50 names long. It can take up to two years to get a plot of land but, once you're in, you can upgrade each year and stay as long as you continue to pay the annual dues.

I struggle with m container garden on the little concrete patio outside my apartment. It's hard to grow vegetables that way, and with the weather uncertain it makes the variables vast and complicated. The Pea-Patch idea is encouraging, along with the hope of more spaces opening up in the near future. ~M.J. Spring