Growth of many kinds is underway at the Freeway Estates Community Orchard!  Fruit and nut trees have recently been planted, a landscape architect will be hired, and a new website is now live!

The Orchard recieved a $19,215 Small and Simple award from the Neighborhood Matching Fund to design and develop a piece of WSDOT-owned land next to I-5 at 6th Ave NE between NE 60th St & NE 63rd.  The landscape architect will create a design that will be presented to the community and reviewed to ensure that it meets the needs of the neighborhood. 

Please visit the  new website at freewayestates.org to view  files and photos, a volunteer page with applicable resource material and a donations page for cash and in-kind donations.

It was a gorgeous, sunny Saturday for the 20th annual “U-District Community Clean-Up” on May 11th, 2013.  Over 140 U-District neighbors – including students, families, churches, local businesses, community groups, youth groups, and non-profits – came together to give the U-District that extra shine just in time for the U-District Street Fair that took place just this past weekend. 

This effort, led by representatives from Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Seattle Public Utilities, the U District Chamber of Commerce, University District Business Improvement Association, University District Food Bank, the University of Washington,  the Roosevelt Neighbors’ Alliance, University Heights Center, and the Sanctuary Art Center, did not disappoint J.   I don’t know about you, but I don’t always think of “Cleaning Up” as a FUN thing to do, but I have to say – as a first-time participant in the event – it was every bit of FUN and I will be back!  It is amazing what happens when you add ‘community’ to cleaning up.   Since that wonderful Saturday, I have seen many of my fellow clean up in random Ave spots and we still laugh about the day’s events. 

The highlight of the day for me was the Trash Contest & Raffle!  Clean Up volunteers displayed their trashy treasures and earned prizes for the “Most Unusual,”  “Ave Worthy,”  “Most Romantic!!,”and “Best Mother’s Day Gift” items.  Each volunteer group was asked to describe why their items were prize-worthy, which had judges falling out of their chairs. 

A very special thanks to the U-District Community Clean-Up’s partners and sponsors!!!  Thanks to our generous sponsors, each volunteer was fed a delicious breakfast, outfitted with a stylish free t-shirt, and armed with the tools they needed to CLEAN UP this great neighborhood!  Upon their return, volunteers were fed a tasty lunch and were in the running for over 20 prizes from local U-District businesses. 

It was a great day of volunteerism and a great day for the University District neighborhood.

Meet Pete Lawrence of the Queen Anne P-Patch.

Pete is one of those amazing people who seem to have boundless stores of energy. He is quick to volunteer for large-scale projects at the garden, such as pruning and spreading woodchips, and puts in many hours each season caring and tending the Giving Garden plot.

Last year, under Pete’s leadership, the Queen Anne P-Patch Giving Garden donated over 1200 pounds of produce! The vegetables go to The Lord’s Table, a local meal program that serves hot dinners on the streets of downtown Seattle.

After growing up in Seattle, Pete moved to Oregon for work, where he became certified as a Master Gardener through the Oregon State University Extension program. When he moved back to Seattle in 2003, he got a plot at the Queen Anne P-Patch and became involved with the Giving Garden.

When asked why he grows for giving, he responds simply that it is satisfying. It’s satisfying to grow the vegetables. And it’s satisfying to share the vegetables he grew with people who really need them.

Pete finds his work in the Giving Garden a gratifying experience. The Lord’s Table meal program feeds up to 200 people per night, so Pete knows that the produce from the Queen Anne P-Patch is definitely going to good use!

Over the past ten years, interest in the Giving Garden at the Queen Anne P-Patch has ebbed and flowed, but Pete has returned year after year and is always happy to see new gardeners take up the cause.

Many young couples and families garden at the Queen Anne P-Patch. The community created around the Giving Garden allows for different generations to work together, growing food to share with those in need.

Thank you to Pete and all of the amazing Giving Gardeners out there!

~ Mariah Pepper, Harvest Coordinator. Lettuce Link

WHEN: 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 22, 2013
WHERE: Angel Morgan P-Patch community garden, 3956 S Morgan St. (East of MLK, to the South of S. Graham St on 42nd Ave S, between S. Angel Place and S. Morgan St.).

http://westseattleblog.com/2013/05/video-big-parade-launches-west-seattle-bee-garden

All the award recipients support or are involved with Seattle landmarks. Congratulations and thank you!

Congratulations to the 2013 Award Recipients!

MOHAI/Naval Reserve Armory – The Beth Chave Historic Preservation Award for Best Adaptive Reuse Project goes to the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) and its supporting partners for their outstanding achievement in the adaptive reuse of the Naval Reserve Armory at Lake Union Park in the South Lake Union neighborhood.

Terry Avenue Building - The Best Rehabilitation Project Award goes to Vulcan Real Estate and its supporting partners for its exemplary approach to renovating a vernacular, brick warehouse/office building by providing needed enhancements and new uses while respecting the integrity of the original design of a Seattle Landmark.

Seattle Vineyard Church – The Best Preservation Practice Award goes to Seattle Vineyard Church and its supporting partners for a painting project that serves as an excellent model for the treatment of historic properties.

Pioneer Building Interior Storm Windows – The Exemplary Stewardship Award goes to Dr. Richard and Mrs. Dorothy Sikora, owners and stewards of the Pioneer Building, and their supporting partners for an outstanding interior storm windows project that serves as an excellent model for the treatment of historic properties.

HT Kubota Building – The Preserving Neighborhood Character award goes to HTK Management, LLC and its supporting partners preserving and enhancing the HT Kubota Building into a new mix of retail, restaurants and artist studios.

Alliance for Pioneer Square – The Community Advocacy Award goes to the Alliance for Pioneer Square for its leadership in revitalizing Seattle’s first neighborhood.

Kevin Daniels - The Community Investment Award goes to Kevin Daniels for his long-term commitment investing in, preserving and revitalizing Seattle neighborhoods and landmark properties.

Seattle is hosting the conference this year.  Click here to register.

https://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50272/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=69409