Almost 40 years ago, Tilth Alliance’s plant sale was a modest affair, meant for just a few people in the neighborhood to share and discover varieties of decorative and edible plants.
Now, the nonprofit organic gardening and urban ecology organization’s annual plant sale has grown to become the largest in the region — a massive affair of lush greenery and silky flowers of different native plants spilling over the sides of pots and containers. The plant sale usually takes place at The Good Shepherd Center in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle but last year took place online, due to the pandemic. This year will see a return to an in-person event with limited capacity. The sale will take place from May 7–14 at Tilth Alliance’s urban garden space tucked away just off South Cloverdale Street in South Seattle.
The Danny Woo Garden Show is a new weekly show livestreamed on Facebook that teaches preschool- and kindergarten-age kids how to grow their own vegetables while learning about plants, science, and culture.The interactive show, which launched August 26, is filmed live from the Danny Woo Community Garden every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Garden volunteers host games and present lessons on plant and animal life cycles (like chickens). Kids and their families are encouraged to type comments and questions in the chat during the show.
Springtime means the busiest time of the year for gardeners everywhere and, even during the COVID-19 crisis, the Tilth Alliance is doing all it can to help supply plants to Seattle-area residents.
This year, the effects of the pandemic have forced Tilth to move its annual edible plant sale online, requiring pickups out of its South Seattle base of operations, the Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands (5513 South Cloverdale St.), just north of Be’er Sheva Park. The plant sale’s pickup and distribution storefront will be open from 7 p.m. Friday, May 1, until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, or until all products sell out.
Despite the spitting rain and smoky conditions, a few hardy souls gathered outside The Beet Box in South Seattle Saturday for a free permaculture class. Tugging down her mask to speak, South Seattle resident and class participant Naomi Cooper said she was there to help give back to the community.
