Contents

• History of the Magnuson P-Patch
• Regulations
• Work Party Schedule
• Volunteer Hours
• Food Bank Plots
• Water Conservation Tips

The Magnuson P-Patch is located within the Magnuson Community Garden, a four acre site at Magnuson Park. The new P-Patch officially opened in March 2003 for the Spring season; it now has 140 year around plots. If interested in a garden plot at Magnuson, contact the Department of Neighborhoods P-Patch Office.

The new P-Patch replaced the Sand Point P-Patch which was established in 1977 on property leased from Childrens' Hospital and Regional Medical Center.  The hospital  begun preparations for building on the site at the end of September 2001. The Magnuson Community Garden P-Patch  was initially created as a temporary garden in October 2001 with 35 transitional plots for the old Sand Point P-Patch gardeners. 

Assistance for moving the P-patch  was received from Childrens' Hospital grounds staff,  Fruhling, Inc.,  Seattle Parks Department Sand Point Magnuson Park Division grounds personnel, and  gardeners. 

Volunteers spent many hours removing Scotch Broom, removing rocks, tilling and adding soil ammenities to the new site.  Compost, manure, and donated Alaska Fish Fertilizer  and applied to the soil.  The P-patch was marked out, paths were marked and surfaced, an irrigation system was installed.  Volunteers were then able to stake out the plot design, borders, and internal paths.

Tool boxes and compost bins were built.

ADA Beds were completed

Administrative  Regulations and Guides

• P-Patch Community Garden Program - Department of Neighborhoods P-Patch Program
• P-Patch Rules 
• Being a Considerate Gardner 

Volunteer  Hours

To participate in the P-Patch gardening program, each gardener must contribute a minimum of 8 hours of volunteer time to the program, half of which must be for the Magnuson P-Patch.  Volunteer opportunities are available on site such as maintaining food bank plots, common area maintenance, composting or through the P-Patch Office.

Food Bank Plots

Gardeners tend special designated plots dedicated to growing items for local food banks.  In addition gardeners are encouraged to contribute part of their crops to to the food bank program.  Magnuson's food bank donations go to the Lake City Food Bank and to the transitional housing program located in the park. In 2006, Magnuson gardeners  donated  3000 pounds of produce.  See also description of Solid Ground's (formerly Freemont Public Association) Lettuce Link program.

Recommendations on What to Grow Vegetables  to grow to donate to food banks:  All types of greens, including lettuces, spinaches, mustards, boc choy, collards,  green onions, cucumbers, summer and winter squash,  radishes,  beets,  carrots,  peas,  beans, broccoli,  cabbage. Vegetables  of lesser need, because the foodbank receives so many of them:  potatoes,  storing (dry) onions. Vegetables  that clients may not know how to cook and incorporate into diet include :  chards,  kales

View of the Food Bank Plot in Magnuson P-Patch Pod #1