Belltown

Belltown's Urban Oasis
(submitted by Judy Ness, a Belltown P-Patch community gardener)

In 1995, the Belltown P-Patch was born. We celebrate 20+ years of growth that includes the growth of vegetables, flowers, individually tended plots, and a giving garden, as well as carefully designed and tended common areas. The result is a leafy retreat that softens the steel and concrete of our densely populated and much-loved Belltown neighborhood.

This garden treasure is enjoyed by a variety of visitors. Some are residents of the surrounding Belltown condos or apartments who happen upon this treasure by chance. Once they discover this urban oasis, they return frequently. Some of them even sign up to get a plot when one becomes available. Other visitors are friends of current plot owners, making periodic visits with their gardener friends to monitor progress during the growing season. Finally, there is a variety of visitors somewhat unique to our downtown P-Patch: people from all over the United States, and even foreign countries, on their way to or from Alaska via one of the cruise ships docked nearby at the waterfront.

These visitors are amazed to find this jewel in a metropolitan area, and they love to talk with any of the gardeners who are tending their plots as they walk through the garden. Some ask for names of flowers. They are amazed to learn that the onsite cottages and many others once served as houses for blue-collar workers employed on the waterfront during the first half of the 20th century.

Finally, another unique feature of the Belltown P-Patch is the artwork. Some of it is functional, like the incredible ironwork that serves as a fence and a gate (featuring tools we use to care for the property) or the beautiful mosaics that adorn the retaining wall on Elliott Avenue. Other items are aesthetic in nature and can be found scattered here and there in the common areas along the garden paths.

Whatever brings people here--whether it's the artwork, or history, or peacefulness that comes from being surrounded by green growing things--visitors are always welcome to this small plot of paradise in our great city of Seattle.