SEATTLE P-PATCHES

The Thomas Street P-Patch is a delightful mix of flowers and vegetables....

and a friendly squirrel.....

as well as lovely paths and raised beds.

 

The next one looks good as we approach....

but some of the garden beds seem to have escaped!

The dahlias are stunning everywhere.

 

The approach to the Pelican Tea P-Patch is dreadful.....

but it is ever so cute when you arrive ....

And I found Australia there....

 

The Tilth P-Patch and demonstration garden....

with  an interesting border of stones in wire cylinders....

and apples individually protected from mites

 

"P-Patches" is the name given to the community gardens here in Seattle because evidently a bloke called Picardo started them in the 1970's, according to this link from Melinda.

These are just 4 of the dozens of them all over Seattle. They are filled to the brim by the love and attention of the gardeners and each has a staggering variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers. Some are tiny, some enormous but all are beautifully cared for and open to anyone to visit, anytime.

Of course there are more photos in the link, including some of the Washington State University's herb garden incorporating lots of herbs native to the USA and to the Pacific North-west, which includes Seattle.

INTRODUCING REBECCA

 

Chook's egg has hatched into a fine little baby girl called Rebecca Grace, born 1 pm,16/10/08.

Congratulations to them and we look forward to seeing them very soon.

Rebecca was born before I even got to this time, here in Seattle!!

INTRODUCING SEATTLE....

 

Seattle is nestles between snow-capped mountains, the sea and rivers and lakes...it is another paradise! Melinda picked me up from the airport and we went to a quirky little restaurant called Chez Gaudy, which has an eclectic mix of decorations, hidden alcoves and great local food.

And it hasn't stopped raining since I arrived. Finally, I got to use my umbrella!

 

 

 

This morning Melinda made pancakes, using the last of the summer's peaches, and coffee so good I think Richard has a rival!

 

 

 

Now we are off to explore the vegetable gardens of Seattle......

KGI GET TOGETHER....WHEN A MEETING IS ALL ABOUT FOOD....GROWING AND EATING

  Tuesday was the day I met the other Kitchen Garden International board members at a meeting at Roger's. There is Roger Doiron of course, Maya, who you met in my last post, David who brought bagels to heat up, and runs Turkey Hill (organic) Farm, Jan (pronounced Yan) who is originally from Belgium but now lives only 148 miles from Roger, and me.

We talked about all sorts of stuff..... plans and ideas and events and finances and of course stopped for coffee and the cake I made at Maya's as well as the hot bagels with whipped cream cheese and chives and then lunch outside in the sun.....

Later on we went to Turkey Hill Farm for a potluck dinner. David runs the farm which grows food for needy elderly folk in the area, as well as being an educational facility for school children and, next year, hopefully a place to go and see what you grow in small spaces, with a series of gardens suitable for any size home...great idea. David is also involved in the local Slow Food chapter and does an enormous amount for helping the local food cause. Roger had invited some of the loveliest people to dinner and I so enjoyed talking to all of them and would love to have more time with them one day.

 

It was an inspiring day.....in so many ways....I am not sure what else to say!

This morning I went for a walk before leaving for the airport....

The colours are stunning and the size of the trees amazing...

and the feeling of woods between the houses....and the squirrels so cute....

It was fabulous staying with Roger and Jacqueline; their friendship and hospitality were quite overwhelming and I do so hope they will bring their boys to visit us in Adelaide one day.

Now I am on the plane from Chicago to Seattle and my battery is nearly flat..... next stop Melinda's (One Green Generation)

Of course there are loads more photos in the link.

GROWING, COOKING AND EATING.....STILL !

I spent a lovely afternoon and evening with Maya, from KGI, and her family, who live about 15 minutes from Roger. On the way to their house we visited the Portland Head Lighthouse and did some shopping in the shop Pattie from Foodshed Planet is often writing about, Wholefoods.

On the one hand it is great to have access to lots of organic and some local foods in one gigantic shop but on the other hand it has caused quite a few smaller retailers to go out of business and Wholefoods seems intent on screwing down the prices they will pay farmers for their goods.

Maya's garden is one of those that is so perfect for the adventurous and creative child, with places to hide, to climb and construct. The vegetables meander here and there too and are like an adventure in themselves.

 

Then, of course, there was the cooking.... first the cake for the KGI meeting that I hadn't had time to make at Roger's, then some pickings from the garden and from Maya's CSA box.....with a splash of cumin, fennel seed and very local honey.

There was yet another new drink and several local products....Note the apron...from Eric's home town.

Thanks again to a lovely family and their wonderful hospitality...

 

 

At Wholefoods I bought the ingredients for my new favourite breakfast, common in France. It is plain yoghurt mixed with nuts, chopped dried figs and (curtesy of Teleri and Richard) chunky fig jam. Of course in France there is always also a selection of wonderful cheeses and some freshly baked bread.....but those things are why I have put on weight, so I am just having the first course from now on!

AUTUMN IN PARADISE

I am thinking of renaming this trip to Voyage to the Most Beautiful Places on Earth! Or Voyage to Meet the Nicest People on Earth ! Out of the 6 billion people and millions of destinations I am not sure how I came to be visiting people so interesting, friendly and hospitable as well as places so beautiful, historic and interesting! Here in Scarborough, Maine it is autumn.... just look at the photos of the trees in and near Roger's street....

Breathtaking....

 

I have been clamming.... digging up clams (about 5 times the size of cockles) from the beach at low tide....and Roger cooked them while Jacqueline made Belgian French fries with potatoes from the garden, which traditionally are served with mussels but hey, clams will do nicely. Excellent meal....I ate far too much...again!

Jacqueline cooked crepes for breakfast which we had with local maple syrup...very local.... the sugar maples grow in the streets and woods everywhere and are the most red of the deciduous trees in the photos above.

 

I spent the morning gardening alone in Roger's vegetable patch, listening to the birds and taking in the vibes.... I dug up the Belgian endive, trimmed them and put them in a bucket in the dark for regrowth. I weeded the strawberry patch....and nibbled on the salad greens....lovely.

 

Now I am going to make the apricot and chocolate chip cake that we often have at Wednesday gardening, for the KGI meeting tomorrow morning.....