Food Gardening

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The guide and links below will help beginners to start gardening, and experienced gardeners to learn more. You can grow healthy food for your family, share what you learn with children and neighbors, and have fun growing!

Growing Food in the City Guide (pdf) explains how to choose the best location, prepare the soil, plant, take care of, harvest, and more. Click on the blue links in the guide to learn more. Translations available on Seattle Public Utilities’ Food Gardening website.

Quick tips to save water

  • Mix 2-3 inches of compost into your garden soil.
  • Mulch your beds with leaves, or grass clippings.
  • Lay out soaker hoses or dripline and cover them with mulch, or use a watering wand with a shutoff swith to direct water to the roots.

Questions? Want a printed copy of Growing Food in the City?

Call the Garden Hotline, (206) 633-0224 or email help@gardenhotline.org for printed copies of this and other guides, and answers to your yard and garden questions.

Resource Links on Food Gardening

Seattle P-Patch Program of the Department of Neighborhoods provides garden spaces for residents. Learn about community gardening, sharing garden space and harvests, and more.

The City of Seattle’s Food Access links City and citizen efforts.

Tilth Alliance – classes, demonstration gardens, and volunteer opportunities

Master Gardeners at Washington State University Extension

Solid Ground’s how-to-grow guide Gardening for Good Nutrition (pdf)

UrbanFarmHub.org – urban agriculture news and resources for the Northwest