Harvest Fairs and Garden Parties

Tomato harvest at Marra Farm last Friday - photo by Steve Tracy

The autumnal equinox is just a few days away, and there are a plethora of farming and gardening events coming up in the next few weeks.  We encourage you to visit our friends doing great work and celebrate the bounty of the fall harvest!

P-Patch Tours
Saturdays September 18th-October 23rd, 1-3pm, various locations in Seattle
Seattle has over 70 P-Patches, and here is your chance to explore a few of them!   Each garden has their own unique flavor - this a great way to learn about neighbor-led efforts in community gardening
Free, but RSVP required due to limited space in vans.   

Garden Party at the Rainier Beach Learning Garden
Saturday, September 25th, 11am-2pm, 4600 38th Ave South
Our friends at Seattle Tilth are celebrating the expansion and one year anniversary of their community learning garden.  If you're in the neighborhood, stop by for music, food and kid-friendly activities.  

Gardening-Based Food, Nutrition & Wellness Fair
Saturday, September 25th, 12-6pm, 2116 East Union St
Free workshops include topics such as preventing chronic disease, good nutrition on a budget, cooking demonstrations and pot your own vegetables. 

King County Harvest Celebration Farm Tour

Saturday, September 25th, 10am-4pm, Snoqualmie Valley
Sunday, September 26th, 10am-4pm, Vashon Island

Visit local farms, take tours and learn about where your food comes from!  Check out this great bike route guide (PDF) to see the farms on two wheels. 


Pierce County HarvestFest Farm Tour
Saturday, October 2nd, 10am-4pm, various farms in Pierce County 
Go to King County farms one weekend, and Pierce County ones the next!  There are farms all over the county to visit, and PCC Farmland Trust invites you to visit three of their farms in Orting that day.  

King Conservation District Farm Tour
Saturday, October 2nd, 10am-12pm, Renton
Visit a five-acre family farm in Renton and learn about their sustainability techniques, ways to reduce chemical use, ideas for cost-savings on food production, low-tech gardening techniques, and how children can be an important part of the chore and animal-care routine.
Free, but RSVP required.  425-282-1949 or signup@kingcd.org.

Nature Explorers Jamboree & Harvest Celebration at Magnuson 
Saturday, October 2nd, 11:30am-2pm, Magnuson Park Community Garden
Fun for the whole family, including: nature sing-along with special guest Caspar Babypants, petting farm, orchard maze, scarecrow making ($5, bring old clothes and a pillowcase for the head), scavenger hunt, garden games, kiddie tractor corral, and an apple press.  Free!

Sustainable NE Seattle Barter Faire and Cider Press
Sunday, October 10th, 1-5pm, 10005 32nd Avenue NE
Come to the barter faire and trade what you have for what others have. Pies, baked goods, skills and other homemade non-cash items may also be traded. A cider press will be on site to juice apples or grapes.

10/10/10 Global Work Party
Sunday, October 10th, various locations
Volunteer opportunities around the globe that will help deal with global warming.  Sign up for an event in your neighborhood (there are lots in Seattle), or register your own!   There are quite a few garden-related projects, so roll up your sleeves and get dirty! 

Know of another harvest event happening in the next few weeks?  Leave us a comment so we can spread the word!