Community gardens displayed in photo exhibit

SEATTLE—August 22, 2004—Seattle Housing’s community gardens don’t just cultivate produce, herbs and flowers, they also bring residents together, according to Martha Goodlett, Cultivating Communities program manager.

The gardens, promoted by the Department of Neighborhood’s Cultivating Communities Program (a partnership between the Department of Neighborhood’s P-Patch Program and the not-for-profit P-Patch Trust), provide residents of public housing communities with plots of land to cultivate. The residents work side-by-side, providing their families and communities with fresh, organic vegetables.

The black and white photos were taken by Seattle photographer Rudy Brueggemann. They capture the purpose of the gardens and the lives of their gardeners. The photographs will be on display through the fall.

For many gardeners, harvesting food from their own garden is a way of life; it is how they were raised. The community gardens give them the opportunity to continue these traditions and teach them to future generations.  

The gardens also help residents stretch their budgets, Goodlett said. Much of the food grown in the gardens would be more expensive if bought at grocery stores.

The plots are free to residents in the Cultivating Communities Program. The gardens are maintained by donations and volunteer time from the gardeners and community members. The gardeners are responsible for maintaining their plots and volunteering to maintain the overall garden space. 

If you are interested in joining a garden community or would like more information, contact Martha Goodlett, Cultivating Communities program manager, at (206) 684-0540 or Bunly Yun, community garden coordinator, at (206) 540-3750. The program has openings or a short wait list for gardens in Seattle Housing’s communities.

For more information about Rudy Brueggemann, visit www.rudyfoto.com.

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