Who are we? 
We are residents of Ballard who noticed the number of individuals interested in gardening outpaced the amount of available land through programs such as Seattle's P-Patch. We also noticed an abundance of grass turning brown in the summer. This seemed like a great opportunity.

Why are we doing this? 
We really like gardening. It gets us away from our desk, lets us try new foods, and--perhaps most importantly--allows us to meet all the dogs who stop past our garden. Why not share the love?

What is Spatula Farms? 
Spatula Farms is the name of our fledgling project. We aim to use gardening as a means to build communities, improve individual health, and rethink local food systems.  

What is the Planting Strip?
The planting strip is the row of grass between the sidewalk and street.

What if I’m concerned about allowing strangers on my land?
Each gardener is responsible for completing a permit through the City of Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections. This permit allows individual gardeners to use your land exclusively to manage their garden. Additionally, the permit places all inherent risks and liability on the individual gardener.

How else can I get involved?
Access to water is our most critical need. If you have an outdoor faucet, we want to hear from you. Additionally, you will be reimbursed for the cost of water.

Additionally space to store our tools and general promotion of the program are very useful. Word of mouth with your neighbors is beyond helpful for this program to be successful. Do you have other ideas? Don't hesitate to reach out!

Can I set some limitations around the use of my property?
Of course. We understand you may not want certain vegetables or tools to be used on your property. Please let us know your individual restrictions and we will do our best to match you with a gardener.

Will you replace my grass at the end of the season?
You have a few options. We can replant the grass towards the end of September. All grass will regrow quickly once the rain returns.

Alternatively, we can plant cover crops that will grow over the course of the fall. These are also green but look more wild than standard grass. Cover crops help return nutrients to the soil.

What are you planning to grow on my property?
Although most of our gardeners prefer to grow vegetables, we can also plant wildflower meadows and urban grasslands. All of these habitats are pesticide-free and pollinator-friendly.

How much does this cost?
Totally free. This is an experiment. Our only goal is to create more space to garden while making the neighborhood a more sustainable and community-oriented place to live.

What is the Cost? 
Totally free. This is an experiment. Our only goal is to create more space to garden while making the neighborhood a more sustainable and community-oriented space.

Are there limitations on what I can and cant grow?
The City of Seattle has some very minor rules on what can and can't be grown. For the most part, any native plants or vegetables are permitted as long as they are not above 36inches. Additionally, you are not permitted to build any permanent structures.

What is the permitting process? 
The permitting process is relatively straightforward but does require an account with the City of Seattle.

While our preference is to cultivate vegetables, we provide landowners with the flexibility to select the type of growth they desire on their property. Homeowners can choose from the following options: 

Vegetable Garden
Our most requested option allows gardeners to grow their own fruits and  vegetables. Seattle’s ample summer sunshine allows for multiple rounds of crop rotation.

Wildflower Meadow
Wildflower meadows are vital havens of biodiversity that support a huge variety of species, big and small. Butterflies, grasshoppers, bees and other insects.

Urban Grassland
Like our wildflower meadows, urban grasslands support a variety of pollinators. Additionally, these spaces trap carbon from the atmosphere to create healthier soil.

Stripe of Color
Don't want to give up your entire planting strip? Totally fine. We can plant a small row of PNW-native wildflowers. This is a great way to helps our pollinator friends and bring some additional color to the neighborhood.