Grace Lutheran P-Patch Grows Community

The in Bellevue debuted its new community garden in April. With the start of the gardening season, the church invites the Bellevue community to take part in renting plots of soil to plant vegetables and flowers alongside their neighbors.

Danna Anderson, treasurer for Grace Lutheran and spearhead of the community garden, came up with the idea after the state had a series of strong windstorms a couple of years ago. She noted that many trees surrounding the church were downed or damaged.

"There were about 60 trees that we had to clear from the area,” recalled Anderson. “What had been a shady space of forestland suddenly became sunny. And because we had a sunny patch of land, somebody started to plant a vegetable garden for the congregation." 

With the new empty space and small garden starting, Anderson said her mind immediately turned to the success of another church's P-Patch—that of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Factoria—and she thought it was the best way to use the space. 

"Things grew so well in the new soil," she said. "Many of our neighbors have really small properties or condos without yards at all, or with a lot of shade where they can't grow things. Seeing how well ours was doing, I wanted this space to be for the community."

The Grace Lutheran P-Patch rents individual and double plots, 100- and 200-square-feet respectively. A single plot rents for $50 and a double for $75 a season. Whether one size is preferable over the other with regard to gardening productivity, Anderson said it is a matter of intention—about how much someone plans to grow, and how many people are sharing the plot.

"It's actually kind of neat," Anderson said about the number of people who have already started planting. "There's this one group of neighbors, about five women, who are working their plot together. They're out there laughing and having the best time." 

Cathy Roeter lives in the community and is one of the satisfied garden participants. "A good friend of mine had just moved into a condo here in Bellevue," Roeter explained. "She was lamenting her loss of a yard and I saw this as the perfect answer to her need."

Soon after, Roeter, her sister and two friends met up for lunch to plan their garden. While Roeter has background in gardening, both she and Anderson believe the community garden is a great hobby for anyone at any level of experience.

Anderson explained that the process of planting, fertilizing and watering is simple. One tip she has for beginners is to start out with small plants, rather than seeds, so the growing is easier and less frustrating.

Rich Macdonald, manager of Washington state's first-ever community garden program—which was founded in 1973—furthers the encouragement that gardening is for everyone. 

"There is pride about having a community garden in a neighborhood and when people visit, education happens in the garden, “he says. Anybody walking through can see another gardening and ask what's happening and learn from them."

At most community gardens, including Grace Lutheran's, the sharing of gardening knowledge is matched by the literal sharing of produce. At Seattle’s P-Patch Program, Macdonald said weekly donations total around 20,000 pounds by the end of the growing season.

"Most vegetable gardens end up having more produce than we can eat," Anderson said. "We have a bin to make sure fresh produce goes out to the local food banks, and it often encourages gardeners to grow extra."

Macdonald said another benefit of community gardens is the mixing of ethnic backgrounds. "Especially in culturally mixed parts of a city, having a community garden can bring different people together in the same space," he said.

As a participant, Roeter has experienced the sense of new community firsthand, saying that, "[Community gardening] has introduced a number of us to the church and it has been fun to see and meet neighbors.”

While Grace Lutheran’s patch just launched last month, the sense of gathering is apparent with stories like Roeter's, and Anderson hopes the interest continues to grow for seasons to come.

"I would suggest anyone come see what others are doing and then plant their own plot. Or even better, find a friend to do it with, Roeter said. “This really has been the most fun for me."

Learn more

is located 9625 NE Eighth St., near Bellevue Square. To learn more about the community garden and the plots available, e-mail gracegarden@bellgrace.org or call 425-454-4344.

Other Bellevue community gardens

Visit this Google map for more information and the locations of other community gardens/P-Patch sites in Bellevue and on the Eastside