King County calls its parks system “Your Big Backyard.” At Marymoor Park, the King County Park nestled near the heart of Redmond, the backyard includes one of the oldest community gardens in the nation.
The Marymoor Community Gardeners Association, a non-profit organization, oversees the garden section near the western end of the park and rents out plots to members. The garden has expanded and new plots are still available, with time left to have crops this summer, said association president Michelle Raymond.
Regular plots are 10 feet by 40 feet in size and cost $65 for the season. The fee includes rent, insurance and water. Smaller plots, about half the size, go for $45.
All produce grown in the garden is organic, without the use of chemicals. Every gardener is required to perform eight hours of community service per plot rented, doing chores such as weeding or helping out in the eight plots devoted exclusively to growing fresh produce for the Hopelink Food Bank.
The goal this year is to exceed 7,000 pounds of produce for Hopelink.
Marymoor Community Gardeners members can work in the garden whenever the park is open and the growing season lasts well into the end of October.
According to Raymond, now’s a good time to plant salad crops, tomatoes or carrots and enjoy them this summer. Squash, potatoes, beets, parsnips, onions and leeks do well later in the growing season. The garden now has trellises for grapes. And some gardeners plant garlic and shallots in the fall, along with tulips and daffodils.
The population in the garden varies from week to week. Around 125 people are registered gardeners and some “co-garden” with friends, Raymond explained.
There’s a social component to the gardeners association, including potlucks. There are activities to show kids “where food comes from” and opportunities for the youngsters to lend a hand.
Gardeners spot a lot of wildlife in the park, too.
“We see Osprey, Blue Herons, eagles and hawks. Marymoor Park is a bird sanctuary,” Raymond noted.
Members of the gardeners association purchase special permits that allow them to park near the garden. King County enforces the parking to ensure that concert goers or other park users aren’t taking up spots reserved for the gardeners. But as an added treat for the gardeners, said Raymond, they do hear the music when the concerts are happening. Some bring picnic dinners.
For information about the Marymoor Community Gardeners Association, visit www.marymoorgarden.org or e-mail Michelle Raymond at interscapesinc@hotmail.com.
