Volunteers are needed for a Community Garden Work Part at Burien’s B-Patch from 11am – 3pm on Saturday, May 7th.

This will be the first work party of the year, according to their website.

The B-Patch is located behind the old community center at 437 SW 144th.

According to a flier, here’s what kind of work will be done:

• Use plastic eddying material in the green house to edge the gravel common area
• Clean/organize green house
• Lay cardboard and a few inches of wood chips around the paths
• Plant hops along trellis and perhaps more raspberries along front fence
• Turn the compost

More information available at http://beepatch.blogspot.com.

You can also “Friend” them on Facebook here.

With this Sunday’s upcoming B-Patch Garden Day we though it would be a good time to swing by the community garden and check things out for ourselves.

We were amazed at how lush and verdant the gardens have become. Everywhere you look are beautiful flowers and vegetables growing and you’re surrounded by buzzing bees and the sounds of bird calls. The garden is even equipped with a bench and picnic table, making it an inviting place to relax and spend some time.

It’s well worth stopping by for a visit, but in the meantime here’s a photo slideshow taken by Michael just this morning. Sit back, relax, click and enjoy the view!

The festivities kick off at 1 PM with a potluck luncheon. You’re encouraged to bring a dish to share and your own utensils, cups and dishes. A recipe or two would be welcome also!

After lunch, from 2-4 PM there’ll be presentations on topics such as overwintering crops, putting a garden to rest for winter, self irrigating planters, canning and storing, composting, building mason bee and lady bug houses, seed saving, and backyard chicken keeping.

For more information visit the Bee Patch Blog or the Sustainable Burien website.

This will be a chance to visit the new community garden and attend their monthly meeting.

Their speaker will be Jeanne Johnson from the Environmental Coalition of  South Seattle, and according to an email:

“She’ll have free green cleaning products to give away to everyone. She’ll explain how to read the labels on cleaning products and other chemicals so you know what’s really in them and can make an educated choice about what works for you. She’ll have information about how you can take care of your home using green products; cheaply, easily and effectively. She has some surprising information about what personal care products are actually classified as hazardous waste, and will have information about how to research the products you use and find alternatives if you want to. And she’ll have copies of the Grow Safe/Grow Green Guide for yard and garden care, an excellent guide that lists various products and explains what they are, how safe they are [or aren't] and helps you pick what will work best for you.”

Also:

“We weren’t able to get our usual room at the library, so this is a new location.

Parking is available in the lot of the old Community Center, access off of 144th right next to the B-Patch Community Garden.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Sustainable Burien’s monthly meeting.

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 8th from 2pm to 4pm; doors open at 1:30pm.

WHERE: Burien B-Patch Garage, 437 SW 144th Street (Google Map)

For more information, please call Rebecca or Bill at 243-9366, or go to the Sustainable Burien website.

From their website:

Sustainable Burien is an organization started in January of 2008. We recognize the need to promote and participate in the creation of a sustainable community in Burien. We invite all residents and businesses to participate in creating a sustainable local community by sharing their ideas, passions, knowledge and talents.

At our meetings we will be collecting burned out CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs and dead rechargable batteries. People are welcome to bring any extra food items [produce from your garden, fruit from your trees, etc.] that they have and barter with others. Also bring any coupons for food that you get in the mail or from the newspaper, we’ll pass them on to the food bank, who can make good use of them.

Gatherings are held on the second Sunday of each month, – from 2:00 – 4:00PM at the (new) KCLS Burien Library (doors open at 1:30PM). For more information, go to: http://www.sustainableburien.org.

by Rob Johnson

In case anyone didn’t know, Burien now boasts a wonderful community garden at 437 SW 144th, behind the old Community Center. Many of the gardeners are folks who are just getting back in to gardening.

Some are new gardeners.

Some are old pros.

Darlene Johnson is one of the old pros. She lost her gardening space when she sold her house and moved into an apartment a few years ago. She was glad to get the chance to be involved in the new “Bee-Patches.”

“I have missed gardening and having fresh grown tomatoes since I moved, and am glad to be able to grow them again.”

She is currently growing seven kinds of heirloom tomatoes in her small space, as well as a variety of other vegetables.

Burien's new community garden is located behind the "old" Community Center, at 437 SW 144th.

Wayne Sykes is growing at the community garden and says it’s about time that Burien got community garden space because at home he is limited to heavy shade garden space and patio containers. This allows him space to grow squash, tomato, beans, dill, parsnips, and borage.

Rebecca Dare and Bill Opfermann are busy growing radishes, beets, lettuce, tomatoes, corn, beans, tomatillos, and bulb fennel in their plot.

“We do have garden space at home, but have a lot of shade,” Rebecca said. “The community garden is so wonderful. Already, just in the beginning stages, we’re so enjoying the other people in adjoining and other plots. We’re coordinating watering, and sharing plants and have such a feeling a community and enjoyment.”

There is still time to join in the fun – just Contact Burien Parks and Recreation at 206-988-3700.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was written by Rob Johnson, a BTB Reader and active member of Sustainable Burien. We encourage all our Readers to submit stories, or story ideas – email us your idea(s) to editor@b-townblog.com!]

Sustainable Burien has installed four community gardens at the Interim Art Space, with the hopes of developing a place where residents can grow sustainable food.

“Right now we’re just trying to show that this can be done,” said SuBu member John Feeney as he put the finishing touches on some lattice work. “And this garden is open to all residents, especially those who want to grow their own food – just come to one of our meetings.”

Some of the plants growing in the garden now include pumpkin, tomato, corn, mint, lettuce, peppers, chard, onion and others, along with one planter devoted to local, native plants like wild rose and black cap raspberry.

Sustainable Burien’s next meeting is Sunday, July 12th at the new Burien library from 2pm – 4pm. For more information, please visit their website.

Members of Sustainable Burien pose next to their new community garden at B/ IAS. Photo by Rebecca Dare.