The Seattle Giving Garden Network began in the ‘80s as a way to offer fresh produce to people recently diagnosed with AIDS.
“We’ve had a longstanding tradition to give produce to people in need,” Interbay P-Patch co-coordinator Deb Rock said.
Rock took over a “wilted” program in 1999. She has been the co-coordinator for the past 14 years. The Interbay P-Patch has donated about 5,000 pounds of produce. Its produce goes to local recipients such as the Ballard Food Bank and Mary’s Place, a shelter for women and children.
“Over the years, I have encouraged community participation,” she said. “We also have a nice group of master gardeners associated with the program.”
Sixty-four gardens contribute to Giving Garden. These gardens include p-patches, retirement-home gardens and gardens in people’s homes. Solid Ground and the Lettuce Link program governs this network, providing office resources, Rock said.
The goal is to “offer fresh organic produce to those in need,” Rock said.
The Giving Garden’s impact is citywide, Rock said, with approximately 30 tons of produce donated each year.
“Collectively, we’re really impacting our community in a big way,” she said.
One of Giving Garden’s future goals is to only use non-genetically modified seeds and produce.
“We only want to be giving the best, most nutritious produce to people who have a need or can’t do it for themselves,” she said.
The Giving Garden fosters a sense of generosity, Rock said. It also teaches people how to garden and compost. Rock said it’s also important that gardeners keep a close connection to the environment.
Charity of the Month
On Sunday, Aug. 25, Niko’s Gyros (2231 32nd Ave. W.) chose Giving Garden as its once-a-month charity.
“We’re completely thrilled,” Rock said of the Niko’s event.
Rock said she was expecting the event to raise $1,000 — “anything over that [would be] a blessing.” Rock said they were still determining how much they raised, but she though they met their $1000 goal.
“What really impressed me was the staff,” Rock said. “The people serving the food were all teenagers from the community that were volunteering.”
Alexandra Serpanos, manager at her family-owned restaurant, Niko’s Gyros, decided 2013 would be different for the restaurant. In its nearly 17 years of business, Niko’s Gyros has always been closed on Sundays; the front door even has a sign claiming “never open on Sundays.”
Because business has done well and the community has embraced them, Serpanos wanted to give back. So she started a program to stay open one Sunday each month, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. During that Sunday, she donates food and staff time so all proceeds can go to a local charity. Sometimes, she finds a charity a customer is involved with; other times she seeks them out. She often tries to find local charities focused on children or seniors.
When Rock approached Serpanos about hanging a sign in the Niko’s Gyros window for the upcoming Blues for Food Fest fund-raiser, Serpanos selected the Giving Garden Network to be Niko’s Gyros charity for August.
“Bringing the fresh produce and fruits to the food bank so people have the opportunity to eat fresh,” Serpanos said, “it’s a whole movement that we see more and more of.”
The Sunday charity days at Niko’s Gyros typically raise around $2,000, Serpanos said. That’s not only based on sales, but customer generosity as well, she said, mentioning customers will often write a check for the donation.
“I’m just happy that we get to pick such wonderful organizations to work with,” she said. “It shows that there’s people out there that do care and are doing such great things for their community, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
Blues for Food
On Saturday Aug. 31, the Giving Garden will hold its seventh Blues for Food Fest in Magnuson Park.
The all-day family event raises money to support the Giving Garden. The money is used to buy compost, plotting materials, seeds and other supplies.
Last year, the event raised $10,000; the goal is to raise that much each year, Rock said.
“[Blues for Food Fest] gives us a way to lay down our pitchforks and relax before the end of the year,” Rock said.
The event features a lineup of blues musicians, including a group from Louisiana and one from Los Angeles. The organizers incorporated the blues music after Bumbershoot discontinued its blues stage, Rock said.
“[Gardening and blues] both believe in the struggle of the American spirit to survive and create something wonderful out of something meager,” she said of the fund-raiser.
For more information on the Blues for Food Fest, visit bluesforfoodfest.org.
For more information on Seattle Giving Garden, visit www.sggn.org.
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