Marra Farm facts for kids
Marra Farm is a special place in Seattle, Washington. It's a 4-acre piece of land within Marra-Desimone Park in the South Park neighborhood. This farm is one of only two historic farms left in Seattle that are still used for growing food today. The other one is Picardo Farm.
For many years, from the early 1900s until the 1970s, the Marra family, who were Italian Americans, ran this land as a "truck farm." This means they grew lots of vegetables and fruits to sell. After the Marra family, the land was sold to King County. Not much happened with the land for a while, until 1997. That's when some people from the neighborhood and a volunteer started working to bring the farm back to life. The next year, many groups and individuals joined in.
Today, Marra Farm is very important for the South Park neighborhood, which has many families who need help getting fresh food. The farm grows over 13,000 pounds (about 5,900 kg) of organic produce every year! This fresh food helps feed many people in the community.
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The History of Marra Farm
Marra Farm has a long and interesting past. It started as a family farm run by the Marra family for many decades. They worked hard growing food for the city. After they stopped farming, the land was quiet for a while.
In 1997, people from the South Park neighborhood decided to make the farm active again. They wanted to use the land to help their community. This effort grew, and soon many different groups joined in to support the farm.
In 2000, a part of Hamm Creek, which had been hidden underground, was brought back to the surface near the farm. This helped the local environment.
How Marra Farm Helps the Community
Today, Marra Farm is a busy place, shared by several groups that work together as the Marra Farm Coalition. Each group uses a part of the farm for different projects that help the community.
Growing Food for Everyone
One important group is Lettuce Link, which is part of an organization called Solid Ground. They focus on growing food to help people who don't have enough to eat. They make sure fresh, healthy produce gets to families in need.
Community Gardens for All
Marra Farm also has P-Patch gardens. These are like small garden plots that people can rent to grow their own food. It's a great way for families to learn about gardening and enjoy fresh vegetables.
Helping Young People Grow
Seattle Youth Garden Works (SYGW) is another special program at the farm. It helps young people who might be facing challenges. These young people learn how to run a cooperative market garden business. They grow food and then sell it at the Columbia City Farmer's Market. This teaches them valuable skills for the future.
Traditional Farming Practices
The Mien Community Garden is a unique part of Marra Farm. It's tended by low-income Yao Fou Chao and Mien people. They use their traditional farming methods, which have been passed down through generations, to grow food. This helps keep their culture alive and provides food for their community.
Supporting the Farm's Work
The South Park Neighborhood Association (SPNA) also plays a big role. They help by providing meeting spaces for the farm groups and making sure the farm has important things like liability insurance. This helps all the different groups work together smoothly.
Future Improvements at Marra Farm
Seattle Parks and Recreation is working on making Marra Farm even better. They are improving the farmland itself and also the area right next to it. Their plans include creating new trails and paths for walking, fun play areas for kids, and places for people to gather, like a community pavilion. They are also adding special drainage systems called swales to help manage water on the farm.
