Picardo Farm facts for kids
Picardo Farm is a special piece of land in Wedgwood, Seattle, Washington. It's about 9,100 square meters (98,000 square feet) and is mostly used for 281 small garden plots. These plots are called "P-Patches" in Seattle, and Picardo Farm is where the name "P-Patch" first came from! The "P" stands for "Picardo," the family who used to own this land.
The Picardo family's land was bigger than just the garden plots you see today. It also included the areas where Temple Beth Am (a Jewish temple) and University Prep (a private school) are now. This whole area was once known as the "Ravenna Swamp."
Picardo Farm is one of only two historic farms still kept within Seattle's city limits. The other one is Marra Farm in South Park. The city's official website says Picardo Farm has "Seattle's best soil." It's rich, black, and peaty, which means it's great for growing plants!
Contents
History of Picardo Farm
How Picardo Farm Started
The Picardo family came to Seattle in the 1890s from a town in Italy called Salza Irpina. Three brothers—Ernesto, Orazio, and Sabino—decided not to join the Klondike Gold Rush (a time when many people went looking for gold). Instead, they chose to farm in South Park, near the Duwamish River.
In 1922, they traded a house in South Park for a piece of land that was part of the "Ravenna Swamp." The family farmed this land, which was about 8 hectares (20 acres), from the 1920s until about 1962 or 1963. An architect named Victor Steinbrueck wrote in 1962 that the farm was "an unusual reminder of the past." He also liked its old barn, which isn't there anymore.
After the family stopped farming, Rainie Picardo rented out the garden plots for a few more years. Then, the city of Seattle bought the land to keep it as a community garden.
The Ravenna Swamp Land
The peaty soil at Picardo Farm was perfect for growing crops. However, it wasn't so good for building houses! Some small homes were built near the farm, but they were basically floating on the soft, wet ground.
When the city put in new sewer lines, the ground became even drier. This caused some houses to start sliding off their foundations! Because of this, the city eventually bought these lots. They used the land to build the Dahl Playfield, a sports field. At least one of the houses was even moved to a new location.
Farm Amenities
From late 2009 to early 2010, a special composting toilet system was put in on the northeast part of the farm. This system helps turn waste into useful compost for the gardens.
Images for kids
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Flowers growing at Picardo Farm.
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People gardening at Picardo Farm.
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A sign for the P-Patch community gardens in Seattle.
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Another view of a P-Patch garden.
