• Community Volunteers Recognized at 21 Acres

21 Acres Volunteer Recognition Day was held recently showcasing volunteers who made a difference to the organization’s agricultural and educational programs this year. Volunteers contributed in many ways from an hour to more than a hundred hours. 700 volunteers participated in a variety of projects and tasks with more than 8000 volunteer hours logged in. Read more

Volunteers on Comcast Cares Day, spring 2008

• Eat Local for Thanksgiving – Harvesting Excellence

Celebrate the fall harvest and put farm fresh food on your holiday table. This Thanksgiving, take the pledge and offer at least one menu item prepared with a locally grown or produced food. It's simple, affordable and a sustainable way to show your support for local farms and help the local food economy. Read more

• The Spiral Garden – Scented Visit to the Spiral Garden

By Shelley McIntyre, Community Gardener and 21 Acres Volunteer

The Spiral Garden at 21 Acres is located about 50 feet behind the Garden Shed. True to nature, this garden was constructed using the geometry of the golden spiral. From the spiraling bracts of a pine cone to the path a fly follows as it approaches an object, this geometry is found throughout Nature.

Consider removing your shoes to experience the reflexology path that leads to the Spiral Garden. When you wind your way up the short path, you will be walking on Corsican Mint, which is an easy-to-grow ground cover. The magic is in the aroma of mint that happens when you walk on it! The Garden is also planted with edible herbs. During the summer of 2008 the edible herbs were small, new plants so red cabbage was planted also. The cabbage flourished, while the edible herbs established themselves.  Twenty-one heads of cabbage were harvested in mid-October; eight heads were donated to Hopelink and thirteen heads went home with volunteers! 

As you continue on your walk, look to both sides of the mint path and see edible herbs that have low water needs: sage, rosemary and thyme. The Spiral Garden relies entirely on water from rain and the bat house you see at the center demonstrates a natural pest management system. The Spiral Garden experience appeals to people's sense of smell and touch. The spiral shape of the garden bed and the rockery structure retain the sun's heat and warms the soil offering optimal growing conditions for plants.

The bed was weeded this fall and donated hay layered for cover. The hay will inhibit weed growth and will compost over the coming winter months adding organic material to the soil.

Read more about the geometry of the golden spiral and the foot garden http://www.21acres.org/back18acres/spiral-garden-1
The Spiral Garden with it’s centerpiece bat house welcomes visitors to the Back 18 Farm and Trails.


In the News

The fall issue of Edible Seattle includes a feature on Growing Washington and 21 Acres...Vincent Felice is recognizable from roughly nine acres away, halfway across fields that make up the “back 18” at the 21 Acres Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living....The partnership between Growing Washington and 21 Acres, a community space for agricultural and environmental education, allows Felice to farm at the site in exchange for educating students and other visitors about farming....  Read more: http://www.21acres.org/aboutus/in-the-news/21A-EdibStl10-08.pdf/view


Upcoming Events

• Saturday, November 15; 10 a.m.-Noon
Mason Bees, Fruit Trees, and a Fall Apple Tasting – Greg Giuliani, Seattle Tree Fruit Society, leads a class beginning at 10 a.m. at 21 Acres demonstrating how Mason bees impact fruit trees; followed by an apple tasting where YOU get to vote for your favorite and help decide which varieties should be considered for planting in the 21 Acres Orchard.
• Thursday, November 20; 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Focus on Farming Conference: Breaking New Ground – full day of workshops, keynote by David Montgomery, author of “Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations” and winner of 2008 MacArthur Fellows “genius” Award.

Time & Talent

23 students and 3 staff from Cascadia Community College were at 21 Acres recently for a class tour and work party. An Environmental Club is currently being created on campus. We’ll hear more from them soon!
The Sky Valley Montessori Adolescent Program from Monroe visited 21 Acres and helped with some general site maintenance and mucked around in the garden compost bins.
And, thank you to all who have contributed to 21 Acres including our volunteers, interns, school groups and community groups. http://www.21acres.org/helpusgrow/contributors.


It’s a Fact

“If we were to count up all the hidden costs of eating commodified food – the pollution, the subsidies, the poor health – we would find that cheap calories actually cost us more than food that is locally and sustainably produced.”  Viki Sonntag, PhD, “Why Local Linkages Matter, Findings from the Local Food Economy Study”