pumpkin patch field trip letter

• Year of Plenty

Introducing the Pumpkin Patch Community Garden

We've been working on getting a community garden going in the west valley of Spokane for awhile and it looks like we're on target to get it started this Spring. Here's the scoop:

In the early 1980's, Elmer Williams started a pumpkin patch on the vacant lot on the southeast corner of Argonne Rd. and Maringo, overlooking the Spokane River. Elmer tended the garden for many years and when he moved, Bob Critchfield picked up the mantle and carried on the tradition of the pumpkin patch. Young people in the West Valley of Spokane grew up with fond memories of their annual trip to the lot to wander the field and pick out their special pumpkin. In 2004 when the Argonne Bridge was widened, the pumpkin patch was abandoned to accommodate the construction and shortly after that Mr. Critchfield passed away. The lot has been vacant ever since. This spring and summer members of the community are banding together to re-establish the pumpkin patch at its historic location along with adding individual community garden plots, and a native wildflower border. Organizers hope in the future to also grow row crops to benefit Second Harvest's Plant a Row for the Hungry program. Along with building on the rich tradition of the site, the Pumpkin Patch Community Garden will help families and schools educate children about fresh healthy foods and provide a venue for people to learn organic gardening practices. It will provide a place and project for strengthening community relationships and turn a vacant lot into a beautiful, productive piece of land.

You can become a fan of the Pumpkin Patch on Facebook here .

You follow the patch on Twitter here .

Web Site: www.pumpkinpatchgarden.com

You can go here to fill out a form to express your interest in the project. Email here with questions or comments.

The Year of Plenty blog was created by Craig Goodwin in the winter of 2008 to chronicle the experiences of his family as they sought to consume everything local, used, homegrown or homemade. That journey was a wonderful introduction to people and movements in the Spokane area who are seeking the welfare of the community through local foods, farmers markets, community gardens, sustainable transportation, and more fulfilling and just patterns of consumption. In 2009 and beyond the blog will continue to report on these relationships and practices, all through the eyes of a family with young children. Craig manages the Millwood Farmers' Market, is a Master Food Preserver and Pastor at Millwood Presbyterian Church. Craig can be reached at [email protected]