Seattle Market Gardens – urban agriculture

Photo: High Point Market Garden. Larger image here.

Seattle Market Gardens is a partnership between in-city farmers and consumers resulting in weekly deliveries of high-quality, farm-fresh, organic produce during the growing season.

In 2007 Seattle Market Gardens provided produce for approximately 60 households over 22 weeks. It currently has two community supported agriculture (CSA) gardens located and farmed by residents in Southeast and Southwest Seattle.

Meet the Farmers

Oun Yeav
In 1979, at age 16, Oun left Cambodia and found foster parents in Thailand. She worked four years on their farm planting a variety of crops: corn, peanuts, sesame, beans and cotton. She then married and moved to the Kumput refugee camp in Thailand, but wanted to come to the United States where she hoped to find freedom and opportunity.

With two children, Oun came to Seattle in 1986 where she had two more. Oun’s family has lived in the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) community of High Point since 1989. The High Point community has undergone redevelopment and is now a mixed-income community. Aun has a new house here and plans to remain in this community. While raising her children, she’s taken ESL classes through a branch of the South Seattle Community College and participated in citizenship classes at the Khmer Community Center enabling her to pass her citizenship exam. She also volunteers in the community with the Action Team Project observing and/or reporting any community concerns to SHA.

Link to larger image here.

Oun has participated in the High Point Market Garden for over six years. Her excellent skills and leadership have contributed to the amazing productivity of the High Point Market Garden. In 2006, the gardeners were able to provide produce to 50 subscribers on less than three-fourths of an acre of land!

“Gardening is my best friend, my recreation place, and my connection to nature. Gardening makes me happy, brings me lots of benefits like meeting people, exercise and relaxation, and fresh organic produce for my family and the community. I appreciate the community support for the High Point Market Garden.”

Interview conducted and translated by Bunly Yun, Seattle P-Patch Garden Coordinator.

Link to Seattle Market Gardens web site here.