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Seattle Tilth, Urban Agroecology in Western Washington, USA
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| Overview | Through Seattle Tilth, urban dwellers support principles of agroecology by learning about organic gardening, composting, and community building |
| Scale | household, community, landscape, city, region |
| Location | Seattle, Washington, USA (47.4°N, 122.2°W) |
| Elevation | 0 to 150 meters |
| Climate | Marine West Coast (Cb, Cc, cool summer) |
| Agricultural Region | Dairy Farming - L, Specialized Horticulture - M |
| Population Density | >100 persons / square kilometer |
| Principle Crops | Vegetable row crops, landscape ornamentals, lawns |
| Domestic Animals | some chickens |
| Soils | Mountain Soils - X3 Udic great groups of Alfisols, Entisols, and Inceptisols |
| Natural Vegetation | Mixed: broadleaf deciduous and needleleaf evergreen trees (M) |
| Ecoregion | Marine Altitudinal Zone (H6) Humid coastal alpine and coniferous forest |
| Basic Principles addressed | Use Renewable Resources, Minimize Toxics, Empower People |
| Page Author and Date | Sylvia Kantor, 1999. |
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Seattle Tilth is the urban chapter of the Tilth Association of Washington, a state-wide organization of gardeners and farmers promoting sustainable agriculture. "Tilth" is an English word used to describe the structure and quality of soil. In medieval monastic tradition, the word was used to describe the cultivation of wisdom and spirit. Seattle Tilth is a member-supported nonprofit organization devoted to promoting organic gardening and urban ecology. The Tilth urban agriculture center in Seattle includes a year-round demonstration garden, compost displays, and a children's garden. Tilth sponsors regular workshops for children and adults, the Edible Plant Sale, the Tilth Organic Harvest Fair, and the Annual Organic Wine Tasting. Tilth also started the Master Composter Program, training home gardeners in all aspects of composting, including the use of worm bins for food waste recycling. Tilth publishes a monthly newsletter and The Maritime Northwest Garden Guide, a planning calendar for year-round organic gardening. |
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The creation of this organization has had many far-reaching effects, from local increase in diversity of insects and birds, to a city-wide heightened awareness of the benefits of organic growing methods, composting, and community building. |
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Use Renewable Resources Teaching composting and mulching techniques to recycle waste materials turns yard waste and kitchen scraps into fertilizers while conserving landfill space. Minimize Toxics All of Tilth's education programs promote pesticide-free organic growing methods and organic food through events, education, and publications. The Green Gardening Program introduces urban dwellers to pesticide-free lawn and garden management, and is contributing to the transformation of the landscape industry. Empower People Tilth teaches people how to grow their own food organically so they can eat healthy food and maintain a healthy environment. Gardens, classes and publications teach sustainable agricultural principles, including managing ecological relationships, crop rotation and crop diversity, maintaining habitat for beneficial organisms, soil building using cover cropping and water conservation through water wise gardening. People are trained to share knowledge with others in their community, and community structure is strengthened by volunteer opportunities, partnerships with local organizations, and neighborhood PODs (gardening groups). Consumers are linked with farmers through a Community Supported Agriculture directory, placement service for apprenticeships on farms, and the Annual Organic Harvest Fair which brings together local farmers and urban dwellers. |
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Please click here for pictures of events and programs by Seattle Tilth.
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