Danny Woo Community Garden

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1 History
2 Present
3 Future
4 Gallery

[edit] History

Even before the Danny Woo Community garden was built in 1975, the Chinatown/International District (C/ID) community was very focused on preserving, improving, and enhancing their neighborhood. Many of the residents, including Asian immigrants resided in single room occupancy housing or hotels. As an urban neighborhood, the C/ID offered few opportunities for interaction with natural settings. Residents of the C/ID realized that preserving their community wasn't going to be enough. The immigrant and elderly had an idea to build a community garden and presented the idea to InterIm in 1975. Many of the C/ID residents had a agrarian background and longstanding traditions of close ties with the land. A community garden would not only allow them to feel the earth in their hands again, but provide social connection, as well as recreation and exercise.

One and a half acres of sloping open space land was located at the north side of the C/ID, much of it was covered with densely overgrown vegetation and berry brambles. There were landslide and and instability issues with buildiung on the hillside. the owner, Danny Woo, was approached by InterIm. The initial proposal included a one-dollar per year rental fee with long-term lease of the property. Mr.Woo recognized the benefit to the community and agreed to lease the property for the purpose of constructing garden plots. Thirty years later, the garden remains in the same location.

Constructing the garden was a significant communtiy activity that gave people in and outside the C/ID a chance to get together to plan and build the garden, as well as build relationships. The garden was a way to for volunteers and community members to get involved. Most of the labor was done manually to reduce cost. Railroad ties were donated for terracing and retaining walls. Rocks were moved by wheelbarrow and dirt shoveled by hand. Since the land was on a slope ,a French drainage system was built to reduce slippage and erosion after the rain. fruit trees were planted and the plots sectioned off for the gardeners.

Participants were involved on many different levels with the garden. The garden broke age barriers and made connections between different asian and pacific Islander minority groups. many stories were exchanged and relationships created while planning and building the garden. It was a true community event where people were working together for their district.

[edit] Present

Today, the garden has 99 plots and 68 gardeners. Those who tend the garden plots have cherished the opportunity to feel the earth. A number of gardeners get seeds from relatives in their native countries and use their traditional farming techniques. Some of the foods they grow are not sold in America, so they save their seeds from year to year.

The designation of the garden plots are determined under three circumstances. preference is given to those over age sixty-five, residents of the C/ID, and those with an income at least 30 percent below the median income.

The garden continues to flourish with the help of donations, fundraising, and volunteers. Volunteers include many community members of all ages. Students of the University of Washington, faculty, and other volunteers have built some of the structures in the garden. Since 12989, these structures have included a tool shed, an entry gate, stairs, elevated garden beds for gardeners with physical disabilities and the replacement of the original railroad tie terraces with concrete retaining walls.

InterIm manages the garden but, the Woo family, City of Seattle, and Department of Transporatation own different sections of the garden.

An annual pig roast takes place every year, an event that dates back to the ribbon cutting ceremony of the garden. the pig roast is a community celebration that allows a festival of socialization, sharing, and fun. The pig is roasted in a traditional Filipino style where the pig is wrapped in chicken wire and rotated manually on a spit. members of the gardening community and other attendees bring side dishes and share in this district potluck.

[edit] Future

The garden is projected to continue to bring the Chinatown/International District community together and give a chance for community voices to speak out. The garden will also continue to give immigrant elders a chance to recreate and excercise through gardening and provide a forum for creating social ties.

There is always room for improvement within the garden, structurally and managerially. There are many projects underway to improve the garden. An idea for an education program has been discussed for the future where people can learn about gardening and diverse gardening techniques. It is intended that the Danny Woo Community Garden will remain as an area for the residents of the Chinatown/International District to build together, as well as give the general public a place to come visit and share in a positive community aspect of the Chinatown/International District.