What was once a tree nursery is now home to Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands (RBUFW), Seattle’s largest urban farm and home to a host of community programs run by Seattle Tilth. Through a community design process, the ten-acre former tree nursery was reshaped into the largest urban agriculture project in the Northwest. The farm is a successful effort in bringing community members of all ages together to volunteer, learn to grow food organically, and supply fresh food via Good Food Bags: Community Supported Agriculture and weekly market.

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The farm’s education center houses a multi-purpose assembly space, commercial kitchen for community meals and cooking demonstrations, restrooms, and storage. A translucent canopy covers the primary assembly space and creates a 500 square foot outdoor gathering area out of the persistent Seattle rain. The design, by CAST Architecture and The Berger Partnership landscape architects, also includes substantial wetland restoration, aquaponics, permaculture, 11,295 square feet of greenhouse, 30,000 square feet of in-ground farming, a market stand, solar power, composting, administration, produce wash/pack areas, and farm storage. Currently the Farm produces 20,000 pounds of fresh food per year, makes 5000 meals, and provide training to 3,600 Rainier Valley residents.

+ Rainier Beach Urban Farm & Wetlands + CAST Architecture + The Berger Partnership

Images via Seattle Tilth Facebook page

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