Persistent summer weather greeted the hundreds of attendees at Seattle Tilth’s annual Harvest Fair Saturday afternoon, a celebration of the season’s urban bounty, community togetherness, and all things green. Though Mike couldn’t attend due to a scheduling conflict (so many events, so little time), he would be glad to know that interest in urban gardening and locally produced food has never been stronger.

The event was a chance for neighbors in the Wallingford area to listen to live music, enjoy some great local tastes, and shop for fresh produce at several organic farm stands. A handful of educational programs were held, from demystifying organic fertilizers, harvesting the rain with a cistern, and the principles of winter gardening to name a few. Local green businesses were on hand to educate fair-goers on the merits of creating your own worm castings, answer questions about preserving your harvest by canning, and of course the friendly Tilth organizers fielded your most burning compost queries.

Exciting upstart Cascade Edible Landscapes sold seedlings for planting in the fall garden, but more importantly, shared their revolutionary ideas for transforming “neighborhood blocks into sustainable food systems where every yard has its own unique contribution.”

Everybody knows that Mike bikes, but he also gardens. For building community, establishing relationships with our neighbors as well as the earth beneath all of our feet, what could be better than getting involved with growing your own vegetables? If you’re planning on going ‘green’ anyway, why not start with your thumb?