Location: Curtis St in Port Hadlock
Size: ~ 5000 sq ft of allocated spaces
Garden Type: 10 Raised beds with a Hoop House
Gardening Style: Regenerative, experimental, mixed produce and fruit
Irrigation Type: Drip tape and drip line
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Discover One of Port Hadlock’s Hidden Gems
If you've driven down Curtis Street in Port Hadlock and noticed a charming garden with a whimsical little shed, you've already spotted one of the community's small wonders: the Boat School Garden (BSG).
Nestled on the grounds of the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, just down the road from QFC, this special garden is one of several tended by the Food Bank Growers, a dedicated group of volunteers who grow fresh fruits and vegetables for Jefferson County food banks, schools, and other community organizations.
The BSG was established in 2021 as a shared space between the Food Bank Growers and the Boat School. Over time, the Food Bank Growers assumed stewardship of the entire growing area, including a beloved and highly productive hoop house that helps keep the harvest coming even when the weather has other ideas.
Most of the produce grown here finds its way to the Jefferson County Food Bank Association Hub in Hadlock for distribution to Food Banks and Pop-Ups in the South end of Jefferson County. Some of the harvest is also shared with students at the Boat School, extending the garden's impact even further.
One of the best things about the Boat School Garden is its size. It's just right for a small team of volunteers—large enough to make a meaningful impact. The location is convenient, too! A gardening session can easily be combined with a trip to QFC, the library, the hardware store, or the Chimacum Corner Farmstand, all within minutes of the garden.
Another great thing about the vibe at the BSG is the managers willingness to experiment. For example, can an empty 5 gallon water bottle be used as a cloche? Yes it can, as long as you cut off the bottom! Can tomatoes and peppers be grown in strawbales? Yes they can, as long as you initiate decomposition prior to planting! It's fun to experiment, even if the experiment doesn't work quite as planned.
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Volunteering at any Food Bank Grower garden offers a staggering trifecta of benefits to keep your physical and mental buckets overflowing including :
Vitality – Fresh air, sunshine, and movement are hard to beat.
Community – Meet wonderful people who share a passion for growing food and giving back.
Contribution – Help provide healthy, locally grown produce to neighbors who need it most.
And volunteering at the BSG comes with a few extra perks. You'll automatically earn membership on the highly coveted "Team Riggers and Diggers" and become a proud "Partner in Grime", working alongside some of the finest dirt enthusiasts in Jefferson County.
No gardening experience? No problem. Plants are surprisingly forgiving, and weeds provide plenty of opportunities for practice.
If you'd like to learn more about volunteering with the Food Bank Growers and the many ways to get involved, please email contact us. We'd love to welcome you to the team and help you grow something good.
Contact@FoodBankGrowers.org