One of the last remaining original agricultural land in Seattle, this farm was worked on by the Marra family for almost 70 years until 1970 when it was sold to King Country. Restoration began in 1997 because of the efforts of a few community members and later received help from various government and non-profit organizations. Members of the Marra Farm Coalition include Lettuce Link, Seattle Youth Garden Works (SYGW), Mien Community Garden, and South Park Neighborhood Association.
Marra Farm serves the community in many more ways than supplying organic produce. It has become a community-wide project which creates unity and pride for the people involved. The farmers grow food for their own families, but also donate produce to local residents including senior citizens and elementary school students and their families. This is a vital contribution to this city; more than 13% of South Park households live below the poverty line. In addition, food is also sold our own farmer's market in the U-District. http://www.solid-ground.org/Programs/Nutrition/Marra/Pages/default.aspxLee Harper, manager for coalition member Lettuce Link, explains "We've got teens, community gardeners, immigrants and kids, but we're all Marra Farm. We're all helping t
o create a stronger community. This mission is evolving bigger than any one organization." This farm gives families the ability to teach their children where their food comes from and how to include them in the process. Each and every person is an important part of the growth of the farm and the community. "Volunteers harvest the vegetables every Friday and deliver them to the food bank, which serves about 140 families every Saturday morning." More important than simply growing organic produce, this farm is able to sustain its volunteers as well as members of the community who are in need of food. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/226993_marra03.html?searchpagefrom=2&searchdiff=3
o create a stronger community. This mission is evolving bigger than any one organization." This farm gives families the ability to teach their children where their food comes from and how to include them in the process. Each and every person is an important part of the growth of the farm and the community. "Volunteers harvest the vegetables every Friday and deliver them to the food bank, which serves about 140 families every Saturday morning." More important than simply growing organic produce, this farm is able to sustain its volunteers as well as members of the community who are in need of food. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/226993_marra03.html?searchpagefrom=2&searchdiff=3If you'd like to see its effects for yourself, watch this video on youtube--
-Nicole Boland
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