Community gardens on city-owned property in Seattle are adding more than a recreational resource to the urban area. As described at the Local Government Commission's Ahwanee Conference in March, Seattle's P-Patch gardens have provided the city an opportunity to teach organic cultivation methods, reducing toxic runoff to Puget Sound. Gardens create open space which balances urban density, and crime has decreased when gardens are added to an area. Recently new gardens have been sited near public housing, allowing new immigrants living there to supplement their resources and grow favorite vegetables which are unavailable in US markets. The city's General Plan now requires a P-Patch community garden in any plan which will add density to a neighborhood.
For more information:
Seattle Dept. of Neighborhoods, 206-684-0464; http://www.cityofseattle.org/don
For Caltrain and BART commuters, tickets are a mouse click away. For almost two years, Caltrain has offered Ticket-by-Internet for 10-Ride Tickets. For maximum security, passengers who wish to use the service print and mail an application form available on the Caltrain Website. After they receive a Personal Identification Number from Caltrain, they may e-mail ticket orders at any time, and the tickets will be mailed within 5 business days.
BART offers tickets on its Website through an online vendor with a secure site. Up to three tickets may be ordered at one time, and will be received within 5 working days. The Website also offers a form which may be printed and mailed. Recently, BART has partnered with online grocer Webvan to allow customers to buy tickets at the same time they buy groceries, an extension of BART's ongoing arrangement with brick-and-mortar stores.
For more information:
Caltrain, 650-508-7921; http://www.caltrain.com/caltrain/fares.html
BART, 510-464-7110;http://www.bart.gov/riding/tickets/online.htm