2 Years + Growing: Thank You!

Not to brag, but OUR BIRTHDAY ROCKED.


In 2010, 12 strangers came together with a mission to connect people, place + produce through building community run farms on underutilized space.

Since our initial potluck and brainstorming session, we've accomplished a lot. The past two years have been filled with amazing people, awesome memories and even more awesome high fives.

Here's some highlights:


 2010:

• We secured land and broke ground in Beacon Hill in February.
• By March, more than 60 people had joined forces with us to launch our first farm. The Seattle Times paid us a visit and we wound up on the front page of the NW Today Section.
• Our first harvest of 129 pounds of food was delivered via bicycle to the Beacon Ave Food Bank, with GOOD Magazine stopping by for a visit to shoot a film on our work.
• By May, we secured a 2nd farm in the Central District and launched work (and by work we mean work -- if you filled the water tank, you know what we mean!)
• Work parties continued over the summer, and by August, we were profiled by the American Institute of Architects during the New Edge New Blood exhibit.
• Other partnerships and events this year included: Earth Gay, Bikestravaganza, Community Agriculture Network, Queer Farmer Film Project, Helsing Junction Sleepover, and a Teach Out with CAGJ.
• By the end of the year, we grew over 800 pounds of food on both farms.

2011:

• In January, we launched registration for our 1st annual bicycle fundraiser.
• In March, more than 85 riders hit the streets with us to help raise more than $15,000 for the farms. 
• In June, we had honey bees and held a honey bee 101 with Urban Bee Co. We also joined with the CD Garden Tour and held a potluck on our 22nd + Union Farm. The summer would see more events on the farms - like ice cream float parties and more BBQ's in Beacon Hill.
• We were received the Green Globe Award for Sustainable Agriculture and Biosolid Recycling.
• Our scarecrow in the Central District decided to abandon ship in August. We made missing flyers for him. (Have you seen him yet? He's still MIA!)
• This year, partnerships/events included Seattle Academy, a panel discussion with Novella Carpenter and local area food advocates at Washington Hall, a panel discussion at the Seattle Public Library and one at Town Hall with Daniel Tucker, the author of Farm Together Now. 
• By the end of the year, we had produced more than 1,200 pounds of food.

 Whew! That's a lot! And those are just some memorable highlights! That's why we decided to celebrate two years of our organization - that, to this day is still 100% volunteer powered. 

Our birthday party reminded us of how powerful food can be as a vehicle for collaboration, for change and for empowerment. For 2012, we're launching a 3rd farm, a bike team, and we're working on launching a skill share program. Even more memories will be had!


Our birthday wouldn't have been as awesome without the support of our friends.


Specifically, a few shout outs:

Georgetown Brewing for "scratching our livers" with a keg of Mannys; Zipcar for pitching in $100 in driving credit; KIND Snacks for pitching in some yummy granola bars (and for providing a month long supply of bars for the raffle -- a surprise!), Clean Greens Farm for a month long CSA share, Shavi Snax for some delicious cake, John James for making mouth watering PB&J treats, LTD Art Gallery for hosting, and the amazing DJ Vanessa Nova for throwing down the beets for the night. And last but not least -- to Seattle Academy for joining us and talking about their work with us. 

We raised about $500 for the bike team! Which means.. we can almost get jerseys! 

Thanks again to everyone who came out and for your continued support -- Alleycat Acres is what it is because you are who you are. 
 

High fives!
-Alleycat Acres




PS. You should totally put your bike to use and ride with us in March to help us raise $25,000. Just sayin!