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Slug Race Urban Farm and Garden is located in a scenic part of Seattle, the sweeping views of lake Washington alone make us a great place to visit.

In the few years we’ve been gardening here, we have created a private little oasis, where food is grown, family and friends are welcomed and the wonder of the garden can be discovered and taught. 

On our 1/8 of an acre we have created a place that can be used for entertainment and relaxation, it can feed us, it allows our child to use his creativity and imagination, and it’s a space that provides habitat for wild life and visual interest for anyone simply walking by.

The primary inspiration and guiding principles for our garden come from permaculture perennial food forest system. It is our goal to grow food with minimal impact in a closed loop system, where nothing is wasted and not a lot of outside resources are needed to sustain it.

This Summer, come visit us and learn about herbal teas and infusions in a fun hands-on class. Find out what to forage for, how to dry and store herbs for future use and which plants are safe to use and easy to grow in your garden or on your balcony.

More information can be found on the upcoming classes page. 

Upcoming Classes

Drinkable Garden

or how to turn virtually anything, that grows in your garden or neighborhood, into a delicious tea

 

The movement:

If you live in Seattle, you’ve probably heard about garden-to-table and urban farming movements that have swept our city and even a large part of the country.

Many of us are ripping out our lawns and planting gardens that produce food for our families and add value to our local ecosystems. And while we share recipes for homegrown tomato sauce and organize seed swaps, I find that there is still a large part of the “edible” backyard that has not gotten a lot of coverage.

I am talking about “drinkable” urban farming.

The number of herbs and plants that can be used to make teas or infusions are almost endless. Many (as I do) believe that herbal teas can help heal and balance our bodies, they can add micronutrients to our diet, the natural aroma can soothe the senses, and there is even a tea mediation one could practice in the garden.

Herbal teas are also one of the easiest ways to get your kids involved in the joy of growing and using the gifts of the garden.

If you are interested in learning how to make herbal teas and infusions straight from your own garden, what to forage for, how to dry and store herbs for future use and which plants are safe to use and easy to grow — come join me at one of the Drinkable Garden classes on my urban farm in picturesque Rainier beach.

What to expect:

  • Meet and greet
  • Explore the garden. As we stroll through the garden I will touch upon organic practices, permaculture, and food forest principles
  • Identify and discuss edible/drinkable potential of the plants we see
  • Select herbs and plants for brewing your personalized cup of tea
  • Brew your tea, discuss the results, and experiment with different flavors using all of your senses
  • Q and A, discussion about foraging, infusions, solar teas and how to preserve herbs for later use
  • Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and cannot give any medical advice. If you have any health conditions, please check with your doctor before taking any classes from me or attending any of the classes on the slug race urban farm. You will be asked to sign a waiver of liability before attending classes. 

Details:

The class meets in the garden rain or shine. However, there is a covered area in the garden to keep us dry and out of the sun for most of the class.

You are welcome to take this class more than once. The classes are spaced out to run once a month throughout the summer and early fall seasons and as things mature we will be able to use different flowers, berries and fruits. So there will always be something new and fun to try!

If you want to take a class but do not see a date you like, let me know and I might be able to add another class. If you have a group of people you would want to take the class with I might be able to find a custom date for you.

This class could be a great birthday party activity, a girls’ day out or a family outing. Custom parties are priced differently, but you will be able to customize the menu.

Feel free to reach out to me if you have any further questions. Looking forward to drinking teas with you!

Dates:

  • May 20th, Saturday • 10am – 1pm
  • June 23rd, Friday • 6:30pm – 9:30pm
  • July 16th, Sunday • 9am – 12pm
  • August 12th, Saturday • 10am-1pm

Cost:

$55 per class ($25 non-refundable deposit)

Each class is 3 hours long.
6 people maximum insures everyone gets plenty of
space and attention. All materials and light snacks
are provided.

Cash, check or credit card accepted.

Email to info@slugrace.com to inquire and reserve your spot.

 

About

Hello and welcome to my site! My name is Annya Uslontseva and I come from a long line of proud knowledgeable urban farmers and gardeners with great respect for the land and it’s many creatures.

20 years ago, my husband and I have made a decision to move from our home in Russia to the United States of America. We were very young and eager to start our own adventure. At the time, I did not know that this move clear across the world will somehow end up bringing me closer to my agrarian heritage.

Today, I live in the beautiful Seattle with my dear family, which consists of one husband, one 7-year-old son, two dogs, six chickens and one cat. And all of us have our own special way of enjoying the garden.

As you might have already figured out, my little urban farm is called Slug Race (due to the wet climate of Pacific Northwest we are constantly racing against the slugs and yes, they do often win, but more about this in future blog posts). The garden is located in Rainier Beach on a regular city lot. But even though it has a small geographical footprint of only 1/8 of an acre, it has completely captured my heart and imagination!

This will be my 8th year in the garden and overtime the garden has taken on a life of its own and now it seems to possess the ability to feed us, to inspire it’s many victors and supports a diverse ecosystem of pollinators, birds and even small mammals.

My petite urban farm has been part of the Seattle Tilth’s 25 best urban farms tour (which later became Seattle Tilth’s Chicken Coop & Urban Farm Tour), neighborhood garden tours and, is a beloved spot for family and friends to visit.

When I’m not working in or enjoying the garden, I’m often in my studio—I’m an owner and a principal designer at AUA Design, a clay and mixed media artist and a student of yoga.

This site is about our life and garden, and how the two come together and complement each-other.

This is a new site, but before long, you will be able to find blog post here along with garden inspiration and pro-tips. You will also be able to learn about the upcoming events and classes happening here during 2017 growing season and beyond.

Contact

Visits by appointment only!

 

Rainier Beach, Seattle WA
Phone: (206) 617-7184
Email: info@slugrace.com