Plan Your Visit

Getting Here

The public is welcome during daylight hours! You can find the UpGarden on the top level of Seattle Center’s Mercer Street parking garage, at 300 Mercer Street. There are a few options for access:

  • Walk across the covered skybridge from McCaw Hall in Seattle Center to Level C of the garage, then take one flight of stairs up to the top level.
  • Take the stairs from the street level up to the top level of the garage from any corner.
  • Elevators are available up to Level C; the eastern entrances to the garden are accessible with no stairs.

For more information on parking in the garage, see the Seattle Center Parking Information page. Street parking is also available around the garage.

Points of Interest

Upcoming Events

From trimming lavender to turning compost, our events bring teachers, parents, and kids together to tend the native plant beds, grow food for neighbors in need, and enjoy the fruits (literally!) of their labor. Take a look at what’s coming up.

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Volunteer

We are always looking for volunteers to help grow and share this harvest. Keep your eyes and ears out for:

  • Work Parties: We schedule most work parties to help plant and harvest during the busy growing season. We also host additional work parties to prepare the soil for different seasons, install drip line systems, and more. This is a great opportunity to learn more about organic gardening while meeting new people.
  • Gleaning: Our Gleaning Teams collect surplus fruits and vegetables from the garden that might otherwise go unharvested, making sure nothing usable goes to waste before it reaches our donation partners.
  • Watering Assistance: We may need occasional volunteers to water the Giving Garden during especially hot days or during seedling growth periods.

Our Giving Garden grows fruits and vegetables for neighborhood shelters, food banks, and other organizations in need of healthy, organic produce. Since 2015, we’ve donated over 6,500 pounds of organically grown produce to the Queen Anne Food Bank, Ballard Food Bank, New Horizons Youth Shelter, and food insecure seniors without transportation.

Beyond the Giving Garden, there are also opportunities to help at on-site events and support our fundraising efforts for the garden! Check our calendar for upcoming events.

Group Visits and Special Events

Want to host something at UpGarden? Email us at events@upgarden.org with a short description of your event, and we’ll confirm what’s available.
No fee or permit is typically required — only larger or more complex events usually need one. Since we’re a self-funded, volunteer-run garden, a donation reflecting your use of the space is always appreciated.

Please note: UpGarden is overseen by Seattle Parks and Recreation, with the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods designating P-Patch gardens as public gathering and learning spaces. All on-site events must follow the P-Patch Program Rules, Code of Conduct, and city ordinances.

Apply for a Plot

The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods manages 91 P-Patch community gardens across the city, each on a small plot of shared land.

You can join the interest list for the garden(s) of your choice, then wait to be contacted about an opening! Plot openings typically occur between January and June, though openings can happen any time of year. Wait times vary by garden, and the City checks in periodically to confirm you’re still interested — so it’s worth keeping your contact info current once you’re on a list.

There’s an application fee plus an annual permit fee based on plot size, with fee assistance available for those who qualify. Visit the City of Seattle’s How to Sign Up page for full details and to apply.

While you wait, subscribe to our newsletter and check our calendar for ways to stay involved.