Seattle Urban Farm Company: Pioneering Edible Landscapes and Sustainable City Farming
Create productive green retreats on rooftops, balconies, and backyards for city dwellers.
Since its foundation in 2007, Seattle Urban Farm Company (SUFCo) has been at the forefront of the urban agriculture movement in the Pacific Northwest, inspiring communities, organizations, and individuals to grow their own food, foster environmental stewardship, and transform city living through productive, beautiful gardens. Led by founders Colin McCrate and Brad Halm, SUFCo champions innovation in edible landscaping, rooftop gardening, and urban farm design with the belief that healthy, sustainable cities start with reconnecting people to the food they eat and the land on which it grows.
Category: Gardening & Urban Farming
- Location: Seattle, WA — Serving the entire Pacific Northwest
- Services: Edible garden design, installation, maintenance, education, farm structures, community and corporate projects
- Mission: Promote sustainable food production and consumption in urban environments through accessible expert support
Vision and Mission
Vision: SUFCo envisions a future where sustainable urban agriculture is fundamental to healthy diets, environmental stewardship, community strength, and improved quality of life. By driving economically viable farming ventures within cities, they strive to increase awareness of agricultural issues and enhance recognition of farmers’ roles everywhere.
Mission: SUFCo’s mission is to increase sustainable edible crop and livestock production in urban settings, achieved through expert design, installation, and support for gardens, as well as comprehensive education and resources for organic food production and preservation.
Comprehensive Services
SUFCo works with homeowners, restaurants, schools, nonprofits, and businesses to make city farming accessible, productive, and beautiful. Their range of services is designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities of urban environments:
- Farm & Garden Consultation, Design, and Installation
Personalized planning and expert design for backyard plots, rooftop gardens, and business installations. - Farm & Garden Maintenance
Ongoing support to maximize productivity, health, and aesthetics through seasonal care, pruning, pest management, and organic fertilization. - Raised Bed Construction
Custom wood or composite bed builds for efficient space utilization and improved soil health. - Rooftop Garden Consultation, Design & Installation
Innovative rooftop projects that turn underused spaces into productive green rooftops for restaurants, businesses, and apartments. - Vegetable Plant Sales
Offers healthy starts and transplants for home gardeners and urban farmers. - Garden Classes and Workshops
Education for individuals, neighborhoods, schools, and nonprofits, covering basics and advanced skills for edible gardening. - Chicken Coop & Goat Pen Design and Construction
Integrating urban livestock into city gardens with safe, attractive housing.
Beyond private gardens, SUFCo partners with restaurants for onsite farm-to-table gardens, guides schools through starting educational programs, and helps corporations create gardens that benefit employees and customers.
Region Served
SUFCo serves the Pacific Northwest—with Seattle as its hub but projects stretching into surrounding communities.
Inspiration: Behind the Company
Founded by Colin McCrate and Brad Halm in response to growing interest in urban food production, SUFCo has witnessed a surge in city gardening and homegrown food over the past decade. Colin McCrate highlights benefits not just for diet and health, but for daily city life — increased exercise, neighborly interaction, and personal well-being. Their philosophy is clear: harvesting even a handful of fresh produce can transform one’s relationship with food and community.
| Founder | Role | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Colin McCrate | Co-founder/Owner | Seattle, WA |
| Brad Halm | Co-founder/Owner | Seattle, WA |
With expertise drawn from their book Food Grown Right, In Your Backyard, McCrate and Halm offer practical, beginner-friendly guidance for crops at home.
Project Highlights & Seasonal Practices
SUFCo’s work is visible in homes, restaurants, schools, and community gardens across Seattle and beyond:
- Thinning Vegetable Transplants
- Harvest Time: Garlic, carrots, French breakfast radishes, red-veined sorrel, summer peas, winter squash and gourds
- Season Extension: Clay cold frames for winter greens, proper soil prep, and succession planting
- Pollinator Habitats: Bees at work in summer gardens
- Rooftop Tomato Production: Projects like Bastille Cafe’s rooftop farm grow Sungold tomatoes and more
- Fruit and Berry Cultivation: White currants and strawberry beds managed for maximum yield
From rooftop beds packed with kale to classroom gardens sprouting snap peas, SUFCo demonstrates that edible gardening can thrive in any space—even in the heart of a city.
Educational Initiatives and Community Engagement
SUFCo’s commitment to education extends from their client support to wider community initiatives:
- Workshops for individuals, nonprofit staff, and corporate employees
- School garden planning and maintenance lessons, engaging students with hands-on food education
- Public gardening classes covering seed selection, soil management, pest solutions, and seasonal tasks
- Online blog resources with seasonal gardening tips—like how to plan for spring soil care and winter planting cycles
“Societal awareness of the food system has increased dramatically over the past decade…interacting with crops on a daily basis, people’s awareness of the food they eat increases; they become more aware of the awesome power of freshly harvested food.” — Colin McCrate
Challenges and Creative Solutions in Urban Farming
Urban agriculture is not without obstacles. SUFCo tackles common urban challenges with practical strategies:
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Space Constraints | Innovative layouts, raised beds, vertical growing, and rooftop conversions |
| Limited Sun Exposure | Site assessment, crop selection for shade tolerance, and reflective materials |
| Contaminated Soil | Importing clean soil, constructing beds above ground, soil testing and amendments |
| Water Quality | Utilizing city water, drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting systems |
“Devising creative garden structures and layouts is the perpetual charge of the urban farmer.” — Colin McCrate
Seasonal Wisdom and Gardening Tips from SUFCo
- Winter Planning: Clean out strawberry beds to avoid overcrowding and bolster spring production.
- Fall Potato Dig: Thoroughly harvest to prevent unwanted sprouting in spring.
- Winter Greens: Try claytonia and overwintered kale for reliable cold-weather harvests.
- Early Spring Tasks: Seed onions, chives, and leeks in late January. Start sugar snap pea transplants in February for best results.
- Soil Care: Focus on composting and mulching before the busy spring planting period.
Impact and Urban Agriculture’s Broader Benefits
SUFCo draws on national and regional research to highlight the transformative potential of city farming:
- Improves daily living experiences and physical health
- Strengthens community ties through shared growing spaces
- Offers educational opportunities and supports food system literacy
- Fosters environmental stewardship across city neighborhoods
- Promotes urban green infrastructure, with rooftop gardens and edible landscapes contributing to climate resilience and biodiversity
Contact Details & Location
| Company | Address | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Urban Farm Company | 11550 North Park Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133 | 206-816-9740 | www.seattleurbanfarmco.com |
Gallery: Seasonal Highlights & Project Inspiration
- Mizuna growing in a cold frame, remarkable cold-hardy spinach in snowy conditions
- Frost-covered lettuce transplants in November
- Scenes of harvesting garlic, carrots, and summer peas
- Bees in action, pollinating edible plants all summer long
- Sungold tomatoes and white currants thriving in rooftop gardens
- Winter squash and gourds—testament to Seattle’s unique growing season
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What regions does Seattle Urban Farm Company serve?
A: The company primarily operates in and around Seattle but welcomes projects throughout the entire Pacific Northwest, supporting a wide range of home, business, and nonprofit gardening needs.
Q: What types of clients does SUFCo work with?
A: SUFCo creates gardens for homeowners, restaurants, schools, nonprofits, and businesses. Their expertise spans backyard gardens, rooftop farms, edible landscapes, and more.
Q: Can SUFCo help design and build rooftop gardens?
A: Yes, rooftop garden design and installation is a core SUFCo specialty. They excel at transforming underutilized roofspaces into productive gardens for restaurants, workplaces, and residences.
Q: What educational opportunities does SUFCo offer?
A: SUFCo provides workshops, classes, and consulting for individuals, schools, and businesses. Education ranges from basic vegetable gardening to advanced planning for seasonal success.
Q: What are the key benefits of urban farming according to SUFCo?
A: SUFCo believes urban agriculture fosters healthy eating, personal well-being, community connections, and environmental improvement in cities. Edible gardens also contribute to urban biodiversity and green infrastructure.
Summary
The Seattle Urban Farm Company stands as an expert resource for anyone seeking to bring sustainable farming and edible landscapes to their city environment. Whether through custom garden design, community education, or innovative rooftop installations, SUFCo empowers urban residents to connect with their food, neighbors, and environment. Their continual advocacy, creative problem solving, and leadership have made Seattle a model of what city-based agriculture can achieve—turning backyards, rooftops, and community spaces into vibrant sources of food, education, and inspiration.
References
- https://www.gardenista.com/firms/seattle-urban-farm-company/
- https://www.gardenista.com/posts/secrets-for-success-winter-gardening-from-seattle-urban-farm-company/
- https://pdhacademy.com/2015/05/14/expert-interview-with-colin-mccrate-of-seattle-urban-farm-company-on-urban-farming/
- https://www.gardenista.com/posts/palette-paints-5-favorite-eco-friendly-stains/
- https://www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/encyclopedia-botanica-podcast-episode-106-vegetable-gardening-wisdom-with-kelly-smith-trimble
- https://www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/crop-planning-an-excerpt-from-food-grown-right-in-your-backyard
- https://www.honestquarterly.com/blog/tag/seattle+urban+farm+company
- https://www.gardenista.com/posts/a-verdant-garden-in-seattle/
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