The Danny Woo Garden-Mercedes

The goal of the garden was simple, design and construct for the Asian elderly living in Seattle a place to plant the foods they missed from their native countries, and, most importantly, to provide social connections, recreation and exercise for the aging immigrant residents. (InterIm CDA). But back in 1975, resources to fulfill this dream were scarce. Activists and organizations asked Danny Woo, a community landowner and leader at the time, to build a garden on his Seattle property in the International District. “Uncle” Bob Santos, leader of InterIm CDA at the time proposed a new initiative. By combining a city-owned park with Danny Woo’s property, there would be enough land for the elders to harvest their produce, yet without being overcrowded. InterIm CDA, a nonprofit organization could only afford on $1 a year for rent. Despite this very low amount of money, Danny Woo agreed, and thus the Danny Woo Gardens was constructed

The garden was built on generosity and kindness, and continues to thrive today on the generosity of a community, full of volunteers and willing benefactors. InterIM CDA holds numerous benefit social events throughout the year all to benefit their projects, with the goal of benefitting an entire community. One of these longstanding events is the Sumer Pig Roast.

Let me take you back to history through my eyes now. I’m 18, going on 19 this year and my family has deep roots in Seattle, I am a fourth generation Seatillite, born and raised. And let me tell you, there is nothing like Seattle in the summertime. Those 8 out of 12 months filled with cold, rain, sleet, hail, sun breaks, heavy downpour, spontaneous storms, and generally unpredictable weather that people complain about are worth it for the summers spent in the city. Seattle becomes alive with the sun, and there are countless events that take place all around the Puget Sound. My favorite week of the whole summer is the second week of July. Not only is it my birthday weekend, but it is also the time of year when the annual InterIm Pig Roast happens, as well as numerous other Asian-culture events. The Pig Roast is an annual event that I have been attending since I was just a year old, and my father had been attending every year since it’s creation in the 70’s. I haven’t missed a single pig roast, save for the year I was born.

This longstanding event of the Pig Roast involves roasting a pig on a spit roast for over 30 hours, constantly being rotated and checked for even cooking. Those who participate in the roasting of the pig all agree that there’s a specific art and science to roasting a pig, one has to make sure that it is evenly cooked, that it’s not cooking too fast, etc. After the pig has been roasted to perfection, it is cut and served along with other donated dishes as a community potluck for all to attend. This annual event feeds hundreds of people, and is a chance for everyone to reconnect with the community, view the hard work that the elderly put into the gardens, and carry on a tradition.

Over the years, the Danny Woo garden has seen many additions, new retaining walls, planting of large fruit trees, and are currently in the process of building a chicken coop for both the elderly and the young to tend to. I even adopted a chicken to donate to the coop. Any ideas on names? :)