Backyard Animals Take Spotlight on July 14

Over 50 families welcome visitors during Seattle Tilth’s Chicken Coop and Urban Farm Tour to showcase their critters and creativity. This is a chance to see some of Seattle ’s most unique farmsteads -- perfect for animal lovers, gardeners, families, fun seekers and future urban farmers! The tour is on Saturday, July 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the greater Seattle area.

Tour participants can get up close and personal with many varieties of chickens as well as ducks, quail, geese, rabbits, pigs, mini dairy goats, honey bees and even cows and a horse. Using our map with descriptions of each site, you can choose your own adventure or follow neighborhood routes outlined in NE, NW, Central, SE and West Seattle . The tour also includes a few sites outside the city including Everett , Edmonds , Mountlake Terrace , Burien, Duvall and Issaquah.


The sites are quite diverse. Many incorporate salvaged materials and inspiring display of resourcefulness. Coops range from minimalist to elaborate and are designed by both amateurs and professional coop builders. Come see an urban commercial veggie farm, a New Orleans style row house coop, Seattle 4-H club headquarters with bunnies and chickens, a container garden in an office building, an urban farm school for preschoolers with chickens and a pig, solar-powered automatic doors, converted dog kennels, outdoor hydroponics and an urban farm bed and breakfast. See the photo preview on Facebook.

During the event, participants are invited to stop by the Rainer Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands and see the coops on display that are part of the Raise the Roost Design Build Competition. Seattle chapters of Architecture for Humanity and Architects Without Borders have teamed up with local designers and builders to raise funds for Seattle Youth Garden Works, a program of Seattle Tilth. There will also be an awards ceremony and celebration following the tour.  All participants are invited to attend. 

Tickets for the Chicken Coop and Urban Farm Tour are $12 each and $5 for kids, with discounts for groups, Seattle Tilth members and bicyclists. BUY TICKETS online.

Now you can do more than just dream about fresh and nutritious eggs, milk, and honey from your own backyard! See for yourself what it takes to become an urban urban farmer. Find out more on our website.


About Seattle Tilth 


Begun in 1978, Seattle Tilth is a regional organization with community learning gardens and farms in Wallingford , Mt. Baker and Rainier Beach neighborhoods, and the City of Issaquah , offering classes and programs that serve adults and children. Seattle Tilth’s mission is to inspire and educate people to grow food organically, conserve natural resources, and support local food systems in order to cultivate a healthy urban environment and community. 

Seattle Tilth teaches classes throughout the year on raising chickens, goats, ducks and bees and organic gardening and more as well as summer camp for children. Find out more: www.seattletilth.org.