After featuring the Urban Earth Nursery in a March Wallyhood article, it was especially sad to hear that, after nearly 30 years in the Fremont neighborhood, the nursery will close on November 1st, with the last day of operation October 31st. This closure directly affects nine nursery associates, including the two current owners, Tan, and Lexi. They have been proud to serve the community as a “women/LGBT community-owned business” and have lived by their vision: “Urban Earth cultivates our staff, clients, and neighbors to develop a primordial bond between humans and plants.” I always felt welcome visiting the nursery, greeted kindly by the friendly staff, even if just browsing.
According to a September 18th Seattle Times article, the landlord, Fremont Dock Company, sold the property earlier this summer to a residential developer that was already planning housing on two lots behind Urban Earth. The nursery was notified on August 6th that the property would be needed to support construction equipment for the build-out. It is not known how the nursery’s lot will be used after construction is complete.
Fremont Dock graciously offered the nursery alternative spaces, but none included the outdoor space necessary for a nursery, leaving them with no choice and little time to find a suitable alternative location. So, they are being forced to close, with most employees left scrambling for new positions in a tight labor market.
Co-owner Tan has rebranded the business as Urban Earth Gardens and will be joined by four of the staff from the nursery as a worker-owned LGBTQ community all-service landscape design company, serving residential and business clients. Urban Earth Gardens will serve all facets of landscape work, including design, installation, and maintenance. They hope to provide their signature customer-based focus to landscape projects throughout King and Snohomish counties. You can email Tan at [email protected] to find out more. Madison has found a new position with Ravenna Gardens, leaving co-owner Lexi and the remaining staff looking for new positions. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the staff during this transition.
To show appreciation to the Wallingford/Fremont communities, the Urban Earth staff will be hosting an “End of the Earth Party” on Saturday, October 18th, starting at 5 pm. Although full details have not been finalized, they expect live entertainment will be part of the festivities. If you are planning to attend, they ask you to RSVP at their website.
It is sad to see this jewel of a small business close. Please support the nursery during this transition. Tam would like the community to be on the lookout for upcoming close-out sales during October. I hope the buildings to be constructed at this location will be reflective of Fremont. However, this fall, as you walk by the site and see construction vehicles parked on the former nursery, remember that this was a vibrant business serving the community for decades.
Discover more from Wallyhood
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
This Post Has 2 Comments
Comments are closed.
Literally paving paradise to put up a parking lot.
If you look at the lot, I am sure it's not really going to be a parking lot. It's just that Urban Earth was told that they need to move out for construction needs. I am pretty sure it'd end up being housing. It may even turn out to be the types that "doesn't have enough parking".
I've bought small things from Urban Earth from time to time, and honestly I always wonder how long they can last. It has looked like a place waiting for re-development for quite awhile now. I would guess their rents were below market value with the property owner just holding it for somebody to buy and develop.