So, you want free plants?

Seattle's Roosevelt Neighborhood is undergoing a lot of change. Single family homes that have planted trees, flowers, and edible plants over the years are now being demolished to make room for denser housing. Which gives you the opportunity to (on properties we've coordinated with) rehome plants that would otherwise go to landfills.

Because these properties are owned by developers, we are serving as the go-between for people with green thumbs and development companies. Read our simple guide to getting plants, sign the liability waiver and email it in, check out plants (in person or online), make a plan, and visit the property during our "open" times to come get plants.

It's a few easy steps to free plants for your property---let's get it done!

Really, you have to sign the liability waiver. Unless you have the liability waiver emailed in and in hand, you will not be allowed on property and the cops will be called if you come on property without permission. So, to avoid that drama, sign the liability waiver, email it to replantroosevelt@gmail.com and to rhackleman@mackurban.com (sign a hard copy and take a photo/scan or sign a PDF with an e-signature). Bring a hardcopy of the waiver with you to come on property.

Link to the waiver: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-ohgQg1BVh5SFFxajNCd2piTEZPTTZ2MnUyRERpMFd0NjNF/edit?usp=sharing

There's a ton of plants on 10+ properties in Roosevelt currently slated for demo this summer. Go take a quick walk around the properties (they're fenced off, but at least you can see the front yards) and look at our documentation of plants and their locations: http://www.mobilytrip.com/journals/ZhfpzxFMKDaHpQkTAYyUT8e8P (Note that two properties are listed here isn't within the fencing, we were able to note that on the site, but the site wouldn't let us remove the map. Yay, tech glitches.)

Only plants that are within the fencing may be removed. Anything OUTSIDE of fencing is a real person's yard. Don't touch it.

Take a look. We suggest not just coming and digging, blind. Make a plan. Which plants will work for your space? Which ones do you want? Maybe there's a plant that couldn't be replanted, but a stem could take root with proper care. Can you recreate the living space the plant is currently in (shade, sunlight, protected from wind, etc.)? Figure out what you want and then figure out how to move it.

UPDATE:
Plants we've ID'd in backyards include: dozens of small rose bushes (they're tucked into sides of properties so look for them!), a pear tree, a small japanese pear tree, "rock roses," clustering bamboo, small japanese maple, honeysuckle bush, and on and on... in particular, check out the back yards of houses on 68th st NE and the front yards of homes on 67th st.

Do your research. We're just the project coordinators, not plant experts. You need to figure out stuff like, will you need burlap to ball up roots of a bush or tree? Is that plant going to survive a move? What will you need to do to replant it with best chance of survival? What kind of light/water/whatever does it need?

We suggest contacting the Seattle Tilth hotline for advice. It's free!

Need more advice? There is also a professional botanist who lives across the street from the property and can help you figure out strategies for digging up and replanting plants and trees. Her name is Anne a she's offering a discounted rate for Replant Roosevelt folks. You can hire her for 15 minute increments at $10 (you can do a lot of strategy for a plant in 15 minutes), or $40 for an hour. She has been a very valuable resource to a lot of people who have come on property. You can contact her by buzzing apartment seven at 811 NE 67th St, or email us at replantroosevelt@gmail.com and we'll put you in touch.

Gather materials/resources. Will you need burlap for a tree's rootball? A shovel? A spade? Gloves? Sunscreen? A truck? A friend to help you (they'll need to sign a waiver too!)?

You can come on property during these times:

3- 8 PM Monday-Friday

11 AM - 8 PM Saturday and Sunday

Schedule friends to come.

All your team members must sign and email in the waiver, AND have a hard copy before going on property, so make sure they're good to go.

Get your gear lined up.

Gloves, shovels, spades, burlap, pots, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, whatever you might need, bring it. We're hearing you might want to bring a wrench for accessing parts of the property through the fencing. We don't provide you with anything but the opportunity to legally come on property. Make sure your team is geared up. Finally, figure out how you'll transport stuff. We can't store anything for you.

Be aware.

These properties are owned, but abandoned. You are at your own on risk on property. Security is on site 24/7, but you should call in anything suspicious (transients, drug paraphernalia, etc.) We've also seen bees on the 68th side in the grass/front yard of the red house. Across the properties, there are a few boards with nails in 'em. Once again, be cautious, you are liable for anything that happens to you.

Don't just rip something up and think it'll replant.

Tell your team to call the Seattle Tilth hotline for spur of the moment help. Better to ask then to destroy a saveable plant through carelessness.

You can claim a plant and come back, but you have 3 days from claim to dig.

If you're doing a property tour and want a plant or two, feel free to tag the plant. We suggest a waterproof tag of some sort and ribbon to mark it. Email replantroosevelt@gmail.com to notify us and schedule a time to dig.

Avoid claimed plants.

Some people tagged plants and have professionals coming to help remove them. Please respect those tagged plants and let them be. They found a loving home and there are far more plants to be rescued. If you really want it, let us know, and if it isn't dug up, we'll alert you on the wait list.

Be respectful.

If you and another person want the same plant, and the plant is not tagged, flip a coin. Heads wins. Don't be Seattle-passive-aggressive about it.

Don't remove parts of the houses.

Landscaping you can pick up without digging out/pulling off can be taken. Parts of houses cannot. If you really want something, document it. Address noted, backyard/frontyard, photos, how it is attached to the house, etc. Then email us and we'll interface with the property owner. Don't just pull it. That's called theft. :(

Be nice.

This is an amazing opportunity to give these plants (and this neighborhood) a 2nd chance. Be kind and courteous to all you encounter on property and with this project. Both because it's the right thing to do and because we'll kick jerks off the property. So, be kind to the plants and those you interact with.