Located at the top of Beacon Hill, on the western edge of Jefferson Park, with unobstructed views of the city skyline to the north, is a 7-acre plot of land unique in the city and rare around the country. A place for people to gather, grow, and… eat. A place for families to learn together and work together. A place for kids to run around and snack healthily while they play.
The Beacon Food Forest is a public space and source of fresh, nutritious food for anyone who visits. Seven days a week, 365 days a year, anyone can come and enjoy a handful of grapes while sitting in the sun or gather herbs to use in their kitchen.
“You don’t need permission or a plan, just drop by and walk around,” as long-time volunteer and parent of two Matt Lapora put it. “If you stumble upon raspberries, you should eat them. You can eat almost anything on site. If you recognize it, you can eat it. If you don’t, look for the labels to learn more.”
BFF is a place for anyone to come and take what is available. (Image: Elise Evans)
The idea for a community food forest originated in 2009 as the final project for a permaculture design course at UW. Since breaking ground in 2012, the organization has cultivated 3.5 acres of the site. Visitors will find a variety of edible options in any season, many of which can’t be found in grocery stores; honeyberries, mulberries, and pawpaws among them, as well as native staples like wapato and camas. There are also garden favorites: butter lettuce and rhubarb, strawberries and plums, hazelnuts and sunflower seeds.
The BFF is a volunteer-led, nonprofit organization, whose continuing mission is to care for the earth, care for people, and provide access to local, healthy food. Long-time volunteer, current Community Relations Director, and mother of two, Priya Marita Diaz describes the food forest as a “free alternative for fresh food, a third space in the city open to everyone […].”
“It can be hard for folks not used to the idea of open-harvest,” she said. “Am I going to get in trouble for picking this?” The answer is no, the Beacon Food Forest is a place for anyone to come and take what is available.
3.5 of the 7 acres have been cultivated thus far. (Image: Elise Evans)
Young visitors have little hesitation in sampling the forest’s bounty. As Lapora has seen with his own kids, they seem to enjoy a sense of freedom in finding their own fresh snack.
“When you put kale on the dinner table at home, they will turn their nose up,” he said. “But when they are at the BFF, they are much more likely to try the same food right off the plant with no pressure.”
And that’s not the only reason for families to spend time exploring the BFF. “There is a real strong educational component to the BFF,” said Eleanor Goodall, a member of the forest’s Education Committee. “Everyone who visits and volunteers learns from other people. A lot of people really don’t know where their food comes from, what it looks like when it is in the ground or on a tree or bush, but they can see it here.”
Young visitors love sampling the forest’s bounty. (Image: Hannah Duff)
The most direct way for families to volunteer and become active members of the Beacon Food Forest community is through their monthly work parties. Every third Saturday, volunteers gather to weed, compost, plant, and tend to the garden. Participants don’t need any special knowledge and can contribute as much or as little as they are comfortable.
“There is something for everyone,” explained Diaz. “We have also begun organizing an accessible art activity in the gathering plaza during the work parties, for kids and adults who are interested. And we usually have a potluck afterwards which incorporates vegetables, greens, and herbs from the garden itself.”
Following its three-pronged mission, the food forest leadership team continues to look for ways to connect and provide for all. They have partnered with the Rainier Valley Foodbank to provide fresh greens to supplement the non-perishable donations. They are also developing a Young Persons Garden, collaboration with local educators, in which adults and older students will guide younger students in learning about regenerative agriculture with a fun, hands-on approach.
Put the Beacon Food Forest on your map! (Image courtesy Beacon Food Forest)
And in keeping with its ethos of being open for all to use, you just might see mom groups gathering in the shade of a fruit tree, Tai Chi practitioners using the gathering plaza, or an outdoor preschool class learning how insects help to keep plants healthy.
“The land and the plants bring people together from diverse backgrounds, and different ways of life and different experiences, and we all come together around being in the space and growing together,” said Diaz.
Whether your family is looking for a volunteer opportunity, hoping to learn more about gardening, or hoping to add some fresh ingredients to a dinner salad, put the Beacon Food Forest on your map.
Learn more at the Spring Open House event on May 31, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This family-friendly event will include tours of the forest, volunteer information, art activities, plant scavenger hunt, food, and music. It runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
