The big city doesn't exactly offer sweeping expanses of land on which to plant a garden, but that's where the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods' P-Patch Program comes in.

The P-Patch Program was created to provide and designate community garden space for Seattleites. More than 70 Seattle neighborhoods now participate in the program, opening up organic gardening space for more than 6,000 gardeners. Approximately 2,500 plots are distributed across 23 acres of land, according to the P-Patch Web site.

The community gardening concept is a simple one — allow neighbors to come together in a green space to grow their own produce. The benefit to the community is a picturesque, thriving garden, and community residents get the advantage of growing their own food.

In Seattle's P-Patches, gardeners may grow any vegetables, small fruits, flowers or herbs of their choice. Any excess produce is not allowed to be sold but may be shared among friends or donated to food banks. Seattle's community gardens donate seven to 10 tons of produce to food banks each year, according to the Web site.

The P-Patch Program offers users organic fertilizer, water and the use of hoses and gardening tools in exchange for annual dues. There is a $23 application fee, and each 100 square feet of land costs $11. A 10- foot-by-10-foot plot of land would therefore cost $34.

In keeping with the community garden philosophy, gardeners are expected to contribute some of their time toward keeping the common spaces of the patches neat and tidy. Participants must contribute a minimum of eight hours of their time annually to common spaces, four hours of which can be at one's own site.

Gardeners are expected to care for their own site on a year-round basis, which includes preparing the garden for fall and winter. Participants may choose to grow cool winter crops, plant cover crops or use compost to enrich the soil. All seeds and labor for a P-Patch are provided by gardeners, and only organic gardening is allowed.

Most P-Patches maintain a garden plot dedicated to growing produce for those in need (called a "giving garden"), as well as communal flower and herb beds.

P-Patch garden plots are assigned via a waiting list. Last year's participants get first priority for plot space. To sign on to the P-Patch Program waiting list, go to www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ppatch/waitlist.htm.