The Port of Bremerton isn’t just about growing business and development these days, it’s also about growing vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers.

Cary Bozeman, CEO of the port, wanted tenants in the Olympic View Industrial Park to reap the benefits from owning their own p-patches, so the port started preparing the land earlier this year in preparation of the planting season.

Ten plots have been completed and once those are filled, the port will begin developing an additional 10.

Plots in the p-patch were offered to employees of companies located at the port.  

During his term as mayor of Bremerton, Bozeman had been part of the creation of a p-patch located in Blueberry Park.

Based on the park’s success with the project, the policy of “working together for the betterment of our community” was adapted into the current policy.

“Attracting new companies to our industrial park is a very competitive process, and in order to compete we need to demonstrate that we care about the employees who work inside our park by offering opportunities for them to recreate in such things as walking trails, p-patches, and hopefully someday an athletic field or even a daycare center,” Bozeman said.

Washington State University Master Gardeners have offered their services and will be available to provide gardening advice.

The port’s Airport and Industrial Park Maintenance Team, led by Ed Draper, designed and built the p-patches, incorporating the environmentally friendly materials.

Gardening materials were conscientiously chosen to ensure that gardeners would have a quality p-patch experience. 

“These will be smart business investments that will help us attract new companies and jobs to our industrial park,” Bozeman added.