Yesterday we published two stories about Wallingford establishments, both called Tilth. When Tilth (the restaurant) opened on N. 45th Street in 2006, a short stroll from the other place we called “Tilth” (officially Seattle Tilth), we thought, “That could get confusing.”
Turns out the name does confuse some devotees of organic food. Tilth’s Maria Hines told us they get calls for educational organization Seattle Tilth (based at the Good Shepherd Center) all the time. “It is what it is,” she said. “It’s not a bad association.”
Liza Burke at Seattle Tilth laughed when she told us, “We’re tempted to take reservations for Tilth!” With mock indignation, she said, “They moved into our neighborhood and took our name!” Seriously, though, Burke said Seattle Tilth is happy for Tilth: “They’re successful and support a lot of Seattle Tilth’s philosphy.”
The word “tilth” means “the state of aggregation of a soil especially in relation to its suitability for crop growth.”