2023 Impact Directs Campus Farm's Food Security Priorities for the Upcoming Growing Season
By Siffre Tooth, Farm Food Security Lead, AmeriCorps '23-24
In 2023, the UW Farm experienced highs and lows, new accolades and challenges. We struggled with crop failures of melons, corn, and onions, while successfully cultivating quinoa and wheat for the very first time!
Certified organic produce donated by the UW Farm in 2023 reached 2390.57 pounds, worth a retail value of $11,870.00. The largest volume of donated produce was delivered to the campus UW Food Pantry.
Check out the graphic (left) to get the breakdown of our volunteer engagement, as well as our donations to just to the UW Food Pantry.
Individuals from the community, corporate groups, UW students, faculty and alumni – all supplied the energy and person-power that continue to be critical to our success.
We enjoyed a busy growing season with many new faces and incredible contributors to our work. We continue to offer our gratitude to everyone on and off campus who makes the Farm possible!
In 2024, we are looking forward to: the planting of the Heritage Orchard as a future gathering place and home for heirloom fruit trees; the completion of the Wapato Pond for the cultivation of aquatic, fresh water indigenous food crops; and donating even higher volumes of produce to the UW Food Pantry.
We also plan on improving our Vermicompost program, expanding Earth Day activities, hosting our annual plant sale and the Farm to Table Harvest Dinner Fundraiser. We have so much in store for students and the community! For now, we are focusing on purchasing all our seeds, finalizing our crop plan, meeting with UW Dining Chefs and other partners to prepare for the season.
Look for our next newsletter in your email in February. We will announce when shares for our subscription-based Community Supported Agriculture program or CSA will go on sale, and other opportunities!
Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook noodles according to package. Reserve 2 cups of the boiling water, then remove noodles and rinse them well under cold water then set aside.
While the noodles are cooking, add your cilantro, white portion of scallions, and baby spinach to one side of a large noodle bowl. To the other side of the bowl, add the tamari, oil, chili sauce, bouillon paste, and miso paste then mix together to combine.
Add the grated garlic, ginger, lime zest and fennel seeds then carefully pour in the reserved boiling water into the bowl. Use a spoon to mix everything together then add the noodles on top along with the edamame.
Add a few cracks of fresh white pepper and a squeeze of some lime juice then serve immediately.
News and Noteworthy:
Check out the upcoming workshop hosted by Tilth Alliance! "Get a head start on spring and summer by growing your organic vegetables and annual flowers indoors now! Save money, grow varieties you can’t find in stores and enjoy the experience of growing your own plant starts."
UW Farm Upcoming Internship and Employment Opportunities:
The UW Farm donates regularly to the UW Food Pantry. During peak season we also donate to nearby food banks. The links below are resources to help you or someone you know with food access.
Every year, we have the capacity to grow more food and increase our educational and research program at the UW, but not without your support. Every contribution goes to work immediately, helping us better serve students. Your support can sustain our momentum and help seed new opportunities for student internships, academic work, and future growth. Please consider making a gift to the Farm online
The Weekly Dirt is produced once a week by the University of Washington Farm, a program of the UW Botanic Gardens, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, College of the Environment. It is published nearly year-round for educational purposes and the majority of the content is written or contributed by students and farm staff.
This issue's contributors:
Managing Editor: Siffre Tooth, UW Farm Food Security Lead
Around the Farm: Siffre Tooth, UW Farm Food Security Lead Contributing Editors: Perry Acworth, Farm Manager; Siffre Tooth, UW Farm Food Security Lead Photo Credits: Siffre Tooth. Other photos retrieved from the internet and noted in sections
In 2023, the UW Farm experienced highs and lows, new accolades and challenges. We struggled with crop failures of melons, corn, and onions, while successfully cultivating quinoa and wheat for the very first time!
