3.30.22

Around The Farm

by Annaliese Youngs, senior, Public Health Global Health Major, Food System Nutrition and Health Minor, UW Farm Education Intern, Winter Quarter '22
 

With the season changing and spring just around the corner, the UW Farm is busy starting crops.

With average the last frost date of April 6th in the Seattle area, there are a variety of methods the UW Farm uses to get a head start on spring planting. One such method includes using a cold frame (see photo above of the one at the UW Farm made by volunteers and father and son team, Andy and Adam Houston).

A cold frame is typically a bottomless box with a transparent roof that protects plants from cold weather and wind. The box can be made from wood, plastic, concrete blocks, or bricks. The roof is made with glass, repurposed windows, or clear plastic and is attached to the box with a hinge or as a sliding lid. Cold frames can be used for season extension by jump starting spring planting and getting a longer harvest in the fall. Inside the cold frames, crops can be warmed up to an additional 12 degrees. The transparent roof allows sunlight to enter, trapping heat inside the box. The UW Farm also uses the cold frame to “harden off,” or acclimate seedlings that were started inside the Douglas Research Conservatory greenhouse before transplanting into the field.

Cold frames provide a middle ground between the warm and protected greenhouse environment and the harsher exposed outdoor environment. This allows the seedlings time to acclimate and increases their chance of survival in the field.  

Another version of a cold frame is called a hot bed, which contains all the elements of a cold frame, but includes an additional heating component. Traditionally, this means placing a cold frame on top of 18-24 inches of manure or compost that has been moistened and turned for a week, then covered with six inches of soil. The heat generated from the decomposition of the compost or manure adds warmth inside the cold frame. Cold frames are a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly method of increasing crop productivity on small-scale farms as they enable season extension. 

To read more about cold frames and how to build one visit: https://www.almanac.com/how-build-cold-frame 

To read more about hot beds and how to build one visit:
https://extension.psu.edu/two-designs-for-low-cost-hot-beds-for-small-scale-production

News and Noteworthy:

Agriculture Work Opportunities in Washington:

• Red Dog Farms – Field Crew
• Oxbow Farm – Multiple
• WSDA Organic Programs – Inspectors
• One Leaf Farm – Farm Crew
• Viva Farms – Farm and Education Assistant
• 21 Acres – Multiple
• Common Ground – Farmer
• Tonnemaker – Field and Farm Stand Crew

Connect more with Miller Library here

Food Access Resources

The UW Farm donates regularly to the UW Food Pantry. During peak season we also donate to food banks close by. The links below are resources to help you or someone you know with food access.  

• UW Food Pantry: The UW Food Pantry | Any Hungry Husky (washington.edu)
• Northwest Harvest Food Donation sites: Public Drop Sites – Northwest Harvest
• University District Food Bank: Donate Food and Items – University District Food Bank (udistrictfoodbank.org)
• Food Lifeline: Volunteer – Food Lifeline

Help The Farm Grow!

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

Copyright © 2022 The UW Farm, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
The UW Farm
3501 NE 41st St, 
Seattle, WA 98105

On campus mailbox
Box 354115

NEW email address:
uwfarm@uw.edu