Apr 20, 2022 / The Weekly Dirt / persis

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The Weekly Dirt 4.20.22

4.20.22

Around The Farm

Vermicomposting: Small Livestock, Big Impact!
By Dannette Lombert, AmeriCorps Member, Food Security Lead
 

The UW Farm will officially have livestock on the farm: red wigglers! This week we are welcoming the worms as part of our NEW CSF-funded vermicomposting facility, the result of a grant written by Michael Bradshaw, PhD '20. After more than five years of collaboration and hard work, the ribbon-cutting will be this Friday as part of Earth Day festivities on the UW Seattle campus (see details below).

Red wigglers are commonly used in vermicomposting units large and small. These worms are different from the ones you normally see in your garden or on the farm; red wigglers are able to consume large amounts of food waste, reproduce well in small spaces, and tend to stay close to the surface for maximum vegetable consumption. These Eisenia foetida, among other types of worms, are key to ensuring a well working vermicomposting system, as well as temperature, humidity level, and air flow. 

Vermicomposting units work by providing an environment for the worms, including bedding, soil, a little water, and food scraps. The worms then work together to eat and process the food scraps and the worm castings is what you would harvest and put into your soil. If all is going well, the worms will reproduce and process more waste in a shorter amount of time.

Not only is vermicomposting a low-cost, low maintenance way to create a beneficial, sustainable soil amendment, 20% more nutrients are possible in worm castings versus other composts. Bonus: the small space and input materials needed for vermicomposting is ideal for farmers, gardeners, homeowners living in cities.  These small or micro-livestock can have a big impact. 

Learn how to build your own vermicomposting unit here

Artwork above produced by Margaux Ransom, UW Farm intern, Spring 2021

News and Noteworthy:
10th Anniversary of the Living Breath of wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ
Indigenous Foods Symposium

When: May 13th -14th, 8:30 am- 5:00pm
Hosted by: wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ Intellectual House

Join us in celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Living Breath of wbaltx Indigenous Foods Symposium as we return back to an in-person event! Our annual event draws over 300 people from the UW campus community, regional tribal and urban Indigenous communities, and throughout the U.S, Canada, Mexico, and Aotearoa New Zealand. Our symposium is a signature event for the UW Intellectual House and has become an important venue for bringing together people from diverse communities and organizations who share the same commitment to protecting Indigenous homelands and the environment. It serves to foster dialogue and build collaborative networks as Indigenous peoples strive to sustain cultural food practices and preserve healthy relationships to the land, water, and all living things.

Learn more and register for the event here
ASUW is hiring!

UWs student government, The Associated Students of The University of Washington – or ASUW for short – is in their peak hiring season. There are 70+ positions available, all of which are paid, on-campus positions. Positions range from advocacy directorships to administrative coordinators to web-developers.

ASUW positions are posted on handshake, check them out at jobs.asuw.org. 
Agriculture Work Opportunities in Washington:
UW Botanic Gardens is Hiring!

Check out these amazing opportunities below:

Food Access Resources

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.  

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

 

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:

Around the Farm: Dannette Lombert, UW Farm AmeriCorps Member- Food Security Lead
Editors: Dannette Lombert, UW Farm AmeriCorps Member- Food Security Lead, Perry Acworth, UW Farm Manager, Diana Knight, Advancement and Communications Manager, Department of Chemistry; Jessica Farmer, Adult Education Supervisor and Community Education Lead, UWBG
Photo Credits and Other Content: Dannette Lombert, Perry Acworth
Other photos retrieved from the internet and noted in sections 

Copyright © 2022 The UW Farm, All rights reserved.

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The UW Farm
3501 NE 41st St, 
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