Farm Volunteers from Honors Interdisciplinary Course Gain New Perspective
A new course, "Are Do-gooders Doing Good?" was offered by the Honors Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Programs was offered this past quarter. Taught by Kathryn Pursch Cornforth (Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center), the course requires volunteering at organizations and examines, "what does it mean to help people and give back? How do models of helping need to change in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and reckoning with the legacy of racism in the United States? Can we genuinely help one another–across the lines that divide us? This course is for those that want to engage in critical reflection about what it means to “do good” and engage with multiple models of civic engagement that support strong communities."
For the first time, the UW Farm hosted a half dozen students from this course. Each individual contributed 25 hours in the field, helping with various farm tasks from weeding, harvesting, and planting cover crops, to rebuilding an herb garden. Students come from various majors across the university. One student, Shridar Sinha, a Math and Computer Sciences major, shares his reflection, below.
Reflection on Community Engaged Learning at the UW Farm
By Shridhar Sinha, majoring in Computer Science and Math
Looking back at my work at the UW farm (this fall quarter) I am surprised at how much has changed since I first started volunteering there. At first, it was just the most convenient way to fulfill the required 25 hours of community service for my honors 394 class. But now it has become so much more.
At the first shift my friend and I had no idea what we were doing, and the fact that we were out there so early in the morning, working on something that we didn't have too much of an idea about really disturbed us. I remember all of us considering to drop the course and try something else. However, even from the first meeting, there was a certain intrigue that brought us back to the farm. The natural beauty of the area, the farm manager's enthusiasm, and interacting with other volunteers, were all new and exciting experiences for us.
I sincerely believe that in order to learn new things and to lead a happy and fulfilled life, one of the most important qualities one needs to possess is courage. Little acts of courage every day can build up to something truly awesome. In this way we gathered the courage to go a few more times, and we definitely saw the results of our courage.
Photo Left : Shridar (left) working with another volunteer,, Jonathan,
on reconstructing the herb spiral
We started learning more about the history of agriculture and its importance to society in ways that we had never thought of before. Even seeing the day to day struggles of farmers, understanding the problems they face, and the methods that they must use, gave me great respect and a fresh perspective on agriculture.
I still remember on one of the first days when we were learning how to properly weed the crops, I was quickly removing all the weeds that I could see. But then the farm manager pointed out that I was just snapping off the weeds and not removing them by the root, which took far longer but was the only effective weeding strategy. She explained to me, connected with the importance of the farm to the UW community, how everything that is worth doing is worth doing right and that I should put 100 percent in all my work at the farm or it's not worth it. This lesson really stuck with me, and I try to apply it to other areas of my life.
In conclusion, my work at the UW farm has given me a broader perspective and appreciation for the community that I live in, taught me valuable skills and knowledge, improved my general work ethic and outlook on work in any setting, and contributed greatly to my overall happiness this quarter. I had taken many challenging STEM courses this quarter, and it was great to be able to remove myself from that setting and have some fun and learn different and interesting things. It has definitely had a profound impact on my mental health and made me a more happy and fulfilled person.
UW Farm in the Fall – A Virtual Tour
Watch our NEW video of the UW Farm in the Fall! This completes our series of virtual tours in all four seasons of the year at the UW Farm.
Created by Tina Jacobsen, UW Farm Education Intern
News and Noteworthy:
Gardening with the Seasons: Winter online/Win23
Online Class Feb 8, 2023 7:00pm-8:30pm
(Online via Zoom)
Instructor:
Christina Pfeiffer
Winter may seem like the slow season for gardening, but there are plenty of things you can do to set yourself up for success for the rest of the year! This session will cover dormant season pruning and transplanting for specific plant types, winter weeding and garden care, best tools and practices, and planning ahead for the new growing season.
Price: $25
This online class will be delivered using Zoom. New to Zoom or need more information? Get Started Here.
New Seed To Seed Course Being offered by Tilth Alliance
No matter if you only have a tiny apartment deck, small garden space, or plenty of acreage you can grow fresh food in a healthier, more environmentally friendly way.
With an overall focus on limited space/resources, and the combined challenges of western Washington weather and soils, this series of speakers and topics will help beginners, as well as long time gardeners, l
When: Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: online using the Zoom platform.
Fee: $5 per class, or…save and take all 15 Growing Groceries classes for $50
Oct. 12 Starting a Vegetable Garden Nov. 9 Healthy Soil = Healthy Plants Dec. 7 Raising the Onion & Beet Families Jan. 11 Irrigation & Weed Management Jan. 18 Pruning Fruit Trees Jan. 25 Pea/Bean Family & Cover Cropping Feb. 1 Raising Berries in W. Washington Feb. 8 Seed Starting & Raising Transplants Feb. 15 Raising Broccoli & Buckwheat Families Feb. 22 Raising the Tomato/Potato Family Mar. 1 Using Hoop Houses & Greenhouse Mar. 8 Raising the Cucumber/Squash Family Mar. 15 Raising Carrot, Lettuce, & Corn Families Mar. 22 Raising Culinary & Tea Herbs Mar. 29 Pests, Predators, & Pollinators
Register online at GrowingGroceries.Eventbrite.com. For more information about all classes in the series, visit snohomish.wsu.edu/growing-groceries.
Sponsored by the WSU Snohomish County Extension Growing Groceries and Master Gardener programs. For more information about the program, contact Kate Ryan, (425) 357-6024, kate.ryan@wsu.edu
Agriculture and Food Systems 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:
Around the Farm: Shridhar Sinha, majoring in Computer Science and Math Video: Tina Jacobsen, UW Farm Education Intern Editors: Perry Acworth, Farm Manager and Chrina Munn, AmeriCorps Volunteer 2022-23 Photo Credits: Perry Acworth. Other photos retrieved from the internet and noted in sections
it was just the most convenient way to fulfill the required 25 hours of community service for my honors 394 class. But now it has become so much more.
I sincerely believe that in order to learn new things and to lead a happy and fulfilled life, one of the most important qualities one needs to possess is courage. Little acts of courage every day can build up to something truly awesome. In this way we gathered the courage to go a few more times, and we definitely saw the results of our courage.
to the UW community, how everything that is worth doing is worth doing right and that I should put 100 percent in all my work at the farm or it's not worth it. This lesson really stuck with me, and I try to apply it to other areas of my life.
