I care deeply about how individuals and communities interact with, use, and have relationships with the natural world. As our society becomes more and more disconnected with our roots in the earth, it is so imperative that we rekindle the sense of connectedness that once permeated human society. I believe that the two most tangible and accessible ways for that to happen are through our interactions with animals and food. 

-Cyrena Thibodeau
The growing season is coming to a close and fall has officially set in on the farm. The tomatoes are done and have been cleared as well as most other high season crops. We are seeding our winter cover crop everywhere, a mix of rye and vetch seeds. Service learners have started for the quarter and it is great to have so much help and new faces on the farm! 

-Rae Russell
Thanks to the early start of the dry season and warmer temperatures, more Seattle gardeners were able to successfully grow tomatoes this year without having to resort to the usual hacks to make the most of our typically short and cool summers. Everywhere I turn, I see these heat loving fruits in every shade from bright red to black bursting out of small garden plots, and there is nary a Wall-o-water or black plastic soil warmer to be seen. 

Katherine Doughty, one of our own UW student farmers, recently traveled to KOREA for an international student leadership summit! Below are her thoughts on this incredible experience:

Attending the Global Daejeon Forum for College Students was surreal, enlightening, amazing, confusing—honestly, think of all the emotions: they apply. Attending a global forum or conference is not something I ever saw myself doing. 

“Compost is an essential component of any sustainable agriculture operation; without the addition of nutrients and organic matter lost from harvest, agricultural systems would soon be unable to support crop life. I encourage you, as you read on, to keep in mind the ecology and cyclical tendencies of the entire farm (and how compost fits into this larger system). Decomposition is a (mostly) silent process with uncanny influence over future growth. 

The UW Farm is the student run farm on the University of Washington campus. With two farming locations on campus, specialized Farm activities, and weekly events, we offer exciting opportunities for the student body and local community to get involved in urban agriculture.
We are in midst of a lot of activity and growth at the Farm, and need to fill several volunteer leadership positions for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond. 

-Cyrena Thibodeau
The farm is starting to wrap up the summer season and transition into fall; the tomatoes are drastically slowing down, basil is being harvested and frozen for pesto, and winter cover crop is going in the ground. The following is a list of what is growing at each site and what is currently being harvested:
Growing at Mercer: carrots, parsnips, turnips, rutabaga, beets, rhubarb, tomatillos, bush beans, green onions, leeks, broccoli, kholrabi, kale, cilantro, dill, other herbs, cutting greens. 

~Rae Russell
Seattlites are fortunate to not only enjoy the benefits of a maritime climate that allows us to grow year-round, but to have access to so many wonderful gardening and farming resources. Whether you want to take a short workshop on container gardening, complete a serious course in sustainable farming, or simply find some tips and plant lists, everything that you need can be found nearby, even land! 

~Rae Russell
Last week, I was part of a lucky group of UW Farm interns and volunteers that visited Littlefield Farm; an organic farm in Arlington WA where all of the equipment runs on traditional horse power. Farmer Ryan Foxley gave us a glimpse into a method of small-scale, resilient farming that offers a compelling solution to today’s current fuel concerns by relying entirely on the use of draught horses to work the soil and harvest crops. 

Stop by UW Farm’s produce stand this summer and treat yourself to fresh, seasonal, sustainably sourced produce grown just two miles away! UW Farm is proud to support sustainable agriculture and works hard to help create a community-driven local food system right here in Seattle. Come join us!
We meet Fridays from 4pm-7pm, in the Fisheries Supply parking lot at 1900 N.