The Weekly Dirt 8.24.22
8.24.22
Around The Farm
Life Without A Fridge: How an Experimental Lifestyle Leads to Lessons in Food Systems
By Faith Mathison, General Farm Intern, Computer Science Major
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to store, cook, and eat food without easy access to a refrigerator? Have you yourself lived in such a situation? Living without a fridge is something I didn’t put much thought into until I had to do it myself, at which point I realized how dependent modern life is on reliable refrigeration.
Read moreThe Weekly Dirt 8.17.22
8.17.22
Around The Farm
Urban Crop Planning Requires Time and Patience
by Daniel Osborne, UW Farm General Farm Intern, majoring in Environmental Science and Resource Management
As I was starting the second quarter of my UW Farm internship, Perry Acworth, the Farm Manager, asked me if there was anything that I wanted to focus on learning over the summer. I said, "crop planning." Immediately, I plunged into the wild world of mismatched records and extensive spreadsheets.
Rhododendron Glen Renovation Begins this Month

The next phase of the Rhododendron Glen restoration in the Arboretum is set to begin the week of August 16, 2022.
Read moreThe Weekly Dirt 8.10.22
8.10.22
Around The Farm
Eat with the Moments: From Farm to My Table
by Hsin-Yu “Maggie” Huang, Dani Elenga Urban Farming and Environment Intern, Medical Anthropology/Food System, Nutrition, and Health Major
(Fruit wines and jams I made with UW Farm fruits)
We are what we eat. What do we eat? What makes us eat what we eat?
Eat with the season, and stop when the season is over.
Hydrangea Heaven at the Washington Park Arboretum

Hydrangea is a genus of over 75 species and 600 named cultivars that are native to a wide range of regions and countries including Japan, Asia, Indonesia, Himalayan Mountains, and the Americas. The name “Hydrangea” stems from the Greek words, hydor meaning “water” and aggeion meaning “vessel”, in reference to the cup-like capsular fruit.
1) Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Madame Emile Mouillere’ Madame Emile Mouillere Hydrangea
This award-winning Hydrangea was bred in France over 100 years ago.
Read moreThe Weekly Dirt 8.3.22
8.3.22
Around The Farm
Tomato Trellising at the UW Farm
by Althea Ericksen, UW Farm Urban Farm and Food Systems Intern, Environmental Studies major
Tomato Pruning
Pruning is essential in growing tomatoes to allow the plant to mature and focus its energy on fruit production. Depending on how developed your tomato plant is, it will affect your pruning. Our tomatoes were transplanted about two months ago and are now about the height of a toddler.
August 2022 Plant Profile: Nolina nelsonii

After 29 years, our incredible, show-stopping Nolina nelsonii specimen is flowering at the Center for Urban Horticulture!
Read moreThe Weekly Dirt 7.27.22
7.27.22
Around The Farm
Vermicompost Facility Brings Hope for Sustainability on the Campus Farm
by Julia Macray, UW Farm Vermicompost Intern/Mary Gates Scholar, UW Earth and Space Science Major
July 22nd marked the three month anniversary of our new commercial-scale vermicomposting system at the UW Farm site at the Center for Urban Horticulture. A CSF grant project over five years in the making is now coming to fruition, and the hopeful message of climate resilience that our on-site compost facility embodies could not be coming at a better time.
Unforgettable Beauties at the Washington Park Arboretum

1) Fuchsia magellanica Tree Fuchsia
Native to the southern coast of South America.
It has a notable orange, flaky bark and this particular shrub in the Arboretum has light pink blooms with a purple shade underneath.
Found near the intersection of Lake Washington Boulevard and Arboretum Drive, across from the Stone Cottage.
2) Lobelia tupa Devil’s Tobacco
Native to central Chile, the Mapuche of southern Chile consider it a sacred plant.
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