7.20.22

Around The Farm

The UW Farm Strategic Plan Report
By Madison Rose Bristol, Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, MPA + School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, MMA
 
In September of 2021, the UW Farm began a process of reflection, visioning, and planning to meet the needs of farm staff and to better serve the UW community. Now eleven months into the process, the UW Farm Strategic Plan has taken shape around organizational sustainability, food security and sovereignty, community empowerment, and deepened academic opportunities. 

7.13.22

Around The Farm

An Urban Gardening Journey from Tibet to Toronto to UW
By Quying Danzeng, Junior at UW, double majoring in Nutritional Science and Education, UW Farm Summer Nutrition Education Intern
Hi everyone, my name is Quying Danzeng or "Tenzin", and I am a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Nutritional Science and Education. I am also the Nutrition Education intern this summer at the UW Farm. 

Spring may delight us with color, but throughout the year we can appreciate other sensory elements in Washington Park Arboretum’s collections. Leaves and blooms can give off powerful aromas. Texture and plant shape can provide a sense of drama or reverie. Enjoy all your senses with these plant choices!
1)   Magnolia sieboldii                                                                     Oyama Magnolia

Egg-shaped in bud, the white nodding flowers have a crimson stamen and leaves behind a showy pink fruit. 

Looking Back on my AmeriCorps Service Term
Many of you have seen me running around the farm, managing volunteers, or maybe delivering produce to the UW Food Pantry. This was all due to my serving as an AmeriCorps member with the UW Farm. I began this full-time position in September 2021 and recently my term of service ended in June 2022. 

07.06.22

Around The Farm

Looking Back on my AmeriCorps Service Term

By Dannette Lombert, Assistant to the Farm Manager, previously AmeriCorps Food Security Lead 2021-2022
Many of you have seen me running around the farm, managing volunteers, or maybe delivering produce to the UW Food Pantry. This was all due to my serving as an AmeriCorps member with the UW Farm. 

Purple kohlrabi is native to northern Europe and has been cultivated since ancient times. Kohlrabi is known as the “cabbage turnip” and is a popular vegetable in Hungary, Germany, France, Italy, and Russia.

06.29.22

Around The Farm
Walk With Me: A Trip to the UW Farm
By Yixuan "Eve" Wang, Climate Change Intern, Landscape Architecture Major
Hi everyone, my name is Yixuan Wang (or Eve). For this week's newsletter, I am taking you on my daily walk to the farm from my apartment. I love sketching so I took my little notepad with me to capture some key moments on my way. 

It may not feel like it after such a rainy, cool spring, but the Solstice on June 21st marks the start of summer!  Although spring flowers are now behind us, plenty more have been blooming to welcome in the summer months.  Celebrate the beginning of summer at the Arboretum by viewing these seasonal favorites.
1)   Rosa rugosa  ‘Wasagaming’                                                  Wasagaming Rose

This rose is a hybrid with showy, cool pink blossoms appearing in early summer and a strong floral fragrance. 

6.22.22

Around The Farm
 
UW Farm Opens Little Free Seed Library, 
Joining a Food Security and Sovereignty Movement
By Perry Acworth, UW Farm Manager
The UW Farm team opened a Little Free Seed Library at the growing site at the Center for Urban Horticulture on April 30th.  The farm's seed library joins over 50 seed libraries in Washington state, and hundreds more seed libraries nationwide,   Locally, you might have heard about other seed libraries opening: the ones by Hillman City who were profiled by King 5; one managed by the Beacon Hill Garden Club; or the King Country Seed Lending Library
 
What is a Seed Library?
  

At the beginning of May, Rare Care staff and volunteers along with Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff completed the first of two botanical surveys of the Marcellus Shrub Steppe Natural Area Preserve. The goals of this visit were to know what plants are there and re-find any previously documented rare plants. We also wanted to fill in knowledge gaps for shrub steppe species distribution and abundance that may contribute to designating a species for conservation status.