The Weekly Dirt 8.31.22
8.31.22
Around The Farm
UW Farm's Growing Relationship with the UW Food Pantry
The UW Farm has had a long relationship with food banks near campus. Before the UW Food Pantry was established, students donated farm produce to the nearby UDistrict Food Bank.
Students also organized pop-up food distribution events on campus that featured farm produce.
During 2020, a formal partnership with the new campus food pantry was established with the signing of the first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) .The MOU spells out the farm's and the pantry's commitment to rescuing vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit that are not snapped up, or do not meet the standards or quantities needed for the CSA, UW Dining, and Athletics.
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.
