Within various cultures the utilization of harvesting weeds is a practice to sustain food security.  Chickweed, dandelion, shepherds’ purse, crabgrass, common purslane, shot weed, and lamb’s quarter are all known weeds harvested for consumption throughout a vast number of cultures.
Weeds that are harvested for consumption are often known by differing names and preparation styles across cultures. They may be consumed in a variety of ways, including cooked, baked, or raw in salads, sautés, sauces, stir-fries, soups, or in a pickled form. 

5.18.22

Around The Farm

The Cultural Utilization of Weed Harvesting
By Kayla Guzman, Food Security Intern, Food Systems and Nutritional Health Major, Education Learning and Society Minor
Within various cultures the utilization of harvesting weeds is a practice to sustain food security.  Chickweed, dandelion, shepherds’ purse, crabgrass, common purslane, shot weed, and lamb’s quarter are all known weeds harvested for consumption throughout a vast number of cultures. 

5.11.22

Around The Farm

Introducing our NEW Urban Farming and Food Systems Intern at UW Farm

Althea is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Studies, College of the Environment, and new Urban Farming and Food Systems intern at the UW Farm.
Before joining the UW Farm team in April, Althea spent her 2020 summer working on an organic strawberry farm in Oregon. 

1)  Sequoiadendron giganteum                                                 Sierra Redwood

These impressive trees are scattered around Seattle and West Seattle.
The grove on the western border of the Pinetum is worth a visit (located at: 101-48-K).  Feel the “vibe”!

2)   Platanus orientalis                                                                 Oriental Plane

This is a excellent urban tree.
You’ve probably zoomed past a good example many times along the Lake Washington Boulevard (located at: 31-54-C). 

.75% permanent gardener 2 position based @ our Center for Urban Horticulture.  .
A mix of restoration ecology and horticulture maintaining CUH gardens and grounds, including the Union Bay Natural Area and Yesler Swamp.
UW Hires Link:
https://uwhires.admin.washington.edu/eng/candidates/
Job Req.# is: 206482.
Closes on May 25
 
  

5.04.22

Around The Farm

How Sourcing Seeds Locally Models Sustainable Growing Practices
By Dannette Lombert, AmeriCorps Member, Food Security Lead
With spring off to a strong start many of you are probably elbow deep in your gardens and growing spaces, trying to take care of all the new seedlings and crops that are starting to grow.
For those who like to grab starts – potted plants that have germinated and growing for a couple weeks – this is also the time when many plant sales are going on and when folks may be starting to source seeds. 

1)   Bright Green Maples
Even the common color of green inspires hope and energy in spring. Here are two exceptional examples:

 Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’, known as the Lion’s Mane maple, was so named for the curled, bunched up leaves at the ends of short, stout stems.
 Acer japonicum ‘Ed Wood’, located in the Signature Bed at the Graham Visitor Center, sports exceptionally robust foliage for a blast of color in both the spring and autumn. 

4.27.22

Around The Farm

Earth Day: In Case You Missed It!
By Dannette Lombert, AmeriCorps Member, Food Security Lead
We had an exciting weekend, celebrating Earth Day with the ribbon cutting of our Vermicompost Unit! All across UW there were numerous events, especially in the Seattle and Greater Seattle Area
In case you weren't available to attend our ribbon cutting, below is a photo album, from top left going clock wise: Margaux Ranson, former UW Farm Education Intern ('21) and creator of educational signage, UWBG Director, Christina Owen, Julia Macray, Mary Gates Scholar and Vermicompost Intern, and Uw Farm student staff, Kove Janeski at the ribbon-cutting, David Zuckerman, UWBG Horticulture and UW Farm Manager, Perry Acworth, field questions from attendees. 

4.20.22

Around The Farm

Vermicomposting: Small Livestock, Big Impact!
By Dannette Lombert, AmeriCorps Member, Food Security Lead
 
The UW Farm will officially have livestock on the farm: red wigglers! This week we are welcoming the worms as part of our NEW CSF-funded vermicomposting facility, the result of a grant written by Michael Bradshaw, PhD '20. After more than five years of collaboration and hard work, the ribbon-cutting will be this Friday as part of Earth Day festivities on the UW Seattle campus (see details below). 

As a public garden, it is vital that we work with integrity to serve all communities and make sure our spaces and programs are welcoming and relevant to all.
At UW Botanic Gardens, we are thinking deeply about the mission of our organization and public gardens as a whole. We see ourselves as a resource for community education and engagement, a steward of urban green space for recreation and restoration, and curators of collections with important conservation value.