09.25.24

Around The Farm

The Farm as a Classroom
 
by Dylan Hancock, UW Farm Work-Study Student Staff, majoring in Education, MEd Candidate UW, ’25
 

My name is Dylan Hancock and I am a Masters in Education Candidate at the University of Washington. In early July 2024, I also began as a work study student at the UW Farm. My responsibilities exist on and off the farm. 

09.18.24

Around The Farm

Why Rye?
 
UW Farm Grows Cereal Grains Modeling Biodiversity
 
by Aisling Doyle-Wade, UW Farm Production Manager, CEP Alumni ’21
 

Today marks the last pick-up for our Summer and Peak season CSA shareholders.
Our Full season shareholders have another two months of veggie boxes to look forward. While the next eight weeks of boxes will be choked full of fall favorites such as onions, potatoes and winter squash, today, we wanted to send off our Summer and Peak shareholders with a special fall treat – UW Farm Grown 100% whole wheat rye flour! 

09.11.24

Around The Farm

Introducing Erica, the new UW Farm Americorps Volunteer

 
by Erica Fong, 2024-25 Americorps Education and Outreach Lead at the UW Farm 
 
My name is Erica Fong and I’m so excited to be joining the UW Farm as the new Americorps Education and Outreach Lead for the 2024-25 school year!
Primarily, my role will be supporting urban farming and food systems education activities. 

09.04.24

Around The Farm

Tomato Growing at the 47th Parallel

By Perry Acworth, UW Farm Manager
Off the vine, juicy, ripe tomatoes are my favorite crop to grow and savor. Hands down. As a child, however, I was not a fan. To my younger self, they tasted mealy, lacked flavor and were tough-skinned. It wasn’t until 1990, fresh out of college, that I grew my first tomatoes in the backyard of an old rented farmhouse in Vermont – the bright red ‘sweet million’ cherry tomato. 

08.28.24

Around The Farm

Hive Hiccups: Swarming Explained

By Mara Tarino, UW Farm Beekeeping Intern, Majoring in Environmental Science & Terrestrial Resource Management, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, College of the Environment
As a new beekeeper at the UW Farm, I’ve discovered that maintaining a happy and healthy hive involves a lot more than I initially thought. I used to believe that beekeeping was straightforward, with bees managing themselves and providing us with the delicious honey we love. 

08.21.24

Around The Farm

Farm ‘Fits
By Zereen Gesmudo, UW Farm Nutrition Education Intern, Majoring in Art:3D4M in the College of Arts and Science & Nutrition Minor in the School of Public Health
Of all of the exciting new things that I learned at the farm, from how to properly harvest peas to pruning tomatoes, the one thing that always stuck out to me is ensuring I have functional and weather-appropriate clothing for farm work. 

08.14.24

Around The Farm

The State of The Hive
By Amaya Saunders, UW Farm Beekeeping Intern, Majoring in Linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences
As we edge towards the end of summer, the bees have wrapped up their busiest pollinating season, meaning it’s time for honey! Weighing hives is an important part of beekeeping – it helps estimate the activity of the hive without disturbing the bees. 

Meet our August Staff Feature – Ron Schmaltz! Ron is the horticulturalist in charge of one of the Washington Park Arboretum’s signature collections: Rhododendron Glen. Ron spent almost 30 years as an IT software developer before pivoting to horticulture. After returning to school at the Edmonds College, Ron started as an intern at the Arboretum in 2017 and, before too long, was working as an official gardener and caring for the 4 acres that make up the Glen. 

08.07.24

Around The Farm

The Importance of Food Safety on Farms
By Kristin Choe, UW Farm Intern, majoring in Food Systems, Nutrition, School of Public Health
My name is Kristin and I am a General Farm intern with a food security focus for the summer quarter. I am focusing on food safety and security, which is related to my major. Although this is my first season on the campus farm, I have gained so much knowledge about food safety and security that I cannot wait to share with you! 

Scientific Name: Camellia sasanqua
Common Name: sasanqua camellia; the Japanese name for all camellias is tsubaki,“tree with shining leaves,” while the Japanese name for Camellia sasanqua is sazanka, “plum-flowered tea.”
Family: Theaceae
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Native Range: Lowland forests of southern Japan
Culture/Habit: Organically rich, evenly moist, well-drained soils in shade to sun. Small trees to 16 feet tall or vining shrubs growing wider than tall, often depending on sun exposure.