Jessica Moskowitz is a librarian at the Elisabeth C. Miller Library at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens.  Most days you will see Jessica at the Reference desk, doing research or providing answers to gardening questions.
Jessica moved to Seattle from the Southwest to attend the University of Washington, earning her Masters in Library and Information Science in 2010.  As an undergraduate, Jessica began working at the Natural Sciences Library inside of the Suzzallo-Allen Library on the main campus.   

The United States is facing an epidemic shortage of farmers. Among the challenges to meet the rising demand for organic products that are healthy for both people and the planet is the need for new organic farmers and entrepreneurs. The Future Organic Farmer Grant Fund supports the next generation of organic producers through small grants that support organic education from kindergarten through the end of college
If you are a student that is passionate about organic farming you may qualify for one of CCOF’s 30 $2,500 higher and vocational education scholarships that are available to students who are focused on studying organic agriculture.! 

The exquisite flower buds on this North American native shrub look like dots of frosting on a decorated cake.

Heidi volunteers at the Hyde Herbarium, working with pressed plants and the plant database.  She holds a PhD in archaeology, specializing in paleoethnobotany–the study of plant remains from archaeological digs.  She spent many years at the Bishop Museum in Hawaii, where she was also a science educator and creator of an ethnobotany garden and webpage. 
“I love to organize things,” says Lennstrom, “so working with the seven cabinets of duplicate specimens at the Herbarium is perfect for me!”
Heidi carefully identifies which of the specimens are duplicates, confirms they have been entered into the Botanic Garden website and  then determines which ones are kept and which ones need to be shared with other herbaria. 

A pair of dedicated and highly organized graduate students succeeded in obtaining a grant to significantly expand the Society for Ecological Restoration-UW’s (SER-UW) native plant nursery at the UW Botanic Gardens.  The SER-UW nursery provides low cost plants to the Arboretum, UW planting projects and many restoration efforts on campus initiated by SER-UW.
Anna Carragee, a graduate student in Environmental Horticulture (at the UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences) and her classmate Kelly Broadlick have been managing the nursery during their graduate tenure, which will end in June.  

The South King County Food Coalition is a 501(c)(3) network of 12 food banks in South King County, Washington, whose service areas range from White Center to Federal Way, and from Enumclaw to Vashon Island. The Coalition is looking for a field manager to help develop Elk Run Farm, a 4.5-acre mixed vegetable farm in Maple Valley, WA. The farm is located on a former golf course in the midst of a growing housing development, with walking paths criss-crossing the property and a high school being built across the street. 

Full-time Seasonal, June-August
With a mission to promote sustainable land use, Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center includes a 25-acre organic farm, an education center, and native plant nursery located on 200 acres of forest and valley land in the Snoqualmie Valley, 25 miles east of Seattle. The farm supports a 700-member CSA and supplies local restaurants and independent grocery stores with local, organic produce. 

The stories of people and plants are intricately intertwined.  The plants of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens have many stories to tell, and here are just a few to wet your whistle.  Explore our website at to look up and locate plants in the Arboretum and learn more of our stories.

1)  Abies grandis – Grand Fir                “Fir Above It All”

This particular tree has witnessed the entire history of the Washington Park Arboretum.  

Catherine began volunteering to lead adult tours and youth programs for the UW Botanic Gardens in 2006 and in 2011, she received the Brian Mulligan volunteer of the year award.
More recently, she became employed part-time as a Tour Program Assistant, leading tours, training and coordinating volunteer guides, and contributing to the UW Botanic Gardens blogs. Adding to her long list of skills, Catherine also now helps with the adult education program, setting up private group tours, driving the tram and helping to lead youth and family programs. 

The Seattle farmers markets are dedicated to promoting healthy eating by
connecting low-income neighbors to farm-fresh fruits and vegetables.
 
 
 
 
Twentyone markets and farm stands across the city offer a program called Fresh
Bucks, through which EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer, or food stamps)
customers can double their benefits when they shop at a city farmers market.
The Fresh Bucks Outreach Team will include three summer AmeriCorps VISTA
volunteers responsible for spreading the word about the program to the market
neighborhoods.