February 13, 2012
Howdy Farmers!
This week I have for you a brief update on the current happenings around the farm. As it gets closer and closer to spring, things are really starting to ramp up around here. Our seed orders have started to arrive, which means we need to start getting ready for planting! Depending on the type of plant there are several ways we can start the seed. One way that works for many plants (though not peas, etc.) is to place the seed in a soil block, a square clump of soil that has been mixed according to a certain recipe (which we will talk about another time), and put it in the greenhouse or Quonset hut until the seedling is sprouted. Another tactic that works just fine for certain plants is simply to wait for the outside beds to warm up and plant the seed straight into the ground.
There are also many projects that have begun as of late: farm bike rack is beginning to take shape, though is still a work in progress, one of two mobile cloches have been constructed out of wood and chicken wire, and Carissa’s plans for a green roof over the chicken coop are underway! Also, Johanna has been hard at work in setting up a campaign to get us funding for a paid farm coordinator. While Ross continues his research to heat the new greenhouse in tandem with a compost aeration system, Sarah has begun to conduct research on soil quality and plant yields. If you have any suggestions on any other projects we can do, don’t be shy! We are always looking to improve our farm operations, and have many enthusiastic interns and dirty dozeners at both farm spaces who are looking to work super hard for food.
As an ending note, I hope everyone had a blast at the Pizza Bake. I hear it was a great success and I was very jealous of everyone while I was stuck in my three-hour class.
- Logan Hanson, UW Farm Intern