Becca Fong makes great things happen. From her work with Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Good Food Team to her current work with Seattle Tilth she has been instrumental in moving urban agriculture forward.
Hear her thoughts on the future of urban ag.
Posted in People on the Move | Tagged Becca Fong, Seattle Tilth, urban agriculture | Leave a Comment »
Chicken pasties, designer mulled lemonade, buskers and juicy produce; the Bellingham Farmer’s Market has it all. Yesterday under the glorious sunshine we got a chance to visit this vibrant place.
No dogs but everyone else is welcome.
Cheese
There is a medicinal herb stand with fresh, living and dried herbs.
Beautiful wraps.
Educational displays
More info on herbs and wild foraged plants.
Medicinal herbs
Buskers
Produce
Fiber
Unusual fresh pasta
Here’s the fancy lemonade. This stand had one of the longest lines!
Radishes everywhere
All sorts of baked goods
Tulips!
Posted in Cooking, Crafts, Growing | Tagged Bellingham, farmer's market, tourism | Leave a Comment »
The rhubarb is exploding out of the ground – it’s time to make a crisp! There are many ways to eat this tangy plant but my favorite way is in a crunchy, nutty, sweet and sour dessert.
Fresh rhubarb
Ingredients:
- Fresh rhubarb stems
- 1/4 cup tapioca or flour for thickening the juices
- 2 cups sugar
- One cup flour
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- One cup nuts
Cut rhubarb with tapioca and sugar sprinkled.
Here’s how to make this tasty dish:
- Harvest rhubarb stems by pulling them firmly up and out of the base of the plant. Trim the leaves and the ends off so you are left with the ruby stems.
- Wash off the garden dust and cut into pieces about 1/2 inch wide.
- Put the cut pieces into a baking dish, set the oven to 375 degrees
- Sprinkle the tapioca or the flour and depending on the amount of rhubarb and the degree of your sweet tooth, one cup sugar over the cut rhubarb
Streusel topping
- Mix the melted butter, oats, remaining sugar, nut and flour together so it is a crumbly mixture.
- Sprinkle this over the cut rhubarb
- Dust with cinnamon
Making the streusel.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes until the dish is bubbling, the top is brown and the rhubarb is soft.
Ready for the oven.
Let cool a bit then serve as is or with ice cream or milk.
Posted in Cooking | Tagged fruit crisp, rhubarb, rhubarb crisp | 2 Comments »
Keeping flies down in your chicken coop is good for the health of your birds, keeps your neighbors happy and definitely makes collecting eggs a lot more pleasant.
Buck, buck I hate flies!
Over the years what I’ve found works best to keep these pests down are the following things:
- Using traps to catch existing flies.
Good old fly strips work well but they need to be replaced often and you need to be careful not to get caught up in them.
These traps attract flies with smelly bait; when the fly goes in they drown in water. These work great but the odor can get intense.
- Preventing flies by keeping down the amount of poop.
Putting down a light layer of pine shavings absorbs waste and makes it easy to scoop up.
It’s better to use pine shavings than cedar as the oils can harm your birds.
I use a small scoop to pick up each day’s waste almost like cat poop in a litter box. Once the shavings get saturated I sweep them out and put down new ones. If they are really dirty then I compost them instead of sweeping them into the yard around the coop.
I save time by collecting a few days worth of waste in a bucket then dump it as it begins to fill.
Once the waste and shavings are composted they make really effective fertilizer. It’s important to let your compost break down and mellow though as straight chicken poop will burn your plants and the decaying wood chips can rob your soil of nitrogen. Depending on how often you turn your compost pile, heat etc. it can take six months to a year for your compost to be ready.
The reward for a clean, pest free coop!
I just ordered these parasitic wasps. Hope they work!
Here is what the parasitic wasps look like. I’ll let you know how they work!
What tricks have you found? I’d love to hear about them!
Posted in Growing | Tagged chicken coop, fly prevention, raising chickens | 3 Comments »
This zesty fermented drink is the base of a great ginger ale or beer. You can also use it for rhubarb or other flavored sodas.
Fresh, organic ginger goes in with the peel still on.
Making it is a easy as chopping up some ginger, putting it in a jar, adding dechlorinated water and some sugar. The recipe calls for two teaspoons of ginger, two cups water and two teaspoons of sugar but I just tossed in equal amounts of ginger and sugar and splashed some water in.
Cover the jar with a piece of cloth to let in air but keep out insects.
Each day give it a good stir and add two more teaspoons of sugar and ginger. After about a week it will start to bubble and you’re all set. You can have it as is or I have been cutting it with some soda water. You can also make a naturally bubbly soda with this starter but I haven’t gotten that far yet.
It’s a bit startling to look at but it tastes quite nice. The fermentation uses up most of the sugar so it’s tangy and just a touch sweet.
Posted in Cooking | Tagged ginger beer, ginger bug | 1 Comment »
So what is all this rain doing to your garden loving heart? Are you just itching to get out and plant something? Well here are some ways to calm that itch through indoor seed starting, using Reemay floating row cover and setting up some plastic covered hoop beds.
Now is a good time for cold season starts and, if you are patient, warm season crops like tomatoes. To start seeds indoors you need pots with good drainage, clean soil to plant in and a good strong light source. This can be a south or west facing window or better yet, a grow light of some sort. I also like to use a seed mat and a mini-greenhouse to get faster germination.
Kale seedlings
Once your seedlings are a few inches high you can start planting out the cold hardy ones like collards, sweet peas, kale and so on. The tomatoes, squash and other heat lovers need to stay inside until temperatures warm. I like to use Reemay to both protect the plants from frost and from the crows in my neighborhood that just love to eat juicy little seedlings. Reemay can also be used over newly planted cold season seeds, onion sets or potatoes. Because the Reemay is so light weight I usually weight it down with soil or rocks. You can also use metal pins if you have them.
Using large binder clips keeps the Reemay from blowing away.
If you want to create an environment that is drier and warmer than what you can make with Reemay the next step is to do hooped beds. I like to use one inch pvc pipe either bent over and put in to pipe brackets screwed to the outside of the bed or pushed deep into the ground. This creates a warm place for your plants that really can help them to thrive. One problem with these covered beds though is the issue of watering. You either need to set up an irrigation system, remove the cover on a warmer rainy day or hand water.
Plastic covered hoops over a raised bed with irrigation.
Here’s a peek under one covered bed. The chives and peas are flourishing. I do hope the dog doesn’t figure out how to take the cover off; he loves to eat peas!
Grow peas, grow!
Good luck to you and let me know how it goes with getting a jump on the garden season!
Posted in Growing | Tagged early gardening, garden hoops, remay | 2 Comments »
By Jennifer Brown
While living and working all over the world, Jennifer Brown has grown gardens in both rural and urban areas. During her time spent in the beautiful and rainy Unites States Virgin Islands, she used a cistern for all of her water needs, from crop irrigation to bathing and drinking, and here she shares some tips for installing your own cistern.
Rain water tank
Water may not grow on trees, but it certainly falls from the sky. If you’re a savvy urban farmer looking for an easy and affordable way to water your crops, installing a cistern might be right for you.
What is a Cistern?
A cistern is a tank that can hold hundreds or thousands of gallons of water that is usually collected as run off from a roof.
What are the Benefits of a Cistern?
Catching rainwater in a cistern to irrigate crops is economical and environmentally friendly. They help reduce run off that can potentially cause pollution to our streams and rivers as well as cause sewers to overflow. Cisterns are a great way to store and conserve rainwater and irrigate your urban crops while helping your local environment.
Is My Property Right for a Cistern?
In order to install a cistern on your property, you’ll first need to make sure a cistern is the right fit for your yard. You’ll need a level location outside that has a solid base such as a concrete block square or firmly packed dirt. The cistern will need to be placed near a downspout and at least 5 feet from any structure on your property that has a crawl space, attic, or slab foundation. Another 5 feet is required for a structure with a basement. And add another 2 feet for every foot the basement extends below 5 feet deep.
Shop for a Cistern
If your property meets the above requirements, it’s time to start shopping for your cistern tank. To save money, opt for an above ground tank rather than a below ground tank. The best place to buy a cistern would be an agricultural supply shop. You’ll want a dark color that helps prohibit algae growth. While you’re there, think about a purchasing a fence or trellis to hide your cistern from the neighbor’s view.
Installing the Cistern
Once you’ve decided on a location (a shady area is best) and picked out the tank, it’s time to install it. If you’re handy with tools and general plumbing, you can do this yourself. Otherwise, you may want to call in a professional.
Step 1: Once the ground is level, place the tank on the foundation.
Step 2: Place an aluminum window screen over the top to keep bugs – particularly mosquitoes – and debris out of the tank.
Step 3: This is where it can get tricky. Your cistern will come with directions on how to make the gutter connections and how to install your overflow pipe. Make sure, however, that your overflow is let out in a safe area on your property and not into the street or a neighbor’s yard.
Step 4: To use your cistern as an irrigation system, install a drain valve and connect a regular garden hose. This will act as another overflow pipe, allowing the water to soak into your soil.
Installing a cistern on your property can be simple and cost-effective. Be sure to follow the supplier’s directions when installing your cistern and keep up on regular maintenance and yearly cleaning of your tank as well.
Posted in Growing | Tagged water cistern | 1 Comment »
I love to press spring flowers then use them on cards or on stationery. My favorite plants to press are Johnny jump ups, Bleeding heart and variegated hops but almost any thin flower will do.
Pansies hold their color when dried.
If you want something like calendula then you need to press the petals separately; if you try and dry the whole flower together the center often rots.
These all press well.
If you still have old phone books around they are ideal for this job. If not you can use newspaper in between book pages with more books on top to add weight.
Try pressing something unusual! Sometimes colors will fade.
Some flowers dry white and others get a little brown.
Here is a nice example from the She Knows blog of what you can do with the flowers when dry.
Simple but pretty.
Posted in Crafts | Tagged flower crafts, pressed flowers | Leave a Comment »
A heated greenhouse.
“There is so much to be excited about right now here at RBUFW,” said Seattle Tilth farm manager Katie Pencke, “We are expanding programs and really looking forward to this growing season.” All around I could see neatly mulched beds, vegetable plant starts pushing up their Reemay covers and the calls of Redwing Blackbirds were sweet on the cool spring winds.
The ten acre farm is located next to Rainier Beach High School on the shores of Lake Washington. Formerly called the Atlantic City Nursery it is owned by Seattle Parks and Recreation and since 2010 has been jointly manged by Seattle Tilth and the Friends of Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands.
One of the washing stations.
Since 2010 the farm has grown an enormous amount of food and provided thousands of hours of training to community members from preschoolers to senior citizens. “I am a healthier person because of this place” said one of the East African senior farmers.
Reemay covered bed.
This fall construction will start guided by a community driven design created by landscape architecture firm Berger Partnership. There will be classrooms, a food processing and storage area and a kitchen for community dinners and farm fresh cooking classes. Planners are estimating that 20,000 pounds of food will be grown each year on this site!
Classroom
Want to get involved? Drop in work parties at the farm, (5513 S. Cloverdale St.), are every Saturday from 10am to 3pm. Visit here for more information.
Posted in Growing, People on the Move | Tagged Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetland, urban farm | Leave a Comment »
Megan with her bees.
Being around Megan Horst for just a few minutes makes me want to get solar panels, plant more food and change the world into a more sustainable place.
She grew up in Milwaukee in a family that gardened, had a big raspberry patch and liked to shop at thrift stores but didn’t label themselves as environmentalists. After graduating from Eckord College, with an Environmental Studies/Social Work degree, she went into Peace Corps in Honduras where she worked in sustainable agriculture and natural resource preservation.
Convinced that urban planning was the best way to pursue her goal of promoting a more sustainable world she got a masters degree at the University of Washington. She soon focused on sustainable food systems as it is, in her words “the center of the Venn diagram of all my interests”. (Some of you may remember her “Growing Green” thesis project that inventoried local public lands suitable for community gardening.)
Bountiful backyard
Currently she’s a PhD candidate working with professor Branden Born on urban planning and food. She teaches an experiential learning class each quarter called the “Sustainability Studio” that shows students how to be change agents.
Visiting her house it’s clear that she puts her beliefs into practice. There are solar panels on the roof, a large garden, bees and chickens in the backyard and more growing beds and fruit trees along the side of the house. I was especially interested in the aquaponics system her husband Christian is building and a wicking bed growing kale and flowers in their greenhouse.
Chickens
If you’d like to see what articles she’s published check out her Linked In site. To hear her thoughts on urban ag and where it’s going give a listen to the video below. And hey, did you know that Costco is now selling chicken coops?
Aquaponics in the making
This is where the plants grow in the water from the fish.
Side yard
Greenhouse with wicking bed
Posted in Growing, People on the Move | Tagged food systems, Megan Horst, urban agriculture, urban planning | Leave a Comment »
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