A Narrative of the University of Oregon Urban Farm

Archives for greenhouse

New Farm Happenings

Hello to the University of Oregon blog community! My name is Ayla Ginger.

I am so happy to be placed here on this wooden bench, spilling out my first, long awaited post for the Urban Farm blog. I wish to bid the previous blog writer and urban farm friend, Kat, a loving hello and farewell. It has been over a year since she last posted on this blog, now living in Portland and partaking in many great gardening endeavors.

My goal here is to post weekly updates on the growing narrative that is the Urban Farm, similar to Kat. I took the Urban Farm class almost two years ago and fell in love with the place, the process and the people of the farm. New plants, topics and issues are constantly sprouting. Hundreds of students occupy the outdoor classroom a term; think about all the hands that have collectively dug into this dirt that have contributed to its healthy state today! Who are these hands? What is their experience on the farm?

From what I have gathered over time spent and conversations had; this place, this outdoor classroom, this cultivated open space, has affected, and continues to affect the lives of an innumerable amount of species. I aspire to bring light to the place, process and the people, and to share this narrative with any who may be interested to listen. Gardeners, urban farmers, nature lovers, academics, ecologists, poets, what have you, all welcome!

I wish I had photos to share, but I am having some technological difficulties in that area. Photos to come soon!

Winter 2015

Currently listening: Blue Cheer- Vincebus Eruptum

It just so happens that I have some scattered pictures from winter term available to share with you!

Jan 24 (Saturday Session):

We went over to River Bend Farm/Orchard to learn and help them prune their pear tree’s!

RB Action Shot

Before (not our handy work):

RB before tree

After:

RB after tree

February 3:

I transplanted an m-9 honey crisp apple that Keegan (a team leader) taught me (and many other interested students) how to graft at the Sustainability Fair!  My friend Anna named the tree Isaac :]

Sustain Fair Feb 3

Issac tree m9

February 16:

It was a beautiful sunny day at the farm and we were able to harvest so much we had some leftover’s!  The winter classes are smaller than the fall/spring group sizes.

feb 16 leftovers
I spy: giant red mustard, cilantro, collard greens…

feb 16 garden shot

February 23:

This day our group elected to work in the greenhouse for planting seeds!  We planted a nice mix, such as beets, tomatoes, kale, cabbage, and more.  We worked with flats/trays, cells.. and talked about the benefits of using one over the other for each plant.  Seeds are donated to the Urban Farm through various community organizations/resources.  Previously in the term we went through the collection of seeds and set aside ‘old’ seed (prior to 3-4 years) and organized the lot.  The germination rate goes down with each consecutive year past the packaging date.

beet package

seeding trays

Inside the greenhouse! What plants do you see developing?

inside greenhouse trays

March 2:

Some lovely purple sprouting broccoli:

brassica mar 2

Beets from the Urban Farm, in the front doorway of my house:

beetz

March 9:

The last day of winter classes for me at the Urban Farm!  We got to transplant an entire bed of Walla-Walla Onions, “So good they had to name them twice!”  These are fresh onions, not storage onions, these will be ready in the summer time.

Keegan’s group came over to help once they were done with their projects:

walla walla

Dan looking accomplished!

onions mar 9 woo

I hope you have an enjoyed a brief and quick insight into what kind of tasks can be done at the Urban Farm during winter term.  As always, feel free to follow us on Instagram and Facebook! @UrbanFarmFriend

Instagram
Later Days

-Kat B!

Skip to toolbar