The UW Farm

Today the UW Farm is a clean and productive growing site overlooking the Union Bay Natural Area on the University of Washington campus. Photo: Nathan Haan

Throughout the country, urban farming is growing in popularity and is gaining a tremendous amount of momentum and support. In fact, most new young farmers today are emerging from large cities across the United States. Not only are urban farms producing new farmers, they are training future entrepreneurs and generating stewards of our environment.

The UW Farm on the University of Washington campus is a successful example of how one farm is promoting community, education, and caring for the earth, while producing a healthy organic harvest.

The catalyst for starting a farm on the University of Washington campus was ignited in 2004 on a small one-third-acre plot along the southeast corner of the botany greenhouse on the main Seattle campus. Biology professors Alan Trimble and Jennifer Ruesink, along with graduate student Beth Wheat, spearheaded the effort with the goal of promoting sustainable agriculture. With help from the greenhouse staff and student ...