At a glance
This project builds on a 2023 study by Macray and Montgomery that analyzed soil organic matter and topsoil thickness at UW… Read full summary
- Funding received
- 2023-2024
- Small
- Awarded
- $4,131
- Funding partners
-
- Services and Activities Fee (SAF)
This project builds on a 2023 study by Macray and Montgomery that analyzed soil organic matter and topsoil thickness at UW farm plots. It aims to strengthen the UW farm's capacity to assess crop nutrition and explore how regenerative farming can promote food security and justice in urban areas. By analyzing soil health and crop nutrient content across four farm plots, the project hypothesizes that plots with longer regenerative farming practices and more organic matter applications will show higher soil health indicators.
This project will be building off of a previous UW project, done by Macray and Montgomery in 2023 that studied the soil organic matter and topsoil thickness of each of the UW farm plots.
The goals of this project are to:
- Build capacity within the UW farm system to learn more about the nutrition of what is grown there, and
- Expand understanding of how regenerative farming can build food security and justice within urban environments.
We will analyze the soil health and nutrient content of crops grown in four plots in different areas of the farm. The working hypothesis of this project is that plots that have been farmed regeneratively the longest and have had more applications of organic matter will have higher indicators of soil health than the soils that have been regeneratively farmed for shorter periods of time.
Em Stevenson
Project lead
- emsteve@uw.edu
- Affiliation
- Student
- Years
- 2 year(s) remaining at UW
- Affiliated groups
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
Yona Sipos
Team member
- ysipos@uw.edu
- Affiliation
- Staff
- Affiliated groups
- Nutritional Sciences Program
Yona Sipos
Thesis chair
- yspios@uw.edu
- Affiliation and department
- Nutritional Sciences Program
Perry Acworth
Farm and site manager
- persis@uw.edu
- Affiliation and department
- UW Farm
Request amount and budget
Plans for financial longevity
n/a
The timeline is attached below. The funding period would be from June to September to help do the initial work. This will require me to travel to the UW farm frequently and to work on collecting information as well as do the physical labor of weeding, watering, harvesting, etc.
Plans for long-term project management
n/a
Problem statement
Ultimately, we hypothesize that soil health will influence crop nutrient content. Plots have been chosen in coordination with Perry Acworth, the farm manager, based on their different regenerative histories, observations of crop success, and application of organic matter. For example, Plot H has been managed regeneratively the longest, has the highest amount of soil organic matter and deepest topsoil layer. This plot will also serve as one of the test plots for the experiment I am proposing, with the hypothesis that this plot may lead to higher concentrations of nutrients in crops. In comparison, Plot E which has had zero years of being regeneratively managed, has one of the lowest levels of soil organic matter and shallowest topsoil layers. This plot will serve as another test plot with the hypothesis that this plot may lead to lower concentrations of nutrients in crops. Crops will be tested for a suite of phytochemicals thought to have importance to human health. If a relationship between soil health statuses and quantity of macronutrients and phytochemicals does exist, there is an opportunity to truly value and understand the need for investment in regenerative practices, as local foods produced regeneratively promote both human and environmental health.
The UW farm has evolved from being a garbage dump to becoming a place of student and community engagement, and is an exemplary resource for the university as well as the greater Seattle community. Research conducted on the farm has a broad reach and there have been many projects on the farm that have played key roles in how the farm is managed and how students can get involved. CSF funding will be used for compensation of the labor it will take plant, maintain, and collect the data as well as used for signage posts for visitors at the farm to learn more about the project and have the opportunity to volunteer or get engaged.
Problem context
Sustainability Action Plan: This project is directly related to Target 1, doubling faculty, staff and student sustainability engagement and Target 3, doubling sustainability-oriented research projects by 2025.
Diversity Blueprint 2022-2026: This project is related to Goal 5, development of place-based education and engagement to advance access, inclusion, and equity. A major reason why the UW farm is a unique space to do research is its accessibility. The farm is a living and evolving laboratory that does not require any specialty knowledge to get involved with, and actively participates in embracing diversity among the campus and community. There are many courses that use the farm as an outdoor classroom, and the farm has a presence throughout campus by donating to food banks and the campus pantry, as well as having its produce bought by the school to encourage local food production. By doing research here, we are inviting the general public as well as the campus community to experience how farms are a valuable educational tool and meeting space.
Communication tactics and tools
Key tactics will include social media, attending symposiums and events where I can share my progress and experience as a graduate student doing research.
Outreach communication plan
The signage at the farm will include a QR code with a link to several resources as well as my UW contact information. The UW farm volunteer community, several urban farms within the Seattle area, and the courses that use the farm as an educational space will benefit from this project’s deliverables.
Student involvement
There will be several opportunities for volunteer engagement in this project. The opportunities will be shared at the UW farm as well as my home department, DEOHS, community.