GardenDC Podcast Episode 192: Urban Agriculture

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Mchezaji “Che” Axum, the Director of the Center for Urban Agriculture and Gardening Education at UDC, all about urban agriculture. The plant profile is on Kerria and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events and this week's garden tasks in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on Waiting for May Flowers from Christy Page of Green Prints.

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 175: Herstory of DC Gardens

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/12/gardendc-podcast-episode-175-herstory.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 143: Balcony Food Growing

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-143-balcony.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 68: Summer Vegetables

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-68-summer.html

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SHOW NOTES: 1:00 Welcome Mchezaji “Che” Axum, agronomist and Director of Urban Agriculture and Gardening Education at the University of the District of Columbia 1:48 Che’s gardening background – he originally wanted to be a pharmacist 4:38 Background on the University of the District of Columbia and the green spaces on campus 6:55 What classes are offered at UDC around Urban Agriculture and Gardening Education 12:49 Che defines urban agriculture and gives its history 15:13 What is sustainable urban agriculture? 16:43 What lesson can we learn from the ancient Egyptians? Take care of the soil! 21:30 How do you deal with the heat and urban heat islands in urban agriculture? 24:24 Che’s response to people who say they have no space to grow 27:23 Urban agriculture challenge: water. How should people get it? 29:16 How should urban gardeners handle vermin? 32:03 What does the future hold for urban agriculture? Che’s gives his projection 35:15 The history of Queen Hatshepsut: The first person to document plant exploration 36:57 Che explains spiritual agriculture and why it is important 40:15 What are Che’s favorite crops? 43:16 To find out more and contact Che, visit udc.edu 44:30 Che’s final thoughts on urban agroecology 46:47 Plant Profile: Kerria 48:37 What’s new in the garden this week? The epimediums are blooming 48:47 This week’s garden tip on hummingbird feeders and pruning your azaleas 50:56 Upcoming events in the Maryland, D.C., and Virginia area – Silver Spring Garden Club’s plant sale fundraiser on Saturday, May 11th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Brookside Gardens. Saturday, May 18th is Spring Garden Day, the big plant sale at Green Spring Gardens in Virginia. 52:40 Check out Groundcover Revolution by Kathy Jentz for low-maintenance alternatives for lawns on Amazon.com and Bookshop.org 53:59 Check out the Urban Garden by Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight on Amazon.com and Bookshop.org 54:59 Christy Page from GreenPrints on waiting for May flowers

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Episode Credits:

Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Interview Edit: Hannah Zozobrado 

Show Notes: Josh Panepento 

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TikTok Tuesday: Tomato Party

@wdcgardener

Check out the recent Tomato 🍅 Party hosted by Common Good City Farm in Washington, DC. ##gardendc ##urbanfarm ##tomato ##dmv ##tomatotaste ##dc

♬ original sound - Kathy Jentz

By Molly Cuddy

Last Thursday, I attended the Tomato Party at Common Good City Farm. I’ll be doing a more indepth article on this event in the August 2021 issue of Washington Gardener, so look out for that in about a month.

The urban farm had been closed to visitors because of COVID-19, but has recently started hosting events again. They’ll be having cooking demos, a cocktail demo, and plenty more all happening over the summer. You can find the links to all the events on this page. Most of the events are free and for many of them you have to register in order to attend them. 

The farm was just a quick walk from the Shaw Metro station. They had arts and crafts for kids, as well as gardening themed books. 

There was plenty of free food to try, which you can see in my TikTok video for this week posted above. My favorite was definitely the catfish taco with a cucumber and tomato salsa, from Fish Scale. Everything was delicious, and the tomatoes from the farm were so fresh. 

I would definitely recommend attending the farm’s future events if you are in the area and available! It’s a great place to spend time with friends and family.

About the Author

Molly Cuddy is a journalism major at the University of Maryland, College Park, and an intern this summer with Washington Gardener. She is also a campus tour guide and will be a teaching assistant for a professional writing class next semester.

Video Wednesday: Global Aquaponic Systems

We visited the Global Aquaponic Systems as part of the Montgomery County Farm Tour 2017 last weekend. Here is a glimpse at the fascinating research operation that can one day offer affordable fresh fish and organic produce.

Video Wednesday: Heyser Farms open house on Montgmery Counity Farm Tour Weekend 2016

The 27th annual Farm Tour and Harvest on the weekend of July 23 and 24, 2016, featured 20 farms in Montgomery County, MD. This video features Heyser Farms  at 14526 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD. The farm includes orchard and gardens. Visitors could enjoy a wagon ride around the farm and sample fresh fruits including peaches as well as Spencerville RED apple products hard cider and wine. Antique farm equipment were on display and some local artists showcased their wares.

Local First Friday: Three Part Harmony Farm

Three Part Harmony Farm sells fruits and vegetables to consumers in the DC-area. The farm grows produce on a two-acre parcel in Northeast Washington, DC, most of which is sold through a community-supported agricultural program, according to its website at http://threepartharmonyfarm.org/. 

It supplies to local stores and restaurants in DC, including Pansaari and Potter’s House, according to the website. They also sell seedlings to Annie’s Ace Hardware. 

The farm grows food for the region, including greens and roots in the spring and fall, and tomatoes, eggplant, garlic, and more for the summer.

The farm’s goal is to provide food for the area and combat food insecurity and lack of food variety.

About the Author 

Seema Vithlani is a junior multi-platform journalism major and French minor at the University of Maryland. This spring she is also an editorial intern for Washington Gardener Magazine.

"Local First Friday" is a weekly blog series profiling independent garden businesses in the greater Washington, DC, and Mid-Atlantic region. Washington Gardener Magazine believes strongly in supporting and sourcing from local businesses first!

Video Wednesday: UDC Green Roof Opening Tour

The University of the District of Columbia's College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (UDC-CAUSES) debuted its green roof /urban farm in July 2015. The  40,000-square-foot green roof is on top of Building 44 on the Van Ness campus. It is mostly geared towards food production with a small pollinator garden of native plants also included.