Happy Valentine's Day! With the wintery weather behind us, we're so excited to be back to all our most beloved farm activities. And this means getting down to business preparing for spring. We've been making a lot of progress reconstructing the material bays, preparing the rows for planting, and restocking our seed library (go check it out on the 2nd floor of the UT tower)!
We also can't wait to start planting later this month - everything from sugar peas to sweet potatoes, turnips, and peppers. In order to manage pests in a sustainable way, we'll also be planting flowers such as marigolds alongside these crops.
Finally, we're so excited to announce that we've launched our very own Microfarm Tik Tok! Go check us out at @utexasmicrofarm for all the most adorable farm content.
That's all for this month's update! Wishing you all a rosy Valentine's.
Love from the farm,
Nikki and Lauren
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2022 is a big year for the Microfarm. In March, we will be celebrating our tenth birthday! Stay on the look out for more details coming soon. We can't wait to celebrate with y'all!
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All of our group volunteering spots have been reserved for this semester, but if you would like to come help out by yourself (or with up to 3 friends), simply show up to the farm any Sunday from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, no sign-up necessary.
Due to the rise of the Omicron variant, we are STRONGLY encouraging wearing masks while volunteering with us, to keep our team and other volunteers safe. We are lucky enough to have a 1/2 acre of outdoor space and will separate volunteers into small groups. Your safety is our priority when you volunteer.
For more info on our workday protocol, including how to get to the farm and where to park, click here.
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Learn Your Locals: Rock Rose
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Getting to know your local flora is a great way to feel more connected to nature. Here's one iconic Texas perennial whose gorgeous pink blooms are sure to impress your valentine!
Although technically part of the hibiscus family, the Texas Rock Rose is beloved by many, from landscapers to hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. It's native to rocky soils and thrives in the sun, easily enduring the brutal Texas summers. Spot this beauty across the Edwards Plateau and down into the Rio Grande Valley.
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Basics: sophmore RTF major
Pronouns: he/him
Favorite Veggie: broccoli
Favorite Microfarm Memory: "Our team member Thanksgiving dinner! Sylvia made an awesome dessert and it was overall just a great time."
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So the semester is fully in swing, and with love in the air, here are some things our Microfarm team members are crushing on this month.
- Making Shirley Temples and watching the Winter Olympics.
- The ACOTAR book series by Sarah J. Maas.
- Astor's Ethiopian Restaurant, Golden Opal apples, and Big Swig Watermelon Mint Sparkling Water.
- Black Country, New Road's most recent album.
- The soundtrack to Firebringer. Listen here!
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We want to hear from you! Reach out to us: microfarm@utenvironment.org
By the way, the Microfarm is one of 5 projects under the Campus Environmental Center. Our fellow CEC friends do some really cool work that's worth checking out here!
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That's all for now! See you next month, okay? If you liked this newsletter, be sure to share it and tell your friends to subscribe!
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