Worm castings, compost tea, shiitake logs, dingo bite, agricity, propagation, food desert? You’re probably saying to yourself, “This sounds like gibberish!” Not when it comes to the 7th Annual Rooting DC festival. A forum for all things agricultural in the District, Rooting DC left us bursting with gre-enlightenment. “Feeding Your Chakras: Heal Your Meal, Soothe Your Soul,” “How to Process Acorns for Food” and 72 other quirky workshops brought together a medley of folks, all with green intentions.
Photo by Mandy Lee
Bet you haven’t heard of a shiitake log. Start your own ‘shrooms indoors!
In the sunlit atrium of Woodrow Wilson HS, more than 50 organizations spread the word about social justice, service, education, community gardening and composting. Even a Franciscan monastery was present to shake things up!
Photo by Mandy Lee
By noon, the festival had our mouths watering. However, our taste buds were unprepared for the traveling culinary carnival that is the Fojol Bros. food truck. Met by a mustachioed lady at the window, we ordered all four curries available that day.
Photo by Mandy Lee
The creamy spinach and cheese paired perfectly with the pumpkin, all heaped on top of steaming basmati rice. The cauliflower and potatoes were standard, but the buttered chicken melted in our mouths–a sweet and slightly coconutty delight. We can’t wait to track down the truck again for a frozen Lossipop when the polar vortex has lifted.
Photo by Mandy Lee
After a long day and two happy tummies, we walked away from Rooting DC with a new vision of our beloved city. Deep down, DC has a heart of green. With some of the highest ratios of green roofs and school gardens in the country, DC is about to blossom. Here are a few of our favorite places to dig into this spring:
1. Jump in and join the fun volunteering and engaging with kids through City Blossoms or the Washington Youth Garden.
www.washingtonyouthgarden.org/
http://cityblossoms.org/
2. Learn about urban food systems and fight for healthy options in the greater DC community with Common Good City Farm and the DC Central Kitchen.
www.dccentralkitchen.org/
commongoodcityfarm.org/
3. Check out the Eastern Market, the Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market, the Glover Park-Burleith Market–just across from the Safeway on Wisconsin–and the Georgetown University Farmers’ Market on Healy Lawn, of course!
http://www.easternmarket-dc.org/
http://freshfarmmarkets.org/farmers_markets/markets/dupont_circle.php
4. Join the Georgetown University Community Garden to plant at Kehoe field or start seedlings in the greenhouse on top of Reiss (yes, that’s a thing). Members take home seeds and fresh produce.
5. Be bold! Make your windowsill a greenhouse. Even a yogurt cup filled with dirt does the trick.
Photo by Jessika Brenin
Wouldn’t you love to live in the Dirt-y D, too?