As an extension of the wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House’s Native Garden, an aquaculture plot has taken shape at the UW Farm’s site in the Center for Urban Horticulture. The clay-lined waterbody will grow wapato (Sagittaria latifolia), a plant that is native to most of the Americas. Indigenous peoples have traditionally cultivated wapato for its edible tubers, which are typically harvested in late Fall. With guidance from Farm Manager Perry Acworth and Landscape Faculty Julie Johnson, recent MLA graduate Kove Janeski was the design/build project manager for this project.
The wapato pond is the culmination of over 2 years of research and design and hard work from over 250 volunteers. The project manager was instrumental in researching and securing over $15,000 of funding through grants from on- and off-campus sources to complete the wapato pond and future projects on the farm. The UW farm receives over 2,500 visitors every year, who will have the opportunity to learn about indigenous land practices and cultivation through this remarkable project.