The return of green sprouts signals the start of the growing season, and one way to celebrate is at Rooting DC, the annual urban agriculture conference hosted by the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). This year’s event took place at Eastern High School, drawing more than 800 attendees and 40 organizations for a day of learning and networking.
Launched in 2007 with just 150 urban gardeners, Rooting DC has grown into a major event, featuring exhibitors like Casey Trees, the University of the District of Columbia’s College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, the US Botanic Garden, the DC Food Policy Council, DC State Fair, FRESHFARM, Plots and Pans and George Washington University – both the Milken Institute School of Public Health and the Global Food Institute, among others.
DOEE Director Richard Jackson highlighted the event’s impact:
“Rooting DC brought hundreds of local garden and nature lovers together to learn about urban gardening from our region’s talent—neighbors, students, businesses, nonprofits, and city partners. Residents explored soil health, composting, microgreens, small-space gardening, and more. This event is central to our commitment to fostering a healthy, sustainable, and accessible environment.”
Love & Carrots, a sustainable landscape and vegetable garden company, was among the exhibitors. Staff member and urban farmer Mikyla Reta shared her enthusiasm:
“It was invigorating to be surrounded by and learn from community members just as passionate about urban gardening. It’s so inspiring to see what knowledge and information can be shared in just one day by gathering so many of the DMV’s best gardeners and farmers.”
Throughout the day, attendees were able to participate in a wide variety of activities like “Creating a Sustainable Seedling Pot” (from newspaper) with the team from GW University, to sitting in on workshops like “Herbal Remedies” from Little Red Bird Botanicals, and “How to Reuse Household Materials in the Garden” with Community Forklift. Love & Carrots presented on “Tomatoes from Seed to Table”, and FRESHFARM’s FoodPrints programmed around “Gardening with Kids.”
Said one happy attendee about what they most appreciated at the event, “The knowledge of the participants and their willingness to help others be successful in gardening, farming and agriculture – people were so friendly, welcoming and respectful towards each other. I loved seeing such an amazing diversity among attendees and speakers.”
To stay informed on all issues Urban Ag in Washington, DC, subscribe to the DC Urban Garden (DUG) Network at: dcurbangardenernetwork.wordpress.com.
Annette Nielsen, a writer and food systems advisor, returned to Capitol Hill from New York where she served as the executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center.
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Homegrown Chimichurri
Recipe by Charlie Basa
Charlie Basa, a student at George Washington University, highlights the joy of growing herbs and eating healthy food. At the Rooting DC event, Charlie shared a simple chimichurri recipe along with packets of seeds. He explains, “It’s a delicious and versatile way to use the herbs you might be growing in your garden or on your windowsill this season. This sauce pairs wonderfully with meat, poultry, vegetables, and even rice.”
1 cup chopped parsley leaves
1 cup chopped cilantro leaves
¼ cup red wine vinegar
1 shallot, minced
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon hot pepper flakes, or
1 red chili, minced
1 teaspoon freshly ground black
pepper
½ cup olive oil
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add vegetables, red wine vinegar and seasons. Stream in olive oil while continuing to blend. Let sit, covered in the fridge for two hours so flavor mingles. Serve as an accompaniament with steak, chicken, or roasted vegetables or drizzle over rice.
