Thanks to the community gardens at Eagle Heights, which were established in 1962 with a lot of foresight, Anne and I are going to try to grow some of our own food this year for the first time. This is what our inherited plot looks like from last year. The only things I've grown in life are a blue crystal in 8th grade science class and a beard (not until college). Fortunately Eagle Heights held a seed fair today and set us up with a variety of vegetables and flowers to try out. First though we have to commit to removing the quack grass that seems to have colonized our garden beds between fall and today. Or maybe it's crab grass? There are several native grass species in Wisconsin, none of which are growing on our plot or on our lawn. However, just behind the photograph is the Biocore Prairie, which will soon begin growing big bluestem and indian grass and hopefully others I haven't met yet. In a book on organic gardening, every month of the convenient growing calendar begins with the suggestion to "hoe weeds regularly." I get the picture that after starting seeds at the right time and keeping their thirsts quenched, the next most important part of growing vegetables is to stop fast-growing invader plants from winning the fierce battle for resources. I'm interested to find out how many of these "weeds" are plants that Americans purposely brought here from overseas versus those that have been growing in Wisconsin since 1491. I've got a lot to learn and look forward to eating that first tomato when the time comes. I know the work will be worth it (because I've eaten a few garden tomatoes before).
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