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Edible crops sprout around campus

September 20, 2012

Although the beauty of the university’s campus grounds is apparent to everyone, there is more than meets the eye. Scattered throughout UW–Madison’s 932 acres are edible vegetables, herbs and flowers incorporated into various plant beds on campus.

Photo: sorghum plants on Library Mall

UW gardeners planted sorghum at the base of the clock on Library Mall.

Photo: Jeff Miller

The idea began a few years ago when Grounds Management gardener Larry Kraak decided to plant red bell peppers near Library Mall.

“I thought it would be a nice way to give back to people who frequent there, particularly homeless people who may not have easy access to fresh vegetables,” says Kraak.

Now, edible plants can be found in plant beds surrounding the clock in Library Mall, near Helen C. White Hall, outside the Middleton Building and the University Club. Laura Peterson, another Grounds Management gardener, maintains the beds outside the Middleton Building, where she plants tomatoes, bell peppers, Swiss chard and a variety of herbs.

“It’s a big conversation starter,” says Peterson. “The edible crops we plant are a little-known secret, so I love telling people about them. We encourage anyone to pick vegetables from the beds.”

In addition to edible crops sprinkled around campus, Grounds Management gardeners also care for and plant larger displays. Some, like the giant red and white ”W” planted next to the Mosse Humanities Building, stay consistent. Others change with the seasons. In spring, says Peterson, a colorful display is always planted for graduation, while this fall, Kraak chose to plant broomcorn in his plant beds for an autumn-like feel.

“Each gardener is responsible for their own plant beds, so whatever species and displays the gardener chooses is really a product of his or her imagination,” Kraak says.