Can your workplace be your foodie destination? It can if you
work for Catalyst Partners in Grand Rapids. Their LEED Platinum Certified
building is flanked by several beautiful food gardens and a bee hive. The
history of this near-west side site confirms that food was meant to be here.
The building, built in 1917, was originally adjacent to Watson-Higgins Milling
Company (maker of New Perfection Flour) and a Schlitz brewery.
The landscaping next to the building is over 40% rescued
plants. There are native prairie zones that include wild strawberries,
raspberry bushes, and a honey crisp apple tree. The flower boxes on the
building house edible plants such as pansies and Johnny jump ups. And, the
staff has built six 10 foot by 10 foot vegetable plots on the side of the
building. On site is a 1,000 gallon rain water cistern that will be used
in the future for watering the gardens.
Recently, I visited the gardens and took a tour of the
building. Growing there are popcorn, bok choy, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, pole
beans, tomatillos, kale, lettuce, arugula, brussel sprouts, summer and winter
squashes, fennel, sunflowers, and herbs. The plants are all grown without
herbicides and pesticides; the staff rotates their gardening responsibilities
annually. They do some seed saving. Their future plans include a rooftop herb
garden.
If you stop by you will often see a basket of produce set
out for neighbors to come by and take home for their use. Food gardens add
community to a commercial site in ways that other landscaping cannot.
Click on the 502 Second Street slideshow link on this webpage for photographs of the development of the gardens that are adjacent to
the building.
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