Food, plants and seeds for the neighborhood 

By Brian Emerson
UW Horticulture Department

Living here in Wisconsin we enjoy the luxury of having some of the finest soil in the world. We often take for granted the fertile ground around us. With proper knowledge, this land has the potential to provide abundant food for our families and community. The Gompers Grows program strives to give our youth the knowledge and experiences to put food on the table.

With generous support from Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), Emerson Urban Produce, UW Horticulture-Urban and Regional Food Systems, Voss Organics, Weststar Organics and Madame Chu Delicacies, students at Gompers Elementary School have had the opportunity to visit local farms, orchards and parks to better understand our food system and agricultural heritage. This spring educational programming will introduce them to seed starting, soils, composting, phenology and local food production. 

Join us Thursday, May 28, 5:30‒7:30 pm, for Family Gardening Night at Gompers, 1502 Wyoming Way. The school community invites our Northside neighbors to share an evening of free fresh food featuring a salad bar serving student-grown lettuce and greens. The night will continue with an open house showcasing student projects, farmers and growers to answer gardening questions, and seed-starting activities.

Visitors are welcome to pick up free vegetable seeds. In addition, transplants of tomato, pepper, basil, kale and more will be available for a small donation. All donations support the Gompers Grows program and continued community food gatherings. Let’s come together to support our youth as they learn vital skills and discover community through food.

If you have questions or would like to financially contribute to the program, email gompersgrows@gmail.com.