One of the many tomatoes growing on Washington Street in Marquette, and will ripen in the next few weeks and be ready to harvest from anyone visiting or staying in Marquette, all thanks to the Marquette Downtown Development Authority. (Journal photo by Antonio Anderson)

MARQUETTE – Keen eyed pedestrians on Washington Street in Marquette may have noticed the unorthodox plants growing in the large black planters in downtown Marquette. The Marquette Downtown Development Authority has not only planted flowers to help spruce up the town, but also vegetables and herbs to help provide for the citizens of the city. Setting an example to other cities on how they can help offer accessible food to those in the Upper Peninsula.

“We thought it would be a nice idea to change up what we were planting in the new planters,” said the Executive Director of the Marquette Downtown Development Authority, Tara Laase-McKinney. “The flowers and greenery that were planted last year were nice, but we wanted to create plantings that were more interactive for the public.”

Herbs in the planters include sage, dill, mint, rosemary along with tomatoes, nasturtiums and a variety of flowers. All are available to freely harvest.

“This is a good opportunity to show the public that food can be grown in a variety of places and different ways, and that planting vegetables and herbs along the sidewalk can be as attractive and fruitful endeavor for the public,” said Laase-McKinney“It’s tough to say how much the public has been utilizing them, but the reception has been encouraging. Our maintenance staff has had a lot of positive comments regarding the planters and the plantings. The plants are doing very well, to the point that they need to be trimmed back.”

The idea came up to help show how foods can be grown in the city, as well battling easily accessible foods.

“Ourselves and anyone walking by can take some, we like the idea of doing that and left it at that,” said the Marquette Downtown Development Authority’s Business Outreach & Promotions Director, Michael Bradford. “Especially in a food desert in the upper peninsula, we just kind of like the idea of just flowers or something different.”

The Marquette DDA has seen a good reaction from the public and hopes it can continue this initiative in the future.

“So far, it has been well received, so it is likely we will continue it in the future,” said Laase-McKinney.

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net.