Flower Garden | First Vegetable Garden Tour Aug. 13
Eating fresh food straight from the backyard garden is somewhata novelty in the Racine area, but at least one local organizationwould like to change that.
That’s why Eat Right Racine is hosting the area’s first VegetableGarden Tour on Aug. 13.
The tour, similar to flower garden tours that are held annuallyhere, will feature eight private vegetable gardens, including largefamily farmsteads and small urban gardens.
Local gardeners agreed to put their yards on display, because theytoo believe in eating fresh and healthy.
Melody Kloska and Matt Behrs have filled their city lot with whatshe calls a “hodge-podge” of gardens.
“I have a little bit of everything in my garden,” Kloskasaid.
Raised box containers with peppers and tomatoes run alongside theirhome at 3427 Charles St. They have a small, raised herb garden,tomatoes growing out of bags on their front porch and vegetablesgrowing from pots.
In the backyard they have a 16-foot-by-18-foot garden where theygrow zucchini, butternut squash, carrots, potatoes, radishes,eggplant, broccoli, rutabaga, onions, garlic, lettuce, tomatoes,peppers and herbs.
“We’re trying to use every square inch,” Kloska said.
The reason they have turned their entire property into a garden isbecause the couple would like to be somewhat self sustainable. Thatmeans they want to grow their food instead of buying it.
“We are aware where our food comes from,” Kloska said.
Eating healthy
The couple’s journey of eatinghealthy, fresh foods started about two to three years ago. Kloskasaid she had several health problems, including digestion issues,asthma and sleep problems. She was on the verge of beingdiabetic.
Kloska decided she had to change her eating habits and lost 70pounds.
Today, she is off all of her medications and doesn’t suffer thedigestive or asthma problems she had in the past.
After becoming involved with Eat Right Racine, it became part ofKloska and Behrs’ mission to educate the community about healthyeating. The couple has also started the Racine CountyIndoor/Outdoor Farmers Market at Douglas Avenue and SouthStreet.
Eating healthy can start with a backyard garden, Kloska said.
“People have to go back to the basics,” she said.
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