Kathy holding a bowl of frozen strawberries we picked at City Hall last year.

In 2018, City of Des Moines staff did something bold and unique. They planted strawberries all around City Hall. Then they planted them at another city building on the east side of Des Moines, and at Gray’s Lake on the City’s south side.

Thousands of plants. Probably millions of strawberries. Hugely popular. Each year has seen more and more Des Moines residents picking, eating, and preserving.

Oh, and strawberries are an excellent ground cover — a delicious alternative to grass. They also provide pollen and nectar for bees. And the color-combo of red berries and green leaves makes it feel like Christmas in June.

Sadly, some City officials in Des Moines are citing budget constraints as a reason not to establish new plantings, and to ignore maintenance needs at existing plantings.

If you live in Des Moines, you can help get this tremendously beneficial effort back on track by contacting your City Council members and Mayor Boesen. (Here’s how to do that.)

If you live somewhere else, approach your City’s leadership about a similar investment. It takes around 10,000 plants to cover an acre at a cost of around $5,000. For Des Moines, with an annual budget of nearly $1 billion, that amounts to even less than chump change.

When you factor in the food value and savings from not having to mow and maintain grass, strawberries are a bargain.

Tis the season to plant strawberries. Let’s get on it.

I hope you appreciate this week’s podcast and radio show. As is often the case, we cover difficult topics. And as always, your feedback is welcome and helpful.

Finally, if you live in the Des Moines area, please patronize the local businesses and non-profits that help make this platform possible. Click on their logos (on the right) to learn more.

Thanks for reading, listening, and taking action.

Ed Fallon

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