Tiny green threads of dill lift flat, striped seed hulls out of the coarse earth.
An Unfamiliar Herb Became a Northern Community Garden Favorite
The first dill seeds of the season are beginning to sprout in the community garden beds at the land lab. Looking closely at the dark soil, mixed with rough mulch and bits of wood, the tiny green seedlings are just starting to push their way up. A few of the young, curved stalks are still lifting the flat, striped brown seed coats they just broke out of as they emerge into the light.
For a plant that eventually grows tall and feathery, the initial growth is small and minimal.
Until a couple of years ago, dill was mostly an unknown quantity in this garden space. It was a plant that most of us in our food security and sustainable agriculture program did not know much about, and it wasn’t a regular part of our experience. That changed entirely when someone brought fresh dill into the kitchen to taste.
Following that single experience, a plant that had been completely unfamiliar quickly became a favourite across the community garden, earning its own dedicated space in the soil for the upcoming season. We’ve expanded some of the dill into our butterfly meadow and can’t wait to see the results this year.
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