Boise News

Second Annual NewWest.Net conference: Thursday and Friday

Gardening The Meter Way In Boise

By Joseph Friedrichs, 6-01-10

If Ken Meter could have his way, dinner on any given evening would be basil pesto served with a healthy salad and perhaps a dab of horseradish spread on the side.

“I like to keep it pretty simple when it comes to using what I grow,” Meter said. “That’s actually a reason I have a garden.”

Meter, a resident of a Minneapolis suburb, has promoted 45 local food networks in 20 U.S. states and one in Canada. His passion is using the land for sustainable purposes, as well as keeping the crops and other resources obtained for local use.

“Backyard gardening is more popular and beneficial than we might think,” Meter said. “Not only does it connect us with nature, it connects us with our neighborhoods.”

Meter, 60, is one of the most experienced food-system analysts in the country. His work integrates market analysis, business development, systems thinking and social concerns. As president of Crossroads Resource Center in  Minnesota, Meter holds 39 years experience in inner-city and rural community capacity building. Aside from maintaining his own successful garden for many years, Meter is certainly not short on knowledge when it comes to his message. (The guy has two degrees from Harvard, as well as several other universities, for crying out loud.)

All the same, Meter is a humble man with a simple request of those who are willing to listen: Learn about nature and the ground where you live; plant some crops and/or plants; enjoy the health benefits by doing so; and have some fun in the process.

Simple enough, right?

“Many people forget some foods, mainly processed foods, can actually be lethal to your body,” Meter said.

In addition, Meter explained, having a garden can be a great way to meet residents in the neighborhood and enjoy the outdoors.

“I had so many tomatoes last year there was no choice but to start handing them out,” he said with a laugh.

Mike Molitor, a Boise resident, said gardening in Idaho is certainly different than growing crops in other parts of the country. Molitor has successfully grown cucumbers, lettuce, spinach and a variety of other vegetables on his 1.5-acre plot of land.

“Some years can be a struggle,” Molitor said. “For example, this late spring we’re having now has set me back from where I would like to be.”

And there in rests the beauty of having the knowledge, education and experience of an individual such as Meter.

“Having a garden, to me, is more than just a hobby,” Meter said. “It’s a project. There’s effort to it. And with that being said, when you can combine everything we just talked about into one… well, there you have it.”

Indeed.

Ken Meter will present “Local Food as Economic Recovery” at 11:30 at the Stueckle Sky Center Friday, June 4, as a feature of NewWest’s second annual Planning in the West conference. There is space available and we’d love to have you. 

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