On February 27th at the Lake Highlands Community Garden, a seminar paying homage to the starchy, tuberous plant known in Spain as the patata was hosted by Nancy Wilson, Donation Garden Coordinator.

Because this is prime potato planting time, Wilson used the opportunity to not only get the potatoes in the ground in a section of the 2,000 square foot garden, but to teach the procedure as well.

Along with gardening volunteers, the young men of Cub Scout Pack 890 were on hand to help plant and learn.

Pack 890 devotes every fourth Saturday to working in the LHCG Donation Garden, and initially helped prepare the newspaper-lined, compost-filled area earmarked for the potatoes.

Wilson selected four different varieties of potatoes, as well as four different methods for planting them.

While the volunteers, as well as some of the community gardeners were the prime audience, the seminar was open to anyone in the community wanting to insure a good potato harvest. Thanks to all the hard work put forth, a whole lot of spuds were planted.

Once harvested, the potatoes will go a long way in supporting the efforts of Operation Frontline, the LHCG Donation Garden partner.

Said Wilson, “This is exactly what our Donation Garden is all about - bolstering the efforts of organizations that fight hunger in our city. We start the process from seeds, or in this case, potato chunks. These seminars also serve to teach gardening techniques, encourage volunteer participation, get fresh air, and have fun with the kids and friends!”

History documents that the annual diet of the average global citizen in the first decade of the twenty-first century was roughly 73 pounds of potatoes. That was quite a recovery, particularly in Europe, when some years earlier the infamous Great Irish Potato Famine of 1845 caused thousands to suffer crop failures due to the plant disease known as "late blight."

In today's challenging economic times, both throughout the world and right here in Lake Highlands, the humble potato is still an essential crop, particularly for the Donation Garden.

Consider the three major advantages the potato has over other foods: a low rate of spoilage; bulk, which easily satisfies hunger; and affordability.

Up first for planting during the seminar was Purple Majesty, a variety developed by Colorado growers. Growers used natural cross-breeding techniques and got lucky. This super spud contains extremely high amounts of antioxidants.

Next was the Bintje. Funny name but beautiful to look at, with its slightly gold colored skin and light, cream colored flesh. It has a waxy, semi-dry texture, making it an excellent all-purpose potato. It was a favorite last year for Eden Organic gardeners.