Featured Gardener: Mallory McShane
Plot #8
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North or South Tower:
South Tower
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How long have you lived at IT?:
Almost 4 years
Tell us about your family:
Derek and I have been in Chicago for about 8 years. We hail from Wisconsin and Indiana, respectively.
Do you have pets?:
No pets (love them), but a TON of house plants.
What is your favorite restaurant in Chicago?:
Circle Sushi (Lincoln Park)
Sox or Cubs?:
Cubs
What do you enjoy most about Lake Michigan?:
I love long lakefront walks throughout all four seasons.
Do you prefer the smell of rain or fall leaves?:
Smell of rain
What is your favorite flower?:
Peony
Did you garden as a child?:
A little bit, but enjoyed it much more as an adult.
Who gardens with you now?:
My partner, Derek
What inspired you to join the community garden?:
My sister is a farmer (Grounded Earth Farm), so I thought it would be a great way to bond with her by better understanding her daily life.
What has been your most successful foray in gardening?:
Herbs! About 50% of our plot was herbs and they thrived. They're a perfect way to bring a lot of flavor to a dish or a cocktail.
What are you most excited to grow in your plot this year?:
Hot peppers. I didn't grow any last year, but have discovered a love of pickling/fermenting and am excited to make pickled hot peppers.
Do you start your plants from seed or seedling?:
My first season was all seedlings. This year I plan to do a mix of both. Some seeds are so tiny they'd just blow away! I've started growing some microgreens indoors, so am feeling a bit more confident with seeds. I'd started a few plants from seeds last year before the season was cancelled and they did pretty well. I am looking forward to trying some transplants this year.
What do you wish you had space to grow?:
Watermelons. They're my favorite fruit. I tried a black watermelon for the first time last year and it was so juicy and sweet. I would plant a whole field of those
What has been your favorite ITCG event?:
The cello concert. It was almost otherworldly to be sitting between high-rise buildings, surrounded by plants, and listening to an incredible cellist. The garden area was decorated for the occasion with string lights. The weather was beautiful and there were lovely food and drinks (shoutout to Molly) afterwards. It was the perfect evening!
What is your favorite thing to cook or cocktail to mix?:
My favorite cocktail is the G.T.O. from The Dawson (Fulton River District). It's got grapefruit juice, gin, bonal (a quinine digestif), lime, hop bitters, and is garnished with thyme. So good!
Are you gardening for the produce or just for fun?:
A little bit of both.
Any plans for garden decor (seasonal or not)?: The plot next to ours had these super cool iridescent rocks and some fun baubles. They were definitely inspiring me to up my decor game. I like the idea of either something that lights up or reflects the sunlight. TBD on what we decide to put in there.
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