PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The harvest this year has already begun for one particularly annoying crop in west Michigan.
In fact, Portage is holding a contest to see who can collect the most.
Garlic mustard is an invasive species from overseas that has been out-competing local species for resources and ground space for decades according to Portage council member Katherine Olmstead, who has just learned how to collect it and bag it.
She says now is the time to get it out of the environment, particularly from along Portage trails.
The Portage Parks Department will be giving out ball caps to anyone who collects 35 pounds of the weed, and cash prizes for those who bag the most.
Olmstead says anyone who starts now may have some catching up to do as some have already started pulling up the plants.
There is a right way and a wrong way to harvest the plants to keep them from spreading any further.
Parks officials ask that you learn the right way if you plan to participate.
Garlic mustard does have one local species that finds it quite tasty, especially these early spring plants.
They are safe for humans to eat and reportedly quite delicious, with a number of recipes available.
That’s how the plants got here, they were brought over by European immigrants for food and medicinal purposes.
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