Just east of the U of M’s Elma Roane Fieldhouse, where tennis courts once dominated the landscape, organic gardens are producing herbs, flowers and vegetables. The corn has tasseled out, and ears have perked up, blossoms have produced squash and vines tied to bamboo stakes are hanging with tomatoes.

The area, dubbed “The Oasis,” is part of the Tiger Initiative for Gardening in Urban Settings (TIGUrS) pilot project, an educational idea spawned by Dr. Karyl Buddington, director of the campus Animal Care Facilities. Volunteers moved cinder blocks to create the raised gardens, spread compost, dug holes and dropped in plants. All 47 gardens were planted in just two days.

Other crops, which are free to those wanting to harvest them, include sunflowers, green beans, peppers, eggplant, okra, basil and parsley. Photo by Lindsey Lissau.