Tomatoes Growing from Raw Sewage?
By Michelle Fabio
A heated city council race in Hoboken, New Jersey, has turned to tomato-slinging.
Dawn Zimmer, candidate for a Fourth Ward seat against Chris Campos, contends that excessive flooding in the 158-year-old city just across the Hudson River from New York City has gotten so bad that undigested tomato seeds in backed-up sewage water have planted themselves and started growing from unlikely spots like cracks in the sidewalk and underneath a chainlink fence—and photos of the area prove it.
It certainly gives a new slant to the word “fertilizer,” doesn’t it?
Zimmer contends that the proliferation of wild tomatoes, if you will, indicates that the city must be proactive and do something about the flooding and raw sewage spilling in Hoboken. Indeed, Zimmer is holding a “Flood Forum” with experts and community members on October 16 to discuss possible solutions.
No word on whether refreshments, including tomatoes, will be served.
October 14th, 2007 at 9:09 am
Wow, that is incredibly disgusting and also incredibly cool at the same time. Makes you wonder about people who have a hard time growing tomatoes.
I used to live in Hoboken, about 8 years ago, so it’s a shame to hear that such a fun city is having sewage problems.
October 14th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Anthony, you and I were thinking the same thing–people who have trouble growing tomatoes either have to look at this and laugh…or…get ideas? Hmm….