the new little green Martian. :)

Ironically, that could be useful in producing some oxygen and terraforming Mars a bit prior to settlement. Create a satellite module that specifically orbits Mars in a spherical pattern and spreads asparagus seeds all over the planet. Those that survive have found water beneath the soil somehow, and begin to break down the local crust into the beginnings of soil.

Of course, this won't be necessary by the time we can colonize Mars. We'll have fusion-powered bulldozers by then.