The Obamas Celebrate Spring with a White House Veggie Garden
I’d like to say that Michelle Obama is one smart lady. She’s doing something that many of us garden-loving idealists have been wanting for a long time: planting a White House veggie garden. Not since Eleanor Roosevelt’s WWII Victory Garden has there been such extensive planting at the White House.
Visible from E Street, an 1,100 square foot piece of south-facing lawn is being filled with raised beds and will be planted with 55 varieties of vegetables, berries and herbs, with surplus to be donated to a nearby soup kitchen. Michelle Obama said that feeding her own children was what inspired her to start a garden, as they have been more curious about trying new fruits and veggies if they’ve seen where they’ve been grown or met the actual farmers.
Of course the fresh, local produce will be greatly enjoyed by the First Family and the White House staff, but this garden will have eco-educational value as well; the highly visible White House garden’s soil will be amended with kitchen compost, crab meal and other natural fertilizers, and will use beneficial insects for pest control. Obviously our First Lady doesn’t want her kids eating petroleum-based fertilizers or chemical pesticides any more than you do!
This action shows the Obamas literally putting their walk where their talk is, and, dare I say it, it’s (eco) change we can believe in.
Source: NYTimes
Image: Treehugger
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2 Comments
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:18 am
I think Michelle’s garden is wonderful. I completely applaud her efforts. I did read in the USA Today Health Blog that, “Obama’s fellow gardeners got a healthy snack when they were done working the soil. Apples, apple cider and sugar cookies — with organic flour — and in the shape of shovels.” I hate to be even a tiny bit negative with all the great things going on here, but sugar cookies are not a healthy snack. Sugar (and high fructose corn syrup) are one of the biggest reasons we have a child obesity epidemic in this country. And just because something is made with organic flour does not mean it’s healthy…there are hundreds of certified organic foods that don’t equate with good health. Just my .02! Thanks for sharing this awesome effort by our first family!
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:46 am
I agree, it is very inspiring. My husband would like to tear out our front lawn (defying the homeowner association strict codes) and plant artichokes to eat and perhaps sell to neighbors. I think this forward thinking is the wave of the future as soaring oil prices and scarce resources will make it harder to deliver fresh produce to our stores. Home grown is the new direction and I appreciate Michelle Obama setting a great example.
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