Eleanor Roosevelt’s World War II-era Victory Garden was a shining example to Americans that they could grow their own food. And now Michelle Obama is following in her footsteps, taking up the cause by planting an 1,100 square foot edible garden on the South Lawn of the White House. Her hope is to educate children about locally grown food, inspiring them to eat healthier and encourage their families and community to follow suit.
Petitions for an organic garden at the White House have been circulating for some time now. The new edible garden will have over 55 varieties of fruits and vegetables, as chosen by the White House Kitchen Staff. According to assistant head chef, Sam Kass, the cost of the organic seeds and mulch was only $200. They will plant tomatoes, tomatillos, cilantro, various lettuces, spinach, swiss chard, collards, kale, arugula, berries, herbs, including anise hyssop and Thai basil (there will not be any beets though as President Obama does not like them). Also present will be two hives for honey and a compost pile.
First lady Obama, along with 23 fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School, will begin the garden by digging up the soil, then planting and eventually harvesting the vegetables. The White House Kitchen Staff is looking forward to planning their meals around the vegetables that are in season. Food grown in the garden will be used as ingredients for family meals as well as state dinners and other official events.
Michelle and White House Kitchen Staff
We are excited to see the First Family engaging in such a sustainable activity and being such a good example that local and organic food is possible. Michelle wanted to emphasize that organic and local food doesn’t necessarily have to come for your own personal garden, as many people don’t have the space. For those that have limited space, container gardening on a deck, balcony or a wall is a great way to produce some of your own food. And for those who have no space at all, buying local and organic is becoming easier and easier as more local markets spring up and expand around the country.
Via The New York Times and Treehugger
For folks that don’t have the space, time, skills or strength to do a DIY veggie/fruit garden, think about starting a yardsharing group with your friends, family or neighbors at hyperlocavore.com. It’s free!
I’m a fourteen-year vegetarian and think it’s great that Michelle is taking sustainable eating on. However, during Women’s History Month, I’d rather see her outside of the garden, and the kitchen. Just my two cents.
Michelle and staff should go about reading H.R. 875: Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, which in effect could make the average persons home garden illegal. I would just hate for Michelle to be excited about something of value on the American people while her husband helps legislate against it.
WussTimmy,
I just read through H.R. 875: Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, and there is nothing regulating private gardens that produce food so long as you are not selling what you produce. The act is monitoring the food for pathogens and contamination. The act is also stream lining the regulatory agencies to make the government work more efficiently.
Show me a where in this bill that a private citizen’s food production is required to be examined by government regulators, and therefore de facto illegal. Something tells me that you cannot.
Are tomatoes going to be planted?
That is sad the garden won’t have any beets planted…they
are wonderful and I enjoy cooking them many different ways.
I live in a housing project in Toronto Canada. In the back of your 6th story building, there was a space where a playground use to be. Unfortunately, the tenants mistaken the playground for a dog run and allowed their dogs to play and leave brown lumps for the children to play in . After a while, no children played in the playground and it continued to be a dog run until a couple of years ago when it was made into a community garden. Of course it was all cleaned up and a large pile of new dirt was put in the place where the play ground equipment once stood. The garden has been a success and the tenants of the community got fresh fruit every summer. The garden not only gave us fresh vegetables , but it gave our community a much needed face lift. Our community is not looked at differently by passersbyers. At one time, we were looked at as a housing project full of drug attics and people on government assistance. Once the garden was put in, all kinds of people were taking pictures of the garden and talking to me and my boyfriend as we do the bulk of the work. The garden has been a blessing in more ways then one.
Terry
I’m excited about promoting simple ways for people to eat healthier, save money, and create sustainable sources of organic produce. As this idea begins to catch on, it’s important for people to be aware of tools for the storage of fresh produce after it’s harvested. Without preservatives, fresh produce can spoil before you have time to eat it! Freshvac vacuum food storage has multiple lines of vacuum-sealing containers that store foods up to 4 times longer than average airtight-only containers. This is all done without chemicals, baggies, pumps–no elextricity! It’s easy to work for this company because I use it in my home and swear by it! I just thought I’d share this tip with anyone thinking of planting their own sustainable garden. Storing the fresh produce as long as possible, is the next important step.
-Sarah
When the First lady decided to have a garden on the White House grounds, I was excited about the idea.I like to work there taking care of the garden and teach everyone who visit there about gardening.How I can apply and join first lady’s team. I have Ph.D in horticulture,. Currently, I am teacher in Des Moines, Iowa high school and has been teaching there for past 30 years. Gardening has been my hooby since I was 9 years old.
I would appreciate if you could help me. Thank you.
Sicerely yours
Hamed M. Baig
I am pleased to see my first lady garden. It has encourged me and my family to start our own garden. I have a learning disabilty and I was hoping that there is an easy guide to garding. I need to keep the bugs off my plants they just eat them up. I also need to know what the white House use to keep the plants so nice and green. Thank You and may God Bless America and the Whole Wide World.
Great pleasure the First Lady creating beautiful world for the children which inspire the whole world to understand the importance of the Vegee Food.
But is also very interesting that First Lady also educating children about the agriculture IT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICAL FOR THE CHILDREN IF THEY MAKE TOYS FROM ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS AS CLAY WOOD BAMBOO REED CLOTHES AND PAPER WHILE MAKING TOYS CHILDREN MAY GET AWARE ABOUT SCIENCE ENVIRONMENT AND MULTI-CULTURAL HERITAGAE ,
TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ECO-FRIENDLY TOYS WORKSHOPS LOG THE WEB SITE ; BRIJ KUL DEEPAK ( GOOGLE.COM/HOME PAGE),.
LET US SHARE OUR EXPERTISE EXPERIENCE AND RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN THE INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN IN SCIENCE ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE .
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU, WARM THANKS.
CHEERS
BRIJ KUL DEEPAK
I AM INTERESTED TO CONDUCT ON MAKING ECO-FRIENDLY TOYS FOR THE CHILDREN AROUND THE AGRO GARDEN OF FIRST LADY IN WHITE HOUSE WHILE MAKING TOYS CHILDREN MAY STRENGTHEN THEIR INTEREST IN SCIENCE ENVIRONMENT AND MULTI – CULTURAL HERITAGE.
BY MAKING OWN TOYS THE CYCLE OF EDUCATING CHILDREN WILL COMPLETE !
MY WEB.SITE : HIGH LIGHT A LOT ABOUT MY WORKS FOR THE ECO-FRIEND;Y TOYS .
LET US IMPART TOGETHER WITH CHILDREN.
LOOKING FORWARD YOUR KIND GESTURE.
CHEERS
BRIJ KUL DEEPAK
[...] it was the success of the organic garden coupled with the trouble that the White House is having passing climate legislation that pushed [...]
I think this is a wonderful idea and I am very Happy to see our First Lady Michele Omaba growing and supporting gardening at the White House. I started a garden years back and every year I add new vegetables and herbs to the garden and I just love them. I use them on/in so many dishes and by cooking with veggies it has helped me and my husband eat better. I typically grow too many for us to eat so I share with my neighbors.