Cool news - the White House Vegetable Garden
Setting a very good example given the current woes.
From the
New York Times:
Obamas to Plant White House Vegetable Garden
On Friday, Michelle Obama will begin digging up a patch of White House lawn to plant a vegetable garden, the first since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden in World War II. There will be no beets (the president doesn’t like them) but arugula will make the cut.
While the organic garden will provide food for the first family’s meals and formal dinners, its most important role, Mrs. Obama said, will be to educate children about healthful, locally grown fruit and vegetables at time when obesity has become a national concern.
In an interview in her office, Mrs. Obama said, “My hope is that through children, they will begin to educate their families and that will, in turn, begin to educate our communities.”
Twenty-three fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington will help her dig up the soil for the 1,100-square-foot plot in a spot visible to passers-by on E Street. (It’s just below the Obama girls’ swing set.) Students from the school, which has had a garden since 2001, will also help plant, harvest and cook the vegetables, berries and herbs.
Almost the entire Obama family, including the president, will pull weeds, “whether they like it or not,” Mrs. Obama said laughing. “Now Grandma, my mom, I don’t know.” Her mother, she said, would probably sit back and say: “Isn’t that lovely. You missed a spot.”
We are doing a community garden in our town this year as there are lots of people living in the woods who would love to grow their own but do not have the space or the sunlight.
Planting a garden and maintaining it is not rocket science. The initial investment of time and effort is a bit steep but the ability to walk out and in a few minutes harvest a wonderful fresh salad or some vegetables for a stir-fry make it all worthwhile. And the next season, you just have some minimal preparation and away you go...
Posted by DaveH at March 19, 2009 6:28 PM
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