Yes We Can! Start a White House Garden
Change we need, indeed! And on this first day of spring, we’re going to get it, thanks to Michelle Obama and 23 Washington DC fifth graders. Together, they will break ground on the South Lawn for the nation’s first White House garden since that kept by Eleanor Roosevelt during World War II.
With over 55 different edibles being grown, including hearty greens, lettuces, peppers, tomatillos, berries, herbs, as well as two beehives for honey, the organic garden will be a chief source of food for the first family. It will also provide a valuable learning experience to participating students who, along with the President, will do their part in planting, weeding, and harvesting. Even more important, the White House garden will serve to influence mainstream America on the value of local, sustainable food. (The entire garden set up cost around $200–who says it’s too expensive to eat well?)
Michelle Obama is taking this opportunity to advocate the necessity of good food for our children. She’s encouraging parents to get healthy with their kids by upping their fresh (locally produced, if possible) fruit and vegetable intake, limiting processed foods, and preparing more meals at home. Interested in starting a garden of your own? Learn all about it from Kiwi Community’s article on family gardening.
-Marygrace, KIWI intern and organic gardening supporter
Tags: gardening, kids, local, organic, sustainability, sustainable, Wellness, White house garden
March 20th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
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March 20th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
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March 21st, 2009 at 4:17 pm
This is such good news - if each country in the developed world were led by their leader doing something REAL like gardening, politics, and the world would be a better place.
March 25th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
My name is Taijah. I wrote a letter to President Obama in January about planting an organic garden on the White House grounds. Well it seams that Ms.Obama has picked pick one school. But think about all the other schools that might have oppertunities. Think of it this way. If Ms.Obama picks at least three D.C. public schools, then pick three kids from each school then we might be working something out. But, if she does it, then she just might have enough kids to plant. But if she does not don’t get mad at me if I say this only because its my opinon. I REALLY don’t think its fair to use just one school. Well that’s really all I have to say.
Choose Watkins Elementary school Ms.Bowers 3rd grade. Bye
March 25th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
My class and I worte letters about putting an organic garden at the White House in January. Organic gardens help our comminity, you, the environment and the world. I would like for my class to have the opportunity to work at the White House Organic Garden. I am in the third grade at Watkins Elementary School in Capitol Hill. We are very, very close to the White House and we could get there without any trouble. Please think about this Ms. Obama. Thanks!
November 18th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
That is so funny that you wrote about gardening for kids! I work with Fast Growing Trees Nursery, and we just published a website dedicated to sharing ideas on how parents can teach kids about gardening. I’d love to hear what you think about our site:
http://www.gardeningforkids.org
Thanks!