While at The Party Source this week for a cooking demo, Doug and I were treated to much more than a tasty meal. Mark Williams, Executive Chef for the Brown-Forman Corporation (owners of many things, including Woodford Reserve) shared a number of foodie insights and stories with us.
photo credit: Tinker’s Gardens
Did you know that Michelle Obama has started a vegetable garden at the White House? I had not heard about it, so I’ve been doing some research and I wanted to share it with all of you. Maybe it’ll inspire you to get to work on your own garden like it did me!
Snazzy outfit totally optional!
photo credit: Associated Press
At 1,100 square-feet, the First Lady obviously needed some help getting the ground ready, so in addition to Sasha and Malia, local students from Bancroft Elementary School joined forces on Spring’s Opening Day – Friday, March 20th – to get the grounds in order.
Click here for a clearer look.
You can see from the layout above, a wide array of vegetables will be planted as well as a beehive. The garden will be set on the south lawn of the White House – a fine compliment to it’s thriving flower collections.
In addition to stocking the White House’s pantry with an abundance of fresh veggies, some of the food grown will be donated to Miriam’s Kitchen to help feed and nurture many homeless folks in the DC area.
What a wonderful way to set the national conversation towards healthy eating, as well as making growing and buying local a priority. A win-win for our bodies and our environment.
photo credit: Slow Food UW
I hear this is the first vegetable garden to take shape at the White House since World War II when Eleanor Roosevelt did the same with her Victory Garden. Did you realize that at the end of WWII, over 40% of the United State’s produce was grown by home gardener’s? Sadly, we can no longer boast such stats.
“At a time of economic crisis, a garden can provide a surprisingly large amount of fresh, healthy produce. But just as important, it teaches important habits of mind — helping people to reconnect with their food, eat more healthily on a budget and recognize that we’re less dependent on the industrial food chain, and cheap fossil fuel, than we assume.” – Michael Pollan
You can follow along as the garden takes shape here at the White House’s new website for this adventure – WHITE HOUSE FARMER. Planting will begin in a couple weeks, when the students return to help again.
Inspired, Doug and I are getting back into the farming business. We’re gonna plant our way out of this recession I’ll tell ya! We’ve had a garden in past years out at a friend’s farm in Indiana (Hey Bob & Peg!), but with work and P and life in general, we can’t get out there as often as we’d like. We’re gonna carve out a spot in the backyard and plant a few of our favorites. This will be an amazing experience for P to take part in.
I challenge you to do the same! Comment here and let me know any tips or tricks you have for me and tell me what your garden is gonna look like this year. I’ll be sure to share our progress as we go along!
Thanks to the Obamas for getting me excited about such a great and worthwhile venture! Now, if you could you send some of those kids my way to help get my yard squared away- hey,we’d only need a few! – that would be terrific!
Amy in OHio 
9 comments
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March 25, 2009 at 9:20 am
Kelley
Since we rent, we can’t plant a traditional garden. However, last year we did container gardens and loved it! Cherry tomatoes and peppers were a hit and we had tomatoes through October. LOVED IT!
Andy’s parents live on a farm and grow their own sweet corn (YUM) and they have wild aspergus (sp?) that comes in every spring. We love spring and summer just because of the fresh veggies!
March 25, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Michelle
I tried a garden for several years. Turns out, I have an overabundance of bunny rabbits. They enjoyed much more of my garden than I did, so I finally gave up. They also dug up my sunflower seeds.
That said, I still get all excited when I see a cute bunny in the yard.
March 25, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Heather @ Domestic Extraordinaire
We are also planning a garden this year. Hubby & I were just talking about it on Monday while we were shopping for carpet. I haven’t really decided what I really want, I need to research it and also I think I need to start my seeds.
I will let you know & of course there will be photos!
March 28, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Tela
I’ve tried a garden a few times, but with the moles and the shade (three huge trees in our back and side yard), I just end up frustrated and disappointed–with no good veggies to eat!
So, this year I think I’m going to do a CSA with a local farm instead.
http://www.localharvest.org/
March 29, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Shannanb aka Mommy Bits
Marty and I started our garden efforts last week. He and the boys planted a ton of seeds in styrofoam cups that we’ll transplant in a few weeks, once it’s warmer out. I absolutely love gardening – but only have about a 60/40 success rate. One year our squash killed the cucumbers and last year we have a swarm of caterpillers anilate our parsley!
March 31, 2009 at 12:28 am
Insta-Mom
Did you hear they are also having beehives to produce their own honey? Which I think is totally awesome given the whole bees are dying thing. I am totally in love with the Obamas.
April 1, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Jenny from Mommin' It Up!
Oh, Michelle! Getting dressed up to garden? You are a girl after my own heart. (Except I am a total plant-killer). Black? Genius choice! Won’t show the dirt.
April 2, 2009 at 3:45 pm
sherisaid
I didn’t know, but it’s great to hear 🙂 We’re thinking of starting a garden this year.
April 3, 2009 at 11:36 pm
hebba
Great post. I rent, but maybe I’ll try the potted garden thing this year…