In 1943, in a time of war, Eleanor Roosevelt planted a victory
garden on the White House lawn.
On Friday, as America fights obesity and unhealthful eating
habits, Michelle Obama will begin to plant an organic vegetable
garden on the White House lawn.
While the garden will provide food for the first family, the
White House staff and important dinners, its most important role,
Mrs. Obama said, will be in educating children about healthful,
locally grown fruit and vegetables.
"My hope," she said in an interview in her office, "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 a Washington elementary school
will help Mrs. Obama dig up the soil for a plot covering 1,100
square feet, or about 100 square meters, in an area visible to
passers-by on E Street. Students from the school, which has had a
garden since 2001, will 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."
The Obamas have been lobbied for months by advocates who believe
that growing more food could lead to healthier eating and lessen
reliance on huge industrial farms.
"The power of Michelle Obama and the garden can create a very
powerful message about eating healthy and more delicious food," said
Dan Barber, owner of an organic restaurant in New York state. "I
don't think it's a stretch to say it could translate into real
change."
The Obamas' garden will have 55 varieties of vegetables - from
a wish list of the kitchen staff - grown from organic seedlings
started at the executive mansion's greenhouses.
The first family will feed its love of Mexican food with
cilantro, tomatillos and hot peppers. Lettuces will include red
romaine, green oak leaf, butterhead, red leaf and galactic. Yes,
there will be arugula, as well as spinach, chard, collards and black
kale. There will be a patch for berries and herbs will include some
more unusual varieties, like anise hyssop and Thai basil. Two hives
will provide honey. The total cost for the seeds, mulch and other
supplies is $200.
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