USDA establishes People's Garden project

[Muttocracy]

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/02/0042.xml

VILSACK ESTABLISHES THE PEOPLE'S GARDEN PROJECT ON BICENTENNIAL OF LINCOLN'S BIRTH
Announces goal of creating community gardens at each USDA facility worldwide


WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today "broke pavement" on the inaugural USDA The People's Garden during a ceremony on the grounds of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) commemorating the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. The Secretary declared the stretch of pavement permanently closed and returned back to green, and encouraged other Administration officials and the general public to join in to protect the Chesapeake watershed.

"It is essential for the federal government to lead the way in enhancing and conserving our land and water resources," said Vilsack. "President Obama has expressed his commitment to responsible stewardship of our land, water and other natural resources, and one way of restoring the land to its natural condition is what we are doing here today - "breaking pavement" for The People's Garden."

The dedication comes on the 200th anniversary of the birth of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln founded the Department of Agriculture in 1862 and referred to it as "The People's Department" in his last annual message to Congress.

The commemoration of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial is only the first step in the Department of Agriculture's celebration of President Lincoln's life. During today's ceremony, Secretary Vilsack announced the goal of creating a community garden at each USDA facility worldwide. The USDA community garden project will include a wide variety of garden activities including Embassy window boxes, tree planting, and field office plots. The gardens will be designed to promote "going green" concepts, including landscaping and building design to retain water and reduce runoff; roof gardens for energy efficiency; utilizing native plantings and using sound conservation practices.

The USDA People's Garden announced today will eliminate 1,250 square feet of unnecessary paved surface at the USDA headquarters and return the landscape to grass. The changes signal a removal of impervious surfaces and improvement in water management that is needed throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed....

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/02/0042.xml

[Donnachaidh]

1. wonder if he's going to use Monsanto's genetically modified seeds? n/t

[Muttocracy]

3. good question. I bet this was a project long on the wishlist that some staffer finally got to do. nt

[babylonsister]

2. Setting an example-it's a start. nt

[Muttocracy]

4. I visited an EPA building a few years ago with more natural landscaping

instead of a big astro-turf-ish lawn. I loved it. It's all a matter of what people are used to seeing I guess - but you'd think companies would want to save money on intensive lawn care and pavement maintenance and go more natural!

[jwirr]

5. This was a project that I suggested on the transition site. I used the

words "lead by example". However my suggestion was a little different. I wanted the garden on the WH lawn. I am interested in making food production local and this seems to agree. Good for them. I also hope that it will be organic but if not then at least it is a start.

[Muttocracy]

6. My guess is this is for pavement removal more than food, but maybe at some locations

they'll produce food.

[conscious evolution]

7. I would rather see Ag Dept. employees

doing other things then gardening on the taxpayer dime.
You know.Things like inspecting peanut processing plants.Inspecting slaughterhouses.Reigning in the abuses of ag conglomerates like Monsanto and ADM.

[Muttocracy]

8. FDA is under HHS and I doubt USDA inspection staff were doing the lawn/sidewalk care before.

There is much that USDA needs to do better, but at least this is setting a good example for government buildings.

[conscious evolution]

9. Actually,both FDA and Ag do inspections. nt

[Muttocracy]

10. yes, I know that - Vilsack has suggested they merge inspection

which might prevent some of the fingerpointing, e.g, http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2009-02-07-960720922_x.htm My impression is FDA has more of a role in processed goods, USDA more on the produce/meat side of things.

But I think changing landscaping practices on government property doesn't preclude them carrying out their other responsibilities.

[conscious evolution]

11. I have seen Ag in processing plants

The only food plant I have ever seen FDA in was a poultry processing plant.And it was a rendering plant at that.(word of advice-never ever ever walk into a rendering plant that has been shutdown for two weeks in the middle of august.Kill yourself first.You will be better off if you do.I would rather work in a sewage plant than do that again.)
If you really want to know how sanitary a food plant is see if they have inspections by a private outfit called AIB International https://www.aibonline.org/ These guys do much tougher inspections then the goverment inspectors.If they give good marks you can count on it being a clean operation.
I first ran into AIB while project manager for plant expansions for Kens Foods,producers of Kens Steakhouse Dressings,Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauces,Newmans Own Dressings and supplier to McDonalds and other major restuarants.AIB is so tough that they deducted points from Kens Foods score for electrical junction boxes that were open while we worked on the place.(Even so they stil scored very high.Kens Foods definitely has the cleanest processing facilities I have ever been in.)

I wish the goverment inspectors were half as tough.

[Muttocracy]

12. thanks for that link - I know some people who work on organic certification

and related issues and I'll send it to them.

[Tashca]

13. Good article

From the article.....I don't know the rules for how to do this

snip..
The new garden will add 612 square feet of planted space to an existing garden traditionally planted with ornamentals. The garden will showcase conservation practices that all Americans can implement in their own backyards and green spaces. As a component of the garden, pollinator-friendly plantings will not only provide important habitat for bees and butterflies, but can serve as an educational opportunity to help people understand the vital role pollinators play in our food, forage and all agriculture. The garden plot is adjacent to the site of the USDA Farmer's Market.
snip..

This says volumes to me. I know it's only 612 square feet. But the emphasis on pollinators is impressive.

Tom will be an excellent Secretary of Agriculture I don't give a flying fuck what some obscure Organic group in the woods of Minnesota says. They obviously have their own agenda that is separate from reality. This is a much better example of reality.

[BrklynLiberal]

14. Good start.