WaPo - "Uprooting a fall harvest at the White House kitchen garden"

[TomCADem]

Maybe this really is not political, but I do think it is time we get away from agri-business promoted processed foods to more locally grown foods. During WWII, Victory Gardens were promoted to encourage Americans to grow a portion of their own food in response to shortages. However, since then, such efforts have since fallen by the wayside.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/10/29/uprooting_a_fall_harvest_at_th.html?hpid=news-col-blog

Uprooting a fall harvest at the White House kitchen garden

Rarely has a giant sweet potato, a muddy knee and a stubbornly rooted fennel plant caused such a stir. But when first lady Michelle Obama led groups of fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary and Kimball Elementary schools in the fall harvesting of the White House Kitchen Garden Thursday afternoon, much oohing, giggling, cuteness and shutter-clicking ensued.

The students, White House kitchen staff and representatives from Miriam's Kitchen -- which feeds the homeless and was the main beneficiary of the vegetable haul -- gathered on the South Lawn around picnic tables draped in red and white checked tablecloths and topped with baskets of apples. White House assistant chef Sam Kass -- he of the bald pate and the People magazine-worthy physique -- divided the kids into groups of three. A trio of girls from Bancroft were paired with the first lady, who initiated a contest to see which kids could dig up the largest sweet potato. Obama noted that she and her daughters had already harvested a particularly hefty one. "They're huge," she said, underscoring the size of the potatoes by holding her hands approximate 12" apart. "They're huge!"

The first lady -- dressed in a pair of lapis jeans, a purple cardigan and purple sneakers -- and her team of students -- dressed in yellow Bancroft T-shirts -- produced a basket filled with impressive tubers, which she presented to the assembled photographers and reporters for documentation.

Obama noted that already 740 pounds of food have been harvested from the garden, which cost less than $200 to plant.

[juajen]

1. I believe this is a wonderful example to give to the country

and to the children who will take this example and remember it. Good for Michelle.

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. great story!

I hope they do it again next year!