Michelle, get dirtier

I know that this is old news, but I am thrilled that a vegetable garden is being planted at the White House, and that along with Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha and Malia, a fifth grade class from a Washington, DC school will be involved in the project.  So in my mind, that qualifies as a community garden.  Moreover, Mrs. Obama is using the garden to set an example of healthy eating, by growing and consuming a variety of lettuces, spinach, kale, and other vegetables, as well as berries.  

Over the weekend there have been stories about the groundbreaking for the garden. Most have featured photos of Michelle Obama in her chosen outfit.  As much I hate to jump on the bandwagon of bloggers who provide commentary on the First Lady's fashion choices, I do question the logic behind the attire for this event.  The last time I wore boots, leggings, and a long sweater, I was headed to a party, not my plot.  But then again, if I knew I'd be greeted by photographers whenever I pushed open the MSG gate, I'd probably feel a little uncomfortable in my ripped jeans and T-shirts.

But now that I've said that, let me get to my point.  Apparently most of the maintenance of the White House garden will fall to the grounds crew and kitchen staff.  Perhaps it's unrealistic to expect Michelle Obama to take time out of her busy schedule to pitch in on a regular basis.  But she does manage to devote time to exercise--three 90-minute workouts a week that include weight lifting, calisthenics, and some cardiovascular activities.

Being the same age as the first lady, I can relate to her desire to stay in shape, and I too go to a gym and participate in some of the same aforementioned activities.  But has she considered that gardening is exercise?  Digging the garden plot can burn 340 calories an hour, and weeding can burn 306 calories an hour.  Digging dirt is similar to weight lifting, yet burns more calories and has the added benefits of fresh air and sunshine.

So hopefully Michelle will spend more time in the dirt.  As a role model watched by many, she can get her exercise, reduce stress, and use her influence to make gardening more fashionable.

Tear up that lawn!

The idea of a garden on the White House lawn, first executed by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1943, is taking root again.  "Eat the View" is the name of a campaign started by Kitchen Gardeners International, a Maine non-profit that promotes sustainable local food systems.  The plan to increase "edible landscapes" includes online petitions to "Plant a Victory Garden at the White House" (at their site as well as through Facebook), a link to contacting President Obama, appeals to ask other elected officials to convert landscapes (such as the yards of their residences) to gardens, and an opportunity to buy a "virtual parcel" of the White House lawn, with proceeds helping to fund the cause.  As I write this, over 1,400 supporters have registered with the Eat the View web site and over 17,500 Facebook users have signed the petition.

Another noteworthy effort is The White House Organic Farm Project (a.k.a. The Who Farm).  According to the organization's petition, the farm could serve as an outdoor classroom for children and Americans with disabilities, provide food for the President, his family, and White House guests, and serve as an example of organic practices such as using heirloom seeds and topsoil nourished by compost.  Upon the recommendation of the author Michael Pollan, five acres of the South Lawn could be allocated.

The Who Farm organizers have expressed their support for the Eat the View idea by encouraging their site visitors to vote for the idea when it was under consideration in a contest at the Ideas for Change in America collection of causes.  Eat the View also won the On Day 1 contest, in which ideas to improve the world on many fronts had been proposed and judged.

It will be interesting to find out if these petitions will make a difference when and if they reach Obama's desk.  If our wait list for a plot at the MSG is any indication, I would guess that many more Americans would support these efforts.