The new organic garden site at the White house

Today is the day!

If the Obamas are digging up their White House lawn to grow vegetables, why are you still lagging behind? Don’t worry. I’ll show you how to keep up with her. Read on…

Yes, Michelle Obama has started to dig up the White House South Lawn to grow vegetables in a 1,100-square-foot plot, visible from E-Street. Not only that, she is growing them organically. Twenty-three fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington will help her dig up the soil and help plant, harvest and cook the vegetables, berries and herbs.

While Barack is in London trying to convince sceptical Europeans that economic stimulus – read increasing consumption – Michelle is promoting good old-fashioned frugality and self-sufficiency at home.

Of course she is only the second First Lady to do so. Eleanor Roosevelt took this lead during WWII. She also happens to be the architect of the UN Declaration of Human Rights! Talk about social responsibility going hand in hand with practical strategies for a better world…

My bet for a successful strategy towards a sustainable life is on Michelle rather than Barack. Why? Because the consuming-more-is-good kind of thinking has had its day. Its the kind of thinking that actually created our global warming and economic woes.

Consuming less, not just different products. Choosing genuine “green” products. Caring of others and the environment. That’s the stuff of a sustainable Earth.

Hail To The First Lady Michelle! Prince Charles would approve.

What will be grown in Michelle’s garden

The Obamas’ garden will have

• 55 varieties of vegetables, grown from organic seedlings;
• Produce will include cilantro, tomatillos and hot peppers. Lettuces will include red romaine, green oak leaf, butterhead, red leaf and galactic. There will be spinach, chard, collards and black kale. There will be a patch of berries. And herbs will include anise hyssop and Thai basil;
• The garden will be in raised beds, fertilized with White House compost, crab meal from the Chesapeake Bay, lime and green sand;
• Ladybugs and praying mantises will help control harmful bugs;
• Two beehives will be kept for honey;
• Total cost of seeds, mulch and so forth – $200

What a taste bud stimulus package  that is!  I’m coming to dinner!

How You Can grow Vegetables Yourself – Indoors Or Out.

The Food For Everyone Foundation teaches the very best family food production principles and procedures. They believe the “best of organic” methods taught by Dr. Jacob R. Mittleider, and demonstrated in 78 gardening projects – in 28 countries around the world for 37 years – are the very best available anywhere. Download their gardening manuals here.

Self Sufficient Life gives you the plans to building your greenhouse, your hen house, how to keep bees and how to grow fruit. Download their books here.

No land? Grow plants indoors with a simple hydroponics system.Download your indoor system here.

Have land? But don’t know how to start?Here’s your ultimate landscaping resource

Want to go all the way and save more energy by not eating meat? Vegetarian nutrition has many benefits , including gluten-free options and allergy reduction. Check out this book.

Sources:

Obamas To Plant Vegetables At The White House.