Organic Gardens Thrive in DC: USDA People's Garden

The White House Kitchen Garden has started a fresh veggie trend in Washington, DC.  The US Department of Agriculture announced expanded plans for the People's Garden surrounding their headquarters on the Mall last month to celebrate Earth Day.

The current landscape around the Whitten Building includes grass lawns, flower borders, and concrete.  The new plans for the sprawling 6-acre space include a 1,300 square foot vegetable garden - slightly bigger than the White House Garden, flower gardens, and bioswales that help reduce pollution.

The organic garden will feature 3 different types of planting - in-ground, raised beds, and containers - to demonstrate the versatility of organic farming.  The garden is designed to be an educational tool for both farmers and the general public, but will also supply fresh, organic vegetables to local food banks.  

The People's Garden will produce a variety of seasonal foods.  Squash and tomatoes are part of the summer harvest line-up, while kale, spinach, and lettuce are a few plants planned for cooler months.  The garden will also include a traditional American Indian planting called a 'three sisters garden', featuring pole beans, corn, and squash in a sustainable arrangement.  

Organic farming is the first step to a healthier nation and a sustainable planet.  The USDA People's Garden shows us just how easy it is to grow our own fresh fruits and vegetables at home - if you're not sure what's in your soil (chemicals, contaminants, etc.), consider a raised planting area; when space is a concern, plant a container garden.  

The garden's visionary, secretary Tom Vilsack, said to the Washington Post, "... nothing tastes better than a tomato you grow."  A small, organic container garden is a great place to start wherever you are!

Source:The Philadelphia Inquirer

Images: NatalieMaynor, Abri_Beluga

55 Varieties of Organic Veggies in New White House Garden

Michelle Obama, along with a class of local fifth-graders, broke ground on the White House vegetable garden yesterday. A number of individuals and organizations have urged the Obamas to make a difference by planting an organic presidential garden, including the petition based organization, The Who Farm, as well as chef and organic food activist Alice Waters. 

Ms. Waters has requested action from the White House for more than 15 years. Until now, a small rooftop garden during the Clinton administration and Laura Bush's order for organic groceries have been the closest answers to her call. 

The 1,100-square-foot White House Kitchen Garden serves a number of purposes and is the first real veggie garden to grace the White House lawn since Eleanor Roosevelt's victory garden more than half a century ago. At least 55 types of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and berries from the garden will feed the First Family and serve as ingredients for all the meals prepared for White House functions.  A portion of the crops will also supply a nearby soup kitchen.

The White House Garden's primary function, however, is to place a priority on healthy eating habits and to improve the health of America as a nation. The First Lady also stresses how important it is to her that her own family has access to a variety of healthy, locally-grown fruits and vegetables. 

Watch the Ground-Breaking Via YouTube

Send a thank you to our First Family for taking the first steps toward change! Remember to visit the Green Connoisseur for the latest information on environmentally-friendly luxury - and don't miss our upcoming feature on Alice Waters in April.

Image credit: Joyce N. Boghosian/The White House