Michelle Obama Garden Assailed By Chemical Firms

The Hill:

Michelle Obama planted an organic garden to promote fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet, but some chemical companies are worried it may plant a seed of doubt in consumers' minds about conventionally grown crops.

"Fresh foods grown conventionally are wholesome and flavorful yet more economical," the Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) wrote the first lady last month a few days after she and fifth-graders from a local elementary school planted the White House Kitchen Garden.

Read the whole story: The Hill

Comments

[Mister Wu]

So what's going to happen when those Rose Garden aphids get into the lettuce patch and the Queen of England comes over to dinner. (She into naturopathy, etc.) Will this be a cause de celebration or a diplomatic crisis?

[drkazmd65]

Absolutely preposterous!

I have had pot gardens for years, and a backyard garden starting last summer (with the new home) and have NEVER used a chemical to 'enhance' my garden other than some pyrethreum sprays or anti-insect soaps to control aphids, and compost from my own heap. Figure I will phase out the soaps this year too and replace them dilute vinager like my grandpa used to use.

My Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant and assorted Herbs have always tasted at least as good as store-bought.

[patianneb]

"Fresh foods grown conventionally are wholesome and flavorful yet more economical," the Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) translate: chemical folks, said.

outright lie.

[MarsAmbassador]

Most countries we get our vegetables and fruit from still use human feces as fertilizer. I have bought organic ever since I found that out. This year I grow my own garden, in an attempt to control what goes in my body, to get in touch with nature and to save money. There really isn't a good reason NOT to have your own little vegetable patch. Anybody with a yard can devote a 6 foot by 6 foot patch and grow their favourite 3 vegetables.

[Montanagramma]

For the past four years I have grown a garden for two reasons in particular. One is to save money. The second is: I know where the food comes from, and it has not been sprayed with anything toxic. This year I went the extra mile and paid for the more expensive heirloom seeds. You know, the ones that you may harvest, and save for the next year. I really hope more people will do this, too. I bevieve we should all protect our rights to feed ourselves chemical free food for years to come. Yes, the agri-business could be impacted eventually ~ hopefully!!

[Montanagramma]

Also, in addition, I wonder if at some point heirloom seeds will be unavailable in stores. Since they reproduce their own seeds that are able to sustain us for years to come, I expect they will become harder to get in the future. I would be willing to bet that the agri-business is actively trying to rid the market of the self sustaining seeds. We can't let that happen.

[Treehuggindirtworshiper]

There are several companies online that provide heirloom seeds for sale. Seed Savers Exchange was one of the first. I plant heirlooms because they taste better.

[MsIrisMG]

The chemical companies NEED to be put on notice and they are correct to be scared. I'm a firm believer that people get lung cancer from smoking not because of the tobacco itself, but because of the pesticides on the tobacco that people are lighting up and inhaling when they smoke. Also, chemicals are all in our drinking water due to runoff and have done nothing to eradicate insect pests. There has to be a better way, and I believe this administration is going to start finding a solution. It will take several years to do so, long past the term of the current president, but in the meantime, I applaud the first lady for demonstrating the right way.

I've bought my tomatoes and bell peppers for my patio garden, and I'm looking into using peppermint oil to control pests with so that I don't have to spray. I'm going to lose a lot to birds and squirrels anyway, but I want to give my "crops" a fair shot.

[MarsAmbassador]

I agree. Monsanto is by FAR the most destructive and evil corporation on the planet.

[patianneb]

good old white vinegar also effective against insects.

[JackND]

Such paranoia.

Agrichemical companies:­...Michell­e Obama's fruit and vegetable garden isn't even about you.

[SurrealPumpkin]

I have an organic garden. I must say that when it planning it I feel like a social secretary to the vegetable set. Who knew that vegetables love and hate one another :)

[RRG64]

“We live in a very different world than that of our grandparents. Americans are juggling jobs with the needs of children and aging parents,” the letter states.

“The time needed to tend a garden is not there for the majority of our citizens, certainly not a garden of sufficient productivity to supply much of a family’s year-round food needs.”
MACA
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In other words MACA really hopes you don`t find the time to grown your own food.

If you don`t already, find a Farmers Market, it`s time to support the local growers again.
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"Tell the Pesticide Peddlers: We support Michelle Obama's organic garden."
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/wh_garden/?rc=homepage

[solarian]

you can not use inorganic chemicals on a organic garden it will kill all the good bugs try ferts made by
american agritech and it is called pure blend pro

[Ravyn]

Michelle planting an organic garden is a problem for chemical companies who make fertilizers and pesticides? Oh, for Pete's sake, give me a break. A lot of people buy organic foods. I think it is wonderful she's drawing attention to eating well and promoting eating fresh grown food especially to children who tend to not want to eat that sort of thing. This should be a boon to a lot of farmer's markets and great for getting kids to want to eat better. And if it gets some people with backyards to want to plant vegetable gardens, that's great.

[glenglish]

I'l go with the organic crowd, thank you.

[MagicalPossibilities]

If these soul-less companies get their way it will become illegal for anyone to grow anything that does not use their chemicals and patented seeds. They are evil.

[patianneb]

amen.

[BearsLeft]

“Fresh foods grown conventionally are wholesome and flavorful yet more economical,”

They'd be even more economical if there was no industry lobbying organization like MACA.

[MadCroation]

The biggest lobbies for farm subsidies are chemical companies. They know they will end up with most of the money.

[myoungholt]

I don't understand it. So many things that have been done by others--speaking at Notre Dame, gardening organically, etc.--get no response.

Until one or both Obamas do it. Then you'd think all he** had broken loose ready to strike us all down.

Actually, I guess I do understand it. Envy is a killer.

[Tommygun264]

Yes, but most of the people who have done all those things before were, you know, um, shall we say, "lighter skinned".