An Obama Victory Garden

President-elect Barack Obama has a lot on his agenda -- and in January his plate will be even fuller. But perhaps come spring, the President can fill the actual White House china with sustainable, homegrown fare. After he saves the economy, begins timely withdrawals from Iraq and negotiates with unruly world leaders, Mr. Obama ought to get his hands dirty by planting a White House vegetable garden.

If the Obama family begins its occupancy of the White House by sowing seeds in late winter and early spring, they will watch a first garden grow in the back yard of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue -- and Americans will watch with them. First families set the standards for the behavior of American households and this family, with all of its comparisons to Camelot, is arguably more idolized and socially influential than any since the Kennedys. Yet for all of the sweeping changes Obama hopes to introduce, none would be more subtle or significant than influencing Americans' relationship to food.

Alice Waters, pioneer of sustainable eating, wrote to the Clintons several times during their tenure in office. She begged the first family to plant and maintain a garden to show the American populace the value of the food cycle in developing a sense of community and a healthy national future -- both in body and culture. In a letter from 1995, Waters implored the Clintons to help with her Edible Schoolyard project. "Help us nourish our children by bringing them back to the table, where we can pass on our most humane values. Help us create a demand for sustainable agriculture, for it is at the core of sustaining everyone's life," she wrote.

Unfortunately, neither Clinton responded to the plea, despite Waters' consistent reiterations and increasingly emphatic correspondence. It's unclear whether she has yet to limn like requests to Barack and Michelle, though they would be wise to preempt the ardent appeals. (In addition to pacifying the protest-prone Berkeley crowd, the Obamas could also gain an advantage over the former Democratic first family: as much as the clans have reconciled, Barack can always afford a leadership leg-up on Bill.)

But planting and maintaining a garden at the White House would do more than win over the hearts and guts of food enthusiasts. It would bring the message of hope and change down to Earth -- and earthworms. Imagine the president offering Gordon Brown or Dmitry Medvedev panzanella made from homegrown tomatoes and basil. The gesture would give new meaning to breaking bread (salad).

Irony aside, a garden is the most elemental way for the Obamas to connect with the land and its people. Sustainable farming is no longer just a hippie buzzword: it is an increasingly necessary way of life. As the economy falters, members of this newly appointed first family would do well to show that they can roll up their sleeves, collaborate, and sustain themselves directly from the land.

Imagine the message students on White House field trips would get from an Obama-tended garden. Not only would it show an immediate resourcefulness and connection with the earth, but it would also illustrate that the President is actively connected with his body, his environment and the community with which he shares his food. In a 1996 letter to President Clinton, Waters asserted, "There is a growing consensus that many of our social and political problems have arisen because we are alienated from meaningful participation in the everyday act of feeding ourselves." An Executive garden would be a significant step in re-establishing this connection: more than likely, thousands of Americans would follow the Obama example, as they have already done.

Now that the long slog of the campaign trail has drawn to a close and Obama no longer needs to face Philly cheese steaks and fried dough to appeal to voters eager to feed a potential President, he should set an example for a new American table -- one that prides itself on respect for the fruits of the Earth and the labor necessary to yield them. If Obama were to plant a thriving White House vegetable garden, this hopeful electorate could see how the land, and our treatment of it, is a basic ingredient for an enduring, enterprising and optimistic American spirit.

If nothing else, the Obama Victory garden should be planted as a symbol of the hope the President-elect so often spoke of: seeds should be sown to show Americans what the promise of new life looks like as this eight-year winter finally begins to thaw.

Comments

[jengod]

The White House was designed, basically, as a plantation house...a big ol' farm house. Returning to farming is only natural.

I would love to see the White House gardeners taken on the Capitol gardeners and see who can grow the most beautiful, most productive food garden. Executive versus legislative vegetation. The Supreme Court justices can decide who wins. :)

[herdloose]

This would be making a profound statement for the commitment to change.

In light of the tremendous response to a Colorado farm offer to pick free produce, what better way to tap into the american populist spirit than by way of establishing a victory garden?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/us/24food.html?ref=us

[spartanmom]

I was just thinking the exact same thing. Everything you say is dead on but I'd like to add a mention of the personal benefits of getting down in the dirt.

Children who garden do better in science.
Beneficial organisms in the soil boost the immune system and improve mood (mind altering microbes?)
Experiencing the link between physical activity and a product is good for the soul.
With Mom and Dad traveling a lot, the girls would always have exciting news to report on what seed or shoot has poked its head out of the soil.

My picks would be:

An asparagus bed (takes a while but by 2012 it will be producing just fine)
Potatoes because they are really cool to grow
Garlic because home grown is so much better than store bought
Peas are great for kids since they are fast and they are like candy fresh from the vine
Tomatoes are obligatory

And at the White House goodness knows what else you might find if you start digging!

[joanVA]

I agree with this post--what a way for the Obamas to break with the past. Of course, they would need help, being city folks and not having been brought up in this gardening lifestyle.

I have gardened, recycled, preserved, and composted all of my life because I have fond memories of doing this as a child. There is nothing more satisfying and relaxing than working in the garden. This would be a great learning experience for Malia and Sasha.

Every school would take the lead as well so that children could have fresh greens for lunch from the garden outside. Every child should know where food comes from.

[gardenland]

Healthy food is something that everyone in the world needs. Gardening is somthing that can be done almost anywhere in the world (and everywhere with a greehouse). Gardening is nonpartisan and grows across cultural boundaries.

There is a website called WorldFoodGarden.org that aims to represent all the world´s food gardens on one map. Imagine a world filled with gardens. IMAGINE the United States becoming a positive world leader again, leading the world to be a healthier, more environmentally friendly place, all emanating from the good example set on the white house lawn.

[Semaj51]

If there is a White House Victory Garden , it will be just a publicity stunt. There will be some photos of the President and his family out there helping to set-up the garden, and there will be a few famous gardners advising and helping in the design of the garden. But after the photos and news articles have been published, it will some minor White House staffer who will be doing the actually gardening.
Come fall, if there is a need for some good publicity shots, bet the President will be shown picking vegitables out of the garden, with help from famous organic cooks on how to prepare them for dinner. Again, after the photos have been made, the same White House staffer will be out there, tilling up the garden in preparation for winter.

[GardenCoach]

He would not be the first President with a Victory Garden. Eleanor Roosevelt had one on the White House lawn in 1943, and Vice President Henry Wallace had one at the Vice Presidential residence. Here is an article that asks the same of our new President and has some interesting background information: http://civileats.com/2008/11/11/victory-garden-revival-needs-a-presidential-ask/

[mlaiuppa]

Yes, absolutely a Victory Garden.

Also composting (I like with worms) of kitchen scraps and garden dross.

Add recycling. Aggressive recycling.

And let's get those photovoltaic panels back on the roof. Add some solar water as well.

Let's have as many govt vehicles as possible be hybrids, EV or biodiesel.

[imanartist]

There is a petition to ask the new President to do exactly this, http://www.kitchengardeners.org/2008/07/this_lawn_is_your_lawn_video.html. (Not sure how to make that a link). Michael Pollan also recommended this in his recent article on food policy for the New York Times Magazine, an article that Obama says he read. He should do it.

[julibelle]

Who would make a good head Victory gardener for the White House?
The gardener at Arrows Restaurant in Ogunquit Maine.
I do not know her name but I do know she has been able to supply produce, including lettuces for well over 15 years! This is the highest quality organic produce, utilizing the restaurants green waste to compost, she has experience working with 2 very talented chefs to plan the garden & modern stylish & delicious menus, understands getting a garden thru the winter.
No, I am not associated with Arrows....