[Community_garden] Tell the next Prez to "Eat the View"

[Roger Doiron]

Some other gardeners and I are trying to build some energy around the idea
of planting a kitchen garden in a highly visible and symbolic location: the
White House Lawn!  

 

As we all know too well, it's election season and has been for the past two
years.  While it's not always fun watching the slugfest that is American
politics, the election season is also a season ripe with possibility.  

 

In addition to pitching an article on this topic which
<http://www.kitchengardeners.org/2008/03/eat_the_view.html>  ultimately
found its way on to the pages of the Washington Post, I've posted the idea
on the website OnDayOne.org which brings together different ideas that we'd
like the next President of the United States to undertake upon taking
office.  Here's how I've phrased the recommendation:

 

"The next President should announce plans for a food garden on the White
House lawn, making one of the White House's eight gardeners responsible for
it, with part of produce going to the White House kitchen and the rest to a
local food pantry. The White House is "America's House" and should set an
example. The new President would not be breaking with tradition, but
returning to it (the White House has had vegetable gardens before) and
showing how we can meet global challenges such as climate change and food
security."

 

By way of background information, this is not so much a new idea as a good
old one worth recycling.  One of the first things President John Adams did
upon moving into the White House in 1800 as its first resident was to plant
a vegetable garden.  During WWI, President Wilson "hired" a herd of sheep to
reduce the costs of maintaining the 18 acres of grounds surrounding the
White House.  Thousands of dollars were raised for the Red Cross through the
auctioning of wool. Years later, Eleanor Roosevelt grew a Victory Garden on
the White House lawn, inspiring millions of others to do the same.

 

I don't know about you, but I think the idea of returning part of the White
House lawn to its original, edible splendor is a reasonable request to make
of the next "Landscaper-in-Chief".  If you agree, I'd like to ask for your
vote.  All you need to do is go here: http://www.ondayone.org/node/661 and
click on "rate this idea".  Unlike the important vote scheduled for
November, anyone of any nationality can vote in this "election".  All we
need are 100 more votes to put this idea in the top spot!  

 

While you're there, why not leave a comment?  The more voices speaking on
behalf of this idea, the stronger it becomes.  And, in the event this idea
REALLY resonates with you, please consider spreading the word and the link
with others.

 

Thanks,

 

Roger

 

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