Michelle Obama's Organic Garden | 06/18/2009 9:45 am
Queen Elizabeth Takes Michelle Obama's Cue With Organic Veggie Garden (Video)
Veggies to be grown at Buckingham Palace for first time since WWII; Michelle Obama, kids harvest White House garden, which still has its critics.
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Michelle Obama’s organic green thumb is rubbing off on a very important lady in England — Queen Elizabeth.
The two women met in April and have kept in touch since then. They hit it off with two of their common interests — fashion and gardening. And after Michelle Obama planted an organic garden at the White House with her own two hands, the queen is following suit — although we’re not quite sure Her Majesty had her own hands in the dirt! For the first time since World War II, ornamental plants and vegetables will grow at the palace, but this time, they will be organic. Veggies like runner beans, leeks, beetroot and an endangered variety of climbing French beans called Blue Queen will grow in the back of a 40-acre plot at the London palace, says the BBC.
While her husband may be pushing health-care reform, these are just some of the ways the First Lady is touting healthy eating and giving business to local organic farms. Obama this week invited 36 kids from a local Washington school to help her harvest — and eat! — lettuce and snap peas in her summer vegetable garden. White House chefs were on hand to help teach the kids how to cook healthier options. But we’re talking about Washington, and nothing is without its critics — even an organic garden.
Politico reports on how conventional agriculture is fighting back against Michelle’s message of herbicide — and chemical-free foods and cooking. Fertilizer and pesticide companies have written letters to the White House touting the necessity of their products. And since the number of people planting their own veggie gardens has spiked in the past two years, particularly after the First Lady vocalized her support of it, the stakes are even higher.
"There’s a lot of pushback we’re hearing, a lot of whining out of that community about the First Lady doing her garden," Larry Mitchell of the American Corn Growers Association, which represents both organic and conventional farmers, told Slate. "They’re getting awful squeamish on this thing."
We guess everyone and everything is going to have its critics. But what do you think? Is Michelle Obama’s organic garden a good idea? And should others try to follow suit?
Here’s video of Michelle Obama talking to the kids helping her harvest her organic garden:
Read more about: Fertilizer, Healthy Eatings, Michelle Obama, News, Organic Garden, Queen Elizabeth, U.S., Vegetables, Video, White House
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63 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
The point is to get kids and thier families introduced to produce. Most inner city kids do not get enough fruit and veggies in their meals. Their families budget just does not allow it to happen. When stretching the dollars, and yes food stamps, I would venture to guess that not many $ is spent in the produce section. Getting the meat on the table is probably where that money goes to. Also, not too many people know what to do with produce, even folks that can afford to spend their grocery budget on more nutritios meals do not do it. I go to my friends homes and thier veggie drawers in the frige is empty or barely has anything. This generation does not know or are not familiar with cooking from the produce section, everything comes out of a can, a box, or in the freezer section. Although I don’t advocate going totally organic, (for most people, its too costly) I do like the FLOTUS push to get healthy eating out there. Those who are going to be synical will always be. Can’t please them all.
Seriously? Are we suppose to believe that Michelle Obama is the reason that the Queen is growing organic? Is no one aware of Prince Charles and his long term passion for organics? He has long been an outspoken proponent of invornmentally friendly causes.
Organic has its place, we should have the choice. To ban all pesticides would be foolish.
Prince Charles has been an advocate for organics for a very long time, but FLOTUS has been planting for a couple of months and just recently met the queen and has been invited back. You make what ever connection you want. I’m sure what ever move this adminitration does will cause folks on the other side to roll their eyes in disbelief. We can’t please those folks and we never will. So make whatever connections you want.
And seriously, did anyone say anything about banning pesticides? There they go again, connecting dots that should not be connected.
"We" Lotus? Which family are you related to…the Royal family or the Obama family?
The facts are that the media stretches to credit the Obamas with anything that they can. It is ridiculous. Prince Charles has long ago been a supporter of organic, long ago….wayyyyyyyy before Michelle planted her little garden. So…no connection at all there…although the article tries to do so.
Pesticide have been banned, many are in question. That is why many companies are concerned, they connected the dots, and I will as well.
This President is attempting to control what we drive, what we eat, what we say, what we operations we get. There are plenty of dots being connected and many more that need to be.
None of us know the true facts of any of this, but my guess is that her son’s passion for organic gardening would be more of an influence than the White House. Also, with Great Britain also in a recession (or whatever term you choose to use…money problems….) I would wonder if she is harkening back to her own youth and Victory Gardens and such. Plus, during WWII she was a mechanic and took on all sorts of roles outside the norm. So maybe, despite her years, she’s happy to see that British "We can do this" spirit kicking in, as it did in the past. Ultimately though….who knows. Gardening runs in her family. Her Uncle, the Duke of Windsor, was a passionate gardener.
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Yes, Washington….I agree. After all, the Bristish have always valued their gardens.
How ridiculous to attempt to atribute the garden to Michelle Obama…and actually insulting to the Queen.
Kelly in Texas,
Perhaps, the author of this article was simply attempting to point out similiar interests between each of the ladies that contribute to their friendship. I do not think for one moment she was attributing First Lady Michelle Obama with sparking an interest in organics. Especially in light of The Queens family history in this area.
Whether the White House garden is large or small does not amount to a hill of beans! … It has become an Important Learning Tool for our nations children and interested adults.
I had intended to start a herbal garden several years ago but never did. I have my seeds. My interest has been rekindled because of First Lady Michelle Obama. If it had been First Lady Laura Bush my interest would have been rekindled. The point is I respect both ladies and it just does not matter who started it first! … I simply want my garden and welcome all constructive information!
Well L.C….It appears to me that once again, the media is playing up the Obama’s and their influence in the world. It is just BS and insulting to the British. They certainly didn’t need Michelle Obama to spark an interest in gardens!
But only those that haven’t had contact with the English lifestyle would buy it. That is my point, articles like this give many the wrong impression and only serves to bouy the Obama’s in their eyes. Manipulation of the masses, and I don’t like it one bit.
If the Obama’s were so damn interested in planting and growing food, then they would DO something about the man made drought that has been imposed in Ca. on the largest region of food production in the United States. Because of a little fish, they have given ALL of the water to the habitat and have put over 80,000 farmers and workers OUT OF WORK and Americans OUT OF FOOD.
This is bigger than GM…it is OUR FOOD source. The trees are dying, the crops are not planted…people are out of work. Now we will have to import food from questionable sources that will RAISE the cost of food for EVERY American.
Michelle Obama can take her little garden and her hypocricy and shove it were the sun doesn’t shine.
Where is the media outrage over the farmer plight? Where? Look into this…they need help and support right now!
Kelly in Texas,
I will venture to say that you are not really concerned with insults on the British.
It’s not even the discussion of the gardens.
It’s not even the manipulation of the masses!
It’s not even American farmers and American workers being out of work!
It’s not even the food source, food supply, increased food prices and food production!
It’s not even the medias manipulation of facts!
If this were the case it’s possible you would have addressed these issues in a civilized manner and not resort to attacks and gutter language. You’re looking to place blame and your targets of choice continue to be President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, his administration. Pardon me, You do have a new target the media!
Your hatred of the Obamas is nothing new! … Your Obama hate rantings have just become Old, Boring and Predictable! … (Yawn)
You hate the media and anyone who has a positive opinion of the Obamas. There’re millions of us! … Get use to it!
I’M SENSING SOME FEMALE JEALOUSY! … ARE YOU SURE YOU CAN LIFT THAT "70 POUND OVERWEIGHT FOOT TO SHOVE IT WHERE THE SUN DON’T SHINE?
You’re trying to hide your hatred behind a veil of issues and the topic of a garden to attack them!
Your constant attacks are bordering on obsession! … It’s not healthy!
Kelly in Texas,
President Obama is my President and as an American I will stand in support of him ! … I refuse to speak ill of President Obama! … He has not given me any reason to! … He is our President and I will unapologetically support his decisions on behalf of America!
GOD BLESS PRESIDENT OBAMA, FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
Well L.C….you are entitled to do so.
Yes. God bless him and his family. Although, I do not believe that they put much stock in what God’s blessings can do. But God can work miracles and that means that he can help change Obama’s heart and actions. We can only hope for that.
Obama is President, but that does not give him carte blanche to do what ever he wants to with this Nation. Unfortunately, he thinks it does. He knows no limits. He is without shame or conscience. I believe that.
The decisions that he is making is not on behalf of Americans, but on behalf of his personal veiws of what he intends for America to be. He is not King. The will of the people must be heard. They are being ignored. He is doing as he pleases.
It does not please many, many, many people. I am unapologetic in my passionate defense of this country, the people and of our constitutional rights. He is not a President that I support, nor will I just allow him to use my country as his personal social experiment.
33% of American do NOT approve of his Health care plan. Over 80% want him to give back GM. He is implementing things that the American people never had a chance to vote on. Our representative NEVER EVEN GOT TO READ THE STIMILUS. It is the most radical and overtly manipulative and controlling administation in the history of this Nation.
To sit back and silently allow him to destroy our country is not what I am willing to do. There is a great movement happening now of the "Formerly Silent Majority" that is speaking out.
Refute the information. That is your best way of supporting Obama. Maybe you will help figure some things out, maybe you will see some things that you have not.
That is what this is all about.
I take it that the raisin bread is now out of the question?
Polls: ‘Strong Disapproval’ of Obama Growing
Monday, June 22, 2009 1:00 PM
By: Jim Meyers
"In the Rasmussen poll, the percentage of voters who blame George Bush for the country’s economic ills is down eight points from a month ago, to 54 percent, while 39 percent say the country’s economic problems are a result of Obama’s policies. "A growing number say it’s Obama’s economy now," Rasmussen observed. "
Other Rasmussen poll findings include:
It is not just me L.C.~
Kelly in Texas,
As always you are absolutely wrong! … I love breaking bread with others! … Sharing a meal is one of the most enjoyable things I like to do. We can sit around and even argue. This would not be anything new to me. I have friends whose views I do not share. At the end of the day whats important to me is that I love them and there is nothing I would not do for them except change my views! (Smile!) I’m going to make myself a cup of tea.
Well in that case L.C….I’ll take 2 pieces of raisin bread and with a cup of tea…please…
Then, I would like for you to refute some facts and share with me as you would if I were at your table. I on the other hand, am open to changing my views based on new information….
How in the world can anyone critcize a garden and involving children in that worthy project? The seed company catalogs say business has never been better. I have a plate of bright red tomatoes on my kitchen cabinet that I am getting ready to share with my neighbors. In turn, one of my neighbors said I should expect okra soon. I am also going to make pesto from a bumper crop of basil.
I applaud Michelle’s example, and the Queen will also probably do what so many of us delight in, waking up each morning and heading to the garden to see what happened overnight.