Kitchen Gardeners International: March 2008 Newsletter
Dear Kitchen Gardener,
Something is in the air these days and it's not just the musky, muddy smell of a Maine spring.
I don't know what your senses are picking up, but I'm smelling the fragrant aroma of possibility. Possibility not just for our own gardens, but for gardening in general. A variety of forces - economic, social, culinary, environmental - are gathering and encouraging a new generation of eaters to get closer to and more involved with their food.
I don't want to overstate it; we're not talking about a full-blown home gardening revolution, at least not yet. Industrially-grown foods from afar are still the norm for most people in wealthy countries. We are, however, seeing the first signs of a home-grown rebellion and - with oil hitting $110/barrell last week- it's not a moment too soon.
I've been working hard this past month to spur the kitchen gardening movement along and want to encourage you to get more involved, both in KGI's community and in your own. In the months and weeks ahead, I'm going to ask you to do different things. For now, though, I'm going to ask you to do just one.
We're 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 the Americans on our mailing list know all 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 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 270 more votes to put this idea in the top spot!
While you're there, check out and vote for some of the other bright ideas being proposed for the next President and consider adding one of your own.
Thanks for your ongoing interest in and support for our work,
Posted by KGI on March 21, 2008 8:27 AM to Kitchen Gardeners International
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