Bringing the Urban Garden to the White House
By Vanessa Richins
A campaign called “Eat the View” wants President-Elect Barack Obama to bring horticultural changes to the White House.
As they explain on their website, “Eat the View” is a campaign to urge President-elect Obama to replant a large organic victory garden on the First Lawn with the produce going to the White House kitchen and to local food pantries.”
They will present Obama with heirloom seeds and a petition about the victory garden.
If you are interested in helping, here are some of the ways they suggest joining the effort:
1. Start in your own community. Find a place nearby and start an edible garden.
2. Sign the petition on their website.
3. Participate in their virtual sale of the White House lawn. For $10, one can “buy” a 1 square foot section of the White House lawn. The money will really go towards creating a new food garden in 2009.
4. Go to the website ondayone.org and cast your vote for the creation of the new White House victory garden.
5. Become a member of the Eat the View campaign. Inspire others by letting the world know how you are creating edible landscapes in your community.
6. If you are a member of Facebook, join their group and tell your friends.
7. Suggest ideas of what they should grow on this wiki page.
I think this is a wonderful idea. If I am being honest, I think big huge lawns are a wasted opportunity. As a nation, we need to become more self reliant again. We can eat more frugally and healthier if we grow our own food as much as possible. A victory garden at the White House would help inspire so many people.
I’m off to sign up on Facebook and their website – will you join me?
