Michelle Obama Breaks Ground
EmailABC NEWS’ Yunji de Nies Reports:
First lady Michelle Obama ushered in the first day of spring with a groundbreaking on the South Lawn of the White House. The Obamas plan to grow their own organic vegetables, berries and herbs.
Obama has said that the entire family, including the president, will pull weeds – though given the garden’s proximity to the street-side gate on the South Lawn where tourists often pose for pictures, it’s hard to envision the president doing any heavy lifting on site. The White House kitchen and grounds staff will be doing most of the work.
Twenty local elementary schoolchildren joined the first lady digging and plowing the grounds. They will return for planting and harvests later in the year. Obama said she wants to use the garden to nourish her family and as a teaching tool for kids around the country.
“I want to make sure that our family, as well as the staff and all the people who come to the White House and eat our food, get access to really fresh vegetables and fruits,” she said.
Click here to see a layout of the new White House garden.
The first lady also supports a healthier diet. She said fresh, locally grown vegetables simply taste better.
“What I found with my girls, who are 10 and 7, is that they like vegetables more if they taste good,” she said.
Obama’s garden, which she calls, “the White House Kitchen Garden,” is not the first on the White House grounds. Eleanor Roosevelt’s vegetable plot inspired as many as 20 million victory gardens during World War II. Toward the end of the war, nearly 40-percent of the country’s fresh produce was home grown.
Author Michael Pollan believes America needs to return to growing its own produce. He cited a recent National Gardening Association study that revealed a $70 investment can yield $600 in fruits and vegetables.
“The idea of a victory garden, especially in a time of economic crisis, makes a whole lot of sense,” he said. “In hard times, everybody talks about how expensive fresh produce is and how expensive it is to go to the farmers’ market. Well, food you grow yourself is about as cheap as any food you can get.”
Watch our report on "World News":
And tune in to “Good Morning America Weekend Edition” on Saturday for more on this story.
-Yunji de Nies
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LOL. This is real helpful, while credit unions start to go bad and the debt explodes. From your SHACK you can grow a garden. Real helpful.
This is getting to be SICK.
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 9:57 pm 9:57 pm
Is the Obama White house saying to stuff the money in our mattresses, get the ammo, and grow our own veges?
So, it’s worse than we thought, eh? I suspected as much.
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
um yeah jake, check it out, government took over two major credit unions today, the ones that provide services to the 8000 credit unions in the United States.
All CUs will have to pitch in to make up the money.
Maybe you should be informing people about THAT.
credit unions HAD the exotic derivatives TOO
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 10:01 pm 10:01 pm
U.S. regulators seized control on Friday of U.S. Central Federal Credit Union, a huge wholesale credit union with about $34 billion in assets that provides services to nearly every other credit union.
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) also took control of Western Corporate (WesCorp) Federal Credit Union with $23 billion in assets.
Both institutions had an “unacceptably high concentration of risk” the regulator said.
The action shone the spotlight on another segment of the creaking U.S. banking system and came as regulators seized another three small banks, bringing the total to 20 so far this year.
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
Given what Barack Obummer is doing to our economy, and the reality of unavoidable coming inflation, everyone should be starting a “depression” garden.
Posted by: Neville | March 20, 2009, 10:07 pm 10:07 pm
Hmmmmm. First you need land. Will obummer be supplying THAT? or will he make fun of apartment dwellers and the homeless and others who don’t have land and/or the ability to garden: or the time?
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 10:10 pm 10:10 pm
20 acres and a mule?
Posted by: RR GOP | March 20, 2009, 10:23 pm 10:23 pm
20 acres and a mule?
LOL
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm
This is setting a great example of family values. It is a sign that a family with children is living in the white house again. From the size of this garden, Michelle must be planning on lots of help from other family members.
More people should plant gardens. There is always plenty of wildlife to see in a garden; from butterflies to dragonflies and hummingbirds. There is nothing better than fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach or chard. Leave some room for some cantaloupe and summer crook neck also. My family members have planted a garden every year since WWII. There is nothing more All-American than planting a Victory Garden.
Approximately a third of the automobile pollution in this country is attributable to growing, preparing and transporting food to the kitchen table. It looks to me like if more people planted a garden and became a little more self-sufficient (the American Ideal), that this would be a great benefit to air our quality and save millions of barrels of oil each year. It is also very healthy to get exercise and sunshine while working in your garden and to eat the fresh fruits of your efforts. From the overweight appearance of many in America, we could all learn to live healthier lives.
Posted by: redrockraven | March 20, 2009, 10:35 pm 10:35 pm
An intelligent woman working with our children to encourage them and others to eat healthy and yet people still find fault in this teachable moment….pitiful, pitful complainers…
Posted by: libby | March 20, 2009, 10:39 pm 10:39 pm
I like this idea to grow my own tomatos and cucambers and potatos. If Michelle Obama can grow vegetables, I think I can do it to. I live in Apartment, but I can buy a few acres in Alaska, or in Arizona, And plant some vegetables, a few fruit trees, and grow a few chickens also.And maybe a few turkeys.
Posted by: Jim | March 20, 2009, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm
20 acres and a mule?
Posted by: Mildred | March 20, 2009, 10:54 pm 10:54 pm
What did the Obamas grow in their Chicago garden?
Posted by: mad | March 20, 2009, 10:57 pm 10:57 pm
They are digging up the white house lawn. It’s insane.
And I used to be a Dem. No more.
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 11:01 pm 11:01 pm
20 acres and a mule?
Posted by: RR GOP | Mar 20, 2009 10:23:20 PM
================================
Ditto,,,,,ditto
Posted by: Mildred | March 20, 2009, 11:01 pm 11:01 pm
Jim, yeah buy a few acres in Alaska and grow some turkeys. Sure is inspiring, eh?
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 11:02 pm 11:02 pm
the raaaaaaaacism thing is not going to work any more
lol
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
Michelle is doing much better than her husband. She can talk without a teleprompter, she has uses her platform for something that all Americans can identify , and she is not angry anymore.
Lets give her credit when credit is due and I did not vote for her husband.
Posted by: nancy | March 20, 2009, 11:10 pm 11:10 pm
I agree about Mechelle generally, but the garden is silly. Most people are too busy trying to keep things together and have no time or resources to garden. Seriously. It’s 2009. Organic gardens will not save the world.
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 11:11 pm 11:11 pm
I’m just surprised ABC didn’t take down my comment.
I guess if someone else responds they leave it up or else the thread won’t make sense.
Still thinking of changing my handle to “OBAMA ROCKS” or something so that I can exercise my freedom of speech around here…consistently.
Dr. Goebbels would be impressed around this place.
Posted by: RR GOP | March 20, 2009, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm
I think Michelle is having a crisis of “domesticity.” Hence the garden. She doesn’t want to be in Washington. She doesn’t like what is going on around her. She may have woken up.
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm
al:”the garden is silly. Most people are too busy trying to keep things together and have no time or resources to garden.”
A half dozen pots with no weeding is enough to give you a nice selection of herbs. Gardening is easier than you think if you give it a try and don’t fall prey to the Nirvana (choosing to do nothing that is not 100% perfect). Note the 10 most common herbs you use in cooking, I bet you can grow at least 3 of them. For me, it was basil, parsley and oregano – would have been cilantro too, but the wife hates the stuff. Also have some chives, sage and rosemary that grow like weeds outside now their established (in NY, so we do get a fair winter).
Posted by: jhw539 | March 20, 2009, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm
This is great news. Take care of mother earth and there are many returns. I am so happy there will be a productive kitchen garden there again on the grounds. There used to be greenhouses there many years ago as well. Yes! Happy gardening.
Posted by: Candylei | March 20, 2009, 11:23 pm 11:23 pm
ooooo yes a little gardening will take care of a global economic meltdown, while obama and timmy fiddle…..
it must be nice that you have so few worries and have time to piddle around in a garden.
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 11:28 pm 11:28 pm
productive kitchen: the obamas turning the fountains at the white house green on st. patricks day and hosting conga line celebrations every wednesday.
lol
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
$100 a portion beef for dinner
lol, yeah those tomatoes…michelle really will be cooking them in the white house kitchen
get real….
Posted by: al | March 20, 2009, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm
Maybe Rahmbo just wants to get him and Michelle out of the House a few hours a day so he can run things?
Posted by: RR GOP | March 20, 2009, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm
Who is paying for this? I am.
Posted by: sec | March 20, 2009, 11:41 pm 11:41 pm
I think I by a few acres in Arizona, and do my vegetable gardening. I think it would be to cold in Alaska for vegetables chickens , turkyes, and for me to
Posted by: Jim | March 20, 2009, 11:53 pm 11:53 pm
Let’s guess, shall we, who will WEED the garden? Because it sure as heck won’t be Michelle. She’ll farm it out, so to speak. And she may say it will be the girls, but let’s face it, it won’t.
And if a garden is such a great idea, let’s revisit the one they had in Chicago!?! Oh that’s right. They didn’t have one there. They did have a private chef, though!
Posted by: liz | March 21, 2009, 12:05 am 12:05 am
It’s probably all marketing. Rahm probably thought it was a coolo idea/image.
Posted by: al | March 21, 2009, 12:06 am 12:06 am
Well she’d better enjoy it while she can, or be very certain to have no surplus that she might like to give away (or sell).
Otherwise, if the current congress passes H.R. 875 she’ll be in violation of the law as a “food production facility” for not testing her produce for all possible hazards; and could face fines of up to $1,000,000 per violation per day if she is found non-compliant.
It was a good idea, right until the Government got involved to crush everyone’s dreams and aspirations… again.
Posted by: Gekkobear | March 21, 2009, 12:31 am 12:31 am
I think her dress is too nice for gardening.
Does she really do gardening in Chicago???
Posted by: cilla | March 21, 2009, 12:45 am 12:45 am
Doesn’t this sound like Jimmy Carter telling us to put on a sweater…give me a break.
Wasn’t she too good to be seen with mere mortals?
Posted by: haunyocker | March 21, 2009, 12:53 am 12:53 am
The garden will be well-fertilized,
daily, by the B.S. pouring out of the
daily press confernces. You voted for
it……..you own it!
Posted by: Trajan | March 21, 2009, 1:14 am 1:14 am
I suppose the White House people will claim it was their idea for Americans to start gardens. Never mind we’ve all been buying up seeds and planting gardens because of the genetically modified seeds and the crap the politicians dish out and call it “legislation”.
I wonder if Murtha, Chambliss, Kingston, Isakson, Perdue, and Marshall are going to help fertilize the garden with the crap they dish out.
Posted by: SharkGirl | March 21, 2009, 1:34 am 1:34 am
There is NOTHING Michelle Obama can do to convince me that she can relate to the American women. Dressing her kids in clothes that cost more than I make in ONE MONTH!
Posted by: SharkGirl | March 21, 2009, 1:36 am 1:36 am
No matter what the Obamas do people have to knock it down. Teaching our kids about healthy foods and getting them excited by growing things with there own two hands, for shame this woman! You people who use living in an Apt. as an excuse to criticize never looked up a “community garden” in your neighborhood. Also, for those of you lucky enough to still live in your house, I’m sure there is a patch of dirt you can use to plant something, but then you wouldnt’ have time to complain or put anyone down. It’s a good thing she is doing and it’s a chance to spend quality time with your kids.
Posted by: Rhonda | March 21, 2009, 2:20 am 2:20 am
These will be the most expensive veggies around with the paid White House staff and Secret Service guys watching Michelle pulling the weeds and harvesting the goodies. More PR stuff.
Posted by: Martin | March 21, 2009, 2:32 am 2:32 am
Actually Michelle looks good in vege colored dresses. Maybe she can spin yer own cloth and sew up some outfits too! Yeah!
Posted by: al | March 21, 2009, 2:44 am 2:44 am
This news will have Americans growing gardens again more then ever and eating health and saving money.
If only we can grow a small garden in the kitchen for everyone living in the city.
Posted by: Health Living | March 21, 2009, 3:53 am 3:53 am
Kudos to Mrs. Obama!!!!
You can grow your herbs and vegetables in a pot/container whether you live in a apartment or house!!!!
Imagination people!!!!!
Posted by: sisterdearest09 | March 21, 2009, 4:09 am 4:09 am
Folks! Eat Well Stay Well! especially what you grow yourself. It is free of chemicals!
Posted by: Rosie | March 21, 2009, 5:36 am 5:36 am
I think a organic garden is a great idea. However, she needs to dress down. The kids are all wearing worn jeans and she’s wearing a black mini skirt, black leggings and black shiny boots. you’d think she’s going to a funeral. She needs to go to walmart and buy some jeans.
Posted by: tom | March 21, 2009, 5:39 am 5:39 am
The Obamas are elitists to have grown this garden. Please eat McDonald food like the middle class America, so that awareness for healthy food can be achieved, from the bottom up, not the top down.
Posted by: young_voter | March 21, 2009, 6:47 am 6:47 am
It is nice to have a garden in our own backyard. Not The White House. It is just a waste of our taxpayer’s money when we have the problem with the economy. We have already waste our tax money for using the water fountain turn green at the White House on St. Patrick’s Day. What’s a waste!
Posted by: anonymous | March 21, 2009, 7:14 am 7:14 am
Martha Washington commented that the best thing about America was the quality of the vegetables.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | March 21, 2009, 7:22 am 7:22 am
Jake loves twitter more because of what the comments section on his blogs have become.
I agree. Ask smart questions and don’t be stupid.
“My question to Jake is will you, all White House reporters and Gibbs be eating salads from this garden?”
Take that Twitter.com There is more to life then 144 characters!!!
Posted by: Yeil | March 21, 2009, 8:06 am 8:06 am
Has Michelle Obama ever grown a garden before this adventure in organic public relations?
Posted by: Sally J | March 21, 2009, 9:01 am 9:01 am
Who wears that to garden?
Posted by: Plumber | March 21, 2009, 9:38 am 9:38 am
If she wants to cook tomatoes in the WH kitchen; why didn’t she buy an upside down tomato grower from tv….would have cost the taxpayers a lot less.
This is just more silly …… stuff and good photo ops.
Posted by: Mildred | March 21, 2009, 10:47 am 10:47 am
Sharkgirl, exactly what are these clothes worn by the Obama girls that cost more than you make in one month?
And why is a vegetable garden such a big deal? My relatives have had such gardens, I know plenty of people who do. Judging by the vituperative remarks about this garden, you’d think the Obamas were installing a gold-lined personal swimming pool, with diamond-studded cabanas equipped with Pratesi towels and furnished in Louis Quinze. Get a grip, people.
Posted by: Eleonora27 | March 21, 2009, 11:40 am 11:40 am
Nobody, and I mean nobody gardens in a dress like that. Setting an example? Puhleeze! Maybe to a blinded idiot that swoons over everything the obama’s do.
Couple of things. First, who will water and weed this garden? Michelle – not likely. I bet more to the order of the whitehouse grounds keepers, who are paid with my money. Second, who will cook these veggies? Michelle – HA!
Posted by: Kate | March 21, 2009, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm
Haters. Don’t forget who put us in this mess.
Posted by: Viv | March 21, 2009, 2:41 pm 2:41 pm
Haters. Don’t forget who put us in this mess.
Posted by: Viv | Mar 21, 2009 2:41:59 PM
======================================
Voters, don’t forget who buried us!!!
Posted by: Mildred | March 21, 2009, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm
Viv…if you voted for obama then I blame you!
Posted by: American Infidel | March 21, 2009, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
I think there is nothing wrong with home gardening, and it is realy a great thing our first lady Michell Obama is promoting here, and I dont care how she dresses. And soon I may have to look for a job also, but I dont think I will be going to any job fairs, I like to think outside of the box.I think i will buy a few acres in Arizona, if they still have some vacant land left there, and grow my own vegetables, chickens , turkeys etc, and open a road side vegetable stand, and sell home grown, organic vagetables. And I think Michelle is the greatest first lady we ever had.
Posted by: Jim | March 21, 2009, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
I think there is nothing wrong with home gardening, and it is realy a great thing our first lady Michell Obama is promoting here, and I dont care how she dresses. And soon I may have to look for a job also, but I dont think I will be going to any job fairs, I like to think outside of the box.I think i will buy a few acres in Arizona, if they still have some vacant land left there, and grow my own vegetables, chickens , turkeys etc, and open a road side vegetable stand, and sell home grown, organic vagetables. And I think Michelle is the greatest first lady we ever had.
Posted by: Jim | Mar 21, 2009 5:04:09 PM
====================================
Contact Michelle, she will probably give you a job weeding her garden. They are so generous and kind to the folks that are down on their luck. Give her atry…she is so special.
Posted by: Mildred | March 21, 2009, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
The issue of gardening at home is an important one. Just as home gardens during the World Wars freed up oil supplies, so would gardening at home. The amount of energy spent transporting food to our local stores is huge. As an example, the other day I picked up a package of frozen pea pods from China. Now how ridiculous is that. A vegetable our country can grow, being shipped all the way around the world.
Another way growing at home saves oil is if your garden is organic. Many garden and lawn fertilizers are made from oil products. Switching to organic fertilizers, or your own homemade compost is healthier for our planet and the environment, as well as saving oil. The less oil we use ensures that oil prices will stay low.
As for lawn and garden pesticides there are studies that show an increase in children’s leukemia rates if they are exposed to these very strong chemicals. The recent die-off of bees is felt by some scientists to be related to a new type of pesticide.
And organic produce tastes much better!
If you can’t grow a garden, try to shop at a local farmer’s market often this summer. You’ll meet some wonderful local people and buy really fresh produce.
Posted by: Lydia | March 21, 2009, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
Like everything else Ms. Odrama has done, it won’t last.
Posted by: jeff | March 21, 2009, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
Michelle Obama makes too much sense. She’s a centsible woman and she’s raising the Obama girls right. She’s 100% correct about the veggies tasting better when they are organic and fresh. There’s nothing better than home growns! Nothing!
Posted by: Common Sense | March 21, 2009, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
With the coming inflation that will make EVERYTHING cost more, everyone should plant a garden.
My “victory” garden is dedicated to the retaking control of Congress by the Republicans in 2010.
Posted by: Neville | March 21, 2009, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
Those of us who were children during the WW II years learned the importance of having a victory garden and a compost pile to enrich the soil. We raised chickens and turkeys. too. These practices continued even after the war. Canning season began just when the fruits and vegetables were at their peak; the Mason jars filled with our canned foods put food on the table through the winter months and into spring. We had a sense of responsibility, of pride. We got good grades in school, too, and grew up to be self-sufficient, yet neighborly… The White House garden honors our past, and shares it with the present generation of children. Hope…
Posted by: L.Gray | March 21, 2009, 11:48 pm 11:48 pm
Maybe tomorrow she will teach those kids how to knit their own sweaters.
Oh,,don’t forget to use an organic cotton also!
Posted by: cilla | March 22, 2009, 1:00 am 1:00 am
Raising your own fruits and vegetables is a fantastic idea. America was built on farming. Unfortunately, it was the slaves that tendered most of the fields.
Michelle go forth with much vigor. We have to begin somewhere and home grown food is a great start and the possibilities of what can stem from this are endless. At least we will know what we are eating. A lot of health problems for some should diminish if they grow and eat their own home grown foods.
Reading some of the posted comments really grieves me. Republicans got us in this mess. Trickled down economics have never worked and never will. Yet there are arrogant people among us making all sorts of negative comments.
People are losing their homes, their jobs, many have no food to eat. You would think for once, conditions like this would soften their hearts.
America will never rise to the height that it can be. Why? Hatred and racism is alive and well.
Posted by: Julia Preston | March 22, 2009, 7:27 am 7:27 am
Michelle Obama is a great first lady! It is spring now and this story is a great way to start spring!
Posted by: Casey | March 22, 2009, 9:15 am 9:15 am
This is a very good thing, what Michelle is doing, but she is not the first with the idea. Sarah Palin hunt her own organic wild food, and cook it herself, and The fresh fish that her husband caches and bring home from the clean waters of Alaska. And millions of Americans hunt and fish they’r own organic fresh foods. I dont know if Obama go out in the woods for wild foods, or if he fish in the wilds, but I think Michelle is just trying to imitate Sarah Palin. And I think Sarah Palin is number one in every way.
Posted by: Sam | March 22, 2009, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
…a recent National Gardening Association study that revealed a $70 investment can yield $600 in fruits and vegetables.
————————————–
Most of that $600 in fruits and vegetables will bear at the same time and cannot be consumed by the average family. One must can and/or freeze in order to utilize all of the produce or it lies in waste in the garden.
Some items, like lettuce, are not conducive to preservation.
Posted by: mad | March 22, 2009, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
Sharkgirl, I am tired of people making claims that they cannot support with solid evidence.
So: I want to know EXACTLY what clothes Michelle Obama has purchased for her children that cost more than your monthly salary. Do you mean J. Crew clothes? I shop at J. Crew, which is a mid-priced chain. The last adult item I bought there was a merino wool sweater that cost $78. The last children’s item I bought was a dress that cost $59.
Those prices are not high. So: what’s your problem?
Posted by: Eleonora27 | March 22, 2009, 7:25 pm 7:25 pm
Michelle is just as corrupt as BO.
Posted by: Carrie | March 22, 2009, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
I just can not figure this out. No matter what the Obama’s do, everyone has something to say about it. Michelle is trying to teach our youth of today that there is another way to eat healthy. It does not matter what has been said by the Obama’s, there is some smart@## out there trying to bring them down. Get over the color issue people, let it go. This is 2009. I guess if Sarah Palin had put a garden on the White House lawn, everything would have been just great. This is one tremendous thing that our youth of today DO NOT have is someone to show them some care and concern. That is what is wrong with our education system. Ignorant parents who can not let the past go.
Posted by: UNCTarheels | March 23, 2009, 12:18 am 12:18 am
I was very skeptical of Michelle Obama..I guess I will have to say that she is the best of the bunch – a rose amongst thorns.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | March 23, 2009, 7:08 am 7:08 am
The Prez has said that 30% of the
White House garden will go to growing
tobacco. After all, he’s just waiting
to be caught in a cigarette moment
by the press…….and he taxes
tobacco wayyyyyyyyyyyy to much. “Tote
dat barge, lif’ dat bale…”
Posted by: Trajan | March 24, 2009, 10:40 pm 10:40 pm
I think what Ms. Obama is doing is just excellent. She’s doing her best in trying to help, and thats what matters. All I have to say about the situation is, You go ahead and do your thing Michelle!
Posted by: Amanda | April 6, 2009, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm