Vegetable Gardening at the White House

You know that it is time to plant your own vegetable garden when you hear that Michelle Obama and the students from D.C.'s Bancroft Elementary School just finished planting their early vegetable seeds last week.

The 1100 square foot vegetable kitchen garden is located on the White House south lawn in raised beds with slate plant tags and has a path winding through for easy access. Peas, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, raspberries, blueberries, carrots, tomatoes and peppers are just a few of the many vegetable and herb crops that are planted and used in the White House kitchen and donated to Miriam's Kitchen, a local soup kitchen. The garden is grown organically with edible and companion flowers planted along the path and numerous herbs. All are used in the White House kitchen to prepare meals.

White House Chef Sam Kass was inspired after a visit to Monticello to include an area devoted to Thomas Jefferson where the vegetable favorites of the third president are planted. Monticello sells a special seed collection that Jefferson grew at Monticello that includes Tennis Ball Lettuce, Prickly Seeded Spinach, Red Calico Lima Beans, Sesame, Globe Artichokes and Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage. Offered by Monticello's online store, you can order this seed mixture yourself for $18.

Another area of the garden is called 'The Three Sisters' and consists of corn, beans and squash planted together. The Native Americans used this planting scheme extensively and called the three plants 'The Three Sisters' because they grow and thrive together. The beans grow up the corn plants for support and the squash acts as a living mulch and shades the base of the plantings.

Many people are concerned with organic food choices, eating a better diet and eating locally. The Bancroft Elementary School not only plants and harvests the vegetables, but also prepares and tastes the food with the White House Chef. Lucky kids!

The garden has become a very popular tour for school kids and if you are a teacher you can tour the kitchen garden on a first-come, first-served basis by going to http://www.whitehouse.gov/ and filling out an application. The tour is free and held every Tuesday and Thursday at 11:30 a.m., weather permitting.