White House holds Ooooby Workshops

[Pete Russell]

Posted by Katherine Brandon Direct from the White House.
Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a weekly summer workshop at "The People’s Garden" on the National Mall. The "Healthy Garden" workshop series will show people how to grow a successful garden in any set-up by providing interactive demonstrations in the garden and teaching practical skills, from how to water your garden to choosing fertilizer.
"In many ways, USDA's 'People's Garden' is the nation's demonstration plot, showing how small steps can mean important gains in mitigating global warming and producing a safe, sustainable and nutritious food supply," Secretary Vilsack explained. "The garden concepts we're teaching this summer can be your contribution to providing healthy food, air, and water for people and communities across the country."

(Melwood Workers prepare the People's Garden for Earth Day celebrations at the
U. S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC on April 13 2009 - USDA)

As we’ve told you before, the First Lady has planted her own organic garden here at the White House with the help of students from Bancroft Elementary and Secretary Vilsack. The garden is thriving, and students recently returned to help harvest the produce and enjoyed a delicious, healthy meal. Community gardens are popping up across the country, and are fun ways to bring our communities together while providing healthy and affordable food. Additionally, gardens are environmentally-friendly. As Secretary Vilsack explained, planting a garden is a small step that can lead to big improvements in our communities.
For those who will be in the area, come out to the "Healthy Garden" workshop series to learn how you can start, or improve, your own garden. The workshops will be held every Friday from noon to 12:30 from June 26 to September 25. "The People’s Garden" is located at 12th Street and Jefferson Drive, at the USDA Building.

[Margaret Beers Oliver]

Welcome to the Garden of Ooooby! Would that not be wonderful. I am so happy that you are here for us.
I am hoping that this is just the start of something really big!

[James Samuel]

Thank you for continuing to find and post these gems. We knew we were on the right path with Ooooby back in December, and it seems that every day the idea gets more and more support. Human beings are truly amazing and adaptable, and driven to thrive. Perhaps this time we are going to consciously participate in our own healing and that of the planet we have taken from with such gay abandon.

I can imagine a day when we have turned our planet into a giant Ooooby garden with abundance of fresh, free and life-giving food available for all.