If you haven’t already heard, one of the first and most important things Michelle Obama has done as first lady is to plant an organic garden on the white house grounds. This is the first white house garden since the Roosevelt’s! So what is the big deal and who cares if it’s organic? Well apparently big agriculture and the surrounding industries such as fertilizer and pesticide companies care. There was quite a big tug of war over this seemingly innocent garden before it was even started. Read more about that here. No matter what your political stance is, I think healthy organic food is something that everyone can appreciate and support. I for one am happy that Michelle-O stood her ground and went forward with the garden despite the resistance from the agriculture industry. Now Mrs. Obama will write a book about her gardening experience. This is sure to be a good read and will hopefully open up some people’s eyes about gardening, agriculture, and the food industry as a whole.
Thinking about the influence of this White House garden and book got me thinking about the current culinary state of our union. Certainly things have improved recently with raised awareness from the Food Network and movements towards organic and local foods. But overall the food and drink we consume every day in this country is pretty much an afterthought. Americans take for granted that they can eat anything they want, anytime they want, and just assume that since this is America it will all be good. In most other countries food is carefully selected, then enjoyed and appreciated as it should be. In other countries (many more than you think) people are just thankful to have any food that is available to eat for survival.
In Portland locally grown organic fruit and veggies are more common than not. Portland is the new foodie capital of the U.S. Our great farming climate and the locavore culture that supports Pacific Northwest farmers has a lot to do with that. If you don’t believe me just watch the Food Network and see how often Portland is featured. Better yet come out here yourself for a food/wine/beer tour of unbelievably good food and drink for reasonable prices.
Unfortunately some other areas of the country are slow to catch on to this grass roots trend that is also beneficial to the environment. However in my recent travels I’ve been surprised to see that many places I would not have expected are beginning to slowly embrace the benefits of farmers markets and locally produced food and goods. I suspect that in the coming years food and water will be the subject of wars as the human population continues to explode on this planet. More species and habitats will be wiped out while natural resources, food, and fresh water become scarcer. In the meantime the best that we can do on a local level for ourselves and future generations is to take an interest in local organic foods from farmers markets or start growing our own food, even if it’s in pots on the back porch.
Organic natural food is good for your health, and good for the environment. Food is after all a basic ingredient of our survival. So why should we endure eating poor tasting produce that is genetically modified, full of pesticides, and grown in bulk halfway around the country, or even the world? Instead you could pick tomatoes and other produce right from your back yard all summer long, or visit local farmers markets to get much better product than you can find at the local grocery store. If you do grow your own don’t limit yourself to veggies. Herbs, fruits, beans, grains along with many other things can easily be grown in a home garden, and other beneficial products like local honey can be bought at farmers markets.
As spring approaches we are getting ready to plant our own garden, which hasn’t been without some resistance from the ridiculous HOA in our neighborhood; but that is another looong story. Even in Portland there are some people who just don’t get how important local and home grown garden food is. Many people forget, or just don’t know that human’s mastery of agriculture is the seed that advanced civilization grew from. Sadly something as basic as agriculture can even get so big that it no longer becomes efficient, effective, or safe. Next time before you take a bite out of that Big Mac or TV Dinner, take a minute to ponder where that food’s ingredients actually came from, and what they went through before getting to your plate. If you really knew it might just make you lose your appetite.
Today’s fresh, local, and organic food and gardening movements, including Michelle-O’s white house garden, are reclaiming what the faceless greedy corporations have taken out of our food. Those things being taste, nutrition, and the knowledge of where your food actually comes from. With spring just around the corner do you have plans for your own vegetable garden this growing season? If not you might consider giving it a try. Just remember some plants can be genetically modified or have other issues, so do your research and try sticking to organic or heirloom varieties. Good luck and happy gardening!
Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, and Mint from our garden last summer
