by J. Michael Wheeler
Before the 2008 Presidential election, Michael Pollan wrote an open letter to the (then unknown) President-Elect in the New York Times (Farmer in Chief 10.9.08). That letter opens:
The letter closes with a get your hands dirty kind of idea:
Since enhancing the prestige of farming as an occupation is critical to developing the sun-based regional agriculture we need, the White House should appoint, in addition to a White House chef, a White House farmer. This new post would be charged with implementing what could turn out to be your most symbolically resonant step in building a new American food culture. And that is this: tear out five prime south-facing acres of the White House lawn and plant in their place an organic fruit and vegetable garden.
The Obamas didn't "tear out five prime south-facing acres of the White House lawn" but they will be planting an organic vegetable garden on an 1,100-square-foot-plot. The raised beds will be fertilized with White House compost, crab meal from the Chesapeake Bay, lime and green sand. Ladybugs and praying mantises will help control harmful bugs.
The Obama garden will grow 55 varieties of vegetable that from a White House kitchen staff list. The New York Times has a map of the garden: Local Food, From the South Lawn.
"Don't eat anything that your great-great grandmother would not recognize as food."

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