Posted on 04/10/2009 2:49:34 PM PDT by lewisglad
First Lady Michelle Obama, the knees of her cropped black slacks covered in dirt, planted herb seedlings and carrots in her new White House Kitchen Garden Thursday, telling local schoolchildren enlisted to help that fresh veggies are "brain food."
Making the point that homegrown is a cheap way for families to eat healthily, the First Lady asked the kids: "How much do you think it costs to do this garden?"
"Over $100,000," guessed a boy.
Laughing, Mrs. Obama replied, "My husband would go crazy if he thought we were spending that kind of money! ... It's between $100 and $200. So it's not a lot of money. And this garden can not only feed my family, but it's going to feed all the staff at the White House. We're going to serve it at some State Dinners."
Mrs. Obama said the top question she got from world leaders on her recent trip to Europe with the president was about the garden. "From Prince Charles on down, they were excited we were planting this."
As for another pressing question back home – when they'll need to worry about putting chicken wire around the garden to keep out a frolicking First Dog – Mrs. Obama said only, "Soon, soon!"
I actually like teaching schoolkids how to plant. Maybe these kids have a tiny patch of land at home or room for a pot to grow herbs or a tomato plant in. Sure, for Michelle it was a photo op, but teaching kids to grow veggies is a good thing.
Gee Golly willikers I never thought of planting a garden before. BTW whens the last frost in DC? Also thats a lot of money for plants for such a small plot....LMAO
I wonder if anyone had the smarts to do a lead test on the garden soil?
Is it just me? I don’t think this is cute. I think it’s kind of redneck. What’s next? Hanging their laundry on a clothesline in front of the White House?
Goodness, just like Michelle, I always make sure my false eyelashes & makeup are perfect before I got out in the garden to dig./s
Y’all quit kvetching. She looks lovely.
What the problem is that they would never ever have done something like this on Laura Bush who was an ardent gardener.
*********************
I think you're right.
Most people plant seeds, not half grown plants.
I’ll bet she’s planting little acorn(s).
The problem is that this is all for show.
She kinda got her Aunt Esther look on, don’t she?
What is your problem? There’s a lot to complain about the Obama’s but planting a vegetable garden???????
When I grew up in the suburbs of NY in the 1970s, 90% of our neighbors grew their own vegetables. Now when I go back to visit my parents, I don’t see any gardens at all. How could Americans have become so lazy in one generation?
I applaud Michelle for setting this example.
I was thinking the same thing.. there will be Union gardners keeping the garden up. and it will cost that much.. Already cost a couple of grand to bus all those kids two times to the holy land of crops, and looks like with the picnic table they fed them,, or got food bags from the school free lunches.. hehe..
Yes, but in her case, the Taxpayer covers the cost of the inspections.
Resembles *the Color Purple* where is Oprah in that staged picture? I know,behind the scene scraping the bottoms of Michelle’s hooves.
My problem is gratuitous photo ops by intellectually dishonest pols.
What's your problem?
Perfect! ROFL!
****************
Exactly. Other than a followup photo op, MO will probably never set foot in this garden again.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.