Expansion of local gardening efforts

Snap peas in the backyard garden

Did you know that in 1943 the United States had 20 million gardens that produced 8 million tons of food?  Up to 41 percent of all the vegetables consumed in the nation were produced in these Victory Gardens.  (City Bountiful: A century of community gardening in America, Laura Lawson).

With the nation's dependence upon oil, vast dependence upon corporate farming and unhealthy diets, I would vote that we reenact the Victory Garden movement.  There are indications that this movement has already begun.  Certainly First Lady Michelle Obama has been a great example, planting a vegetable garden in 2009 at the White House.  She has recently written a book "American Grown" that tells the stories of the White House garden among others.

I'm excited to be going to three days of workshops starting today on "The Business of Food".  Photos and stories sure to come in the days ahead.

Pictures from our vegetable garden.

Backyard garden

Raised bed gardens
(new this year)

Let's Move turns two!

First Lady Michelle Obama's national "Let's Move!" campaign to enhance the health of our nation celebrated its second anniversary this week.  The primary emphasis has been on encouraging healthy eating and physical activity among our nation's  young people.  It was surprising and encouraging to see that the US Defense Department is also getting on board.  They are updating their nutritional standards to add more fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products with every meal.  Isn't it great when adults lead by example, and not the old standby "do as I say, not as I do".  

I'll never forget watching the Minneapolis Police band play a concert at Lake Harriet.  Based on their portly appearance it appeared that most of them had desk jobs and were not either eating or exercising properly.  Sadly, a pretty fair representation of the general public.  It is amazing to witness a Center for Disease Control and Prevention chart that shows the changing obesity (BMI > 30) rates among the states since 1985.  We've gone from a nation where NONE of the states had rates of obesity over 20 percent to our current status where ALL of the state obesity rates are 20 percent or above, with many over 30 percent.  Fully 34 percent of the adults in Mississippi are obese.  This has staggering implications for quality of life, health care and worker productivity.

So, hat's off to the First Lady in her efforts to improve the health of our nation.  Let's move!