Harvesting at the White House Kitchen Garden
Talk about your summer picnic.
Three dozen fifth-graders from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington had a picnic with First Lady Michelle Obama Tuesday.
But they had to work for it.
Before sitting down to salad, brown rice and baked chicken in the First Lady's flower garden, they had to put in some time in the First Lady's vegetable garden.
Working along side the First Lady and White House chef Sam Kass - and under a threatening sky - the school children cut lettuce and harvested snap peas - eating some right off the vine at Mrs. Obama's urging.
This is the same garden the school children and the First Lady planted in April and the abundance was impressive. Kass said the White House kitchen has harvested more than 90 pounds of produce already.
A handful of the students then followed the First Lady into the White House kitchen, where they shelled peas and prepared the boneless, skinless chicken breasts for baking by dredging them in flour and bread crumbs.
"It's the new fried chicken," said Kass.
Meanwhile, the rest of the children prepared the salad and dressing and decorated cupcakes with fresh fruit on damask-covered tables set up in the First Lady's garden.
The students then listened -- along with the gathered press corps -- to Mrs. Obama speak about health care and the importance of diet in maintaining good health before the press corps was shooed away and Mrs. Obama and the kids got down to eating and chatting.
You can view a photo gallery of today's White House harvest here.
Check back later tonight and tomorrow for more details.
Photo: Associated Press
Categories: White House Kitchen Garden
Comments
Thank First Lady Michelle Obama for planting such an incredible, inspiring garden.
Posted by: Daniel Bowman Simon | June 16, 2009 6:15 PM
I have had some opportunity to work with schoolchildren creating gardens and this has been one of the most rewarding experience of my life. Children need to be learning from Nature and be spending time in Nature. A garden is the perfect outdoor classroom. This is the way to inspire our children to want to learn, and to be lifelong learners.
Posted by: donna schindler | June 16, 2009 6:47 PM
We are starting to eat out of our garden now as well. What a fantastic role model for the entire country - to grow and share healthy food. I'm sure the chefs in the White House Kitchen appreciate the abundance of truly fresh food and herbs as well. Michelle, you are the best!
Posted by: Grace McConnell | June 16, 2009 6:48 PM
Wow, 90 pounds of produce already!? If only every american, or at least 50% of the population would do this, we would be saving the enviornment, and dealing with our own economic problems at the same time. GO MICHELLE
Posted by: Alexander Soltes | June 16, 2009 7:02 PM
Love it! FINALLY we have an actually elected President whose family has an IQ greater than 70!
Posted by: Fredric L. Rice | June 16, 2009 7:05 PM
My family was inspired by the First Lady back in April and took up the whole lawn, front and back to plant an organic garden.
We have enjoyed, so far, about a hundred pounds of Japanese eggplant, okra, collard greens, all sorts of heirloom tomatoes, rainbow peppers, hot peppers and baby lettuces.
We are looking forward to the sugar baby watermelons that are on the vine, the summer squash and the cucumbers which are just flowering. The second batch of tomatoes are also flowering as is the second planting of heirloom lettuces, peppers and eggplants.
Thanks to the First Lady's excellent example our family is really enjoying gardening together and also eating more healthfully as a result.
At the end of the summer, we are planning to put in perennials such as strawberries and blueberries for next year's harvest.
Posted by: Renee Kohn | June 16, 2009 7:06 PM
I thought this was a very sweet get down to earth thing to do, however I must say I was saddened by what appeared to be Styrofoam cups in the pictures.
If we are going to teach our children about health, we also need to teach them about the health of our planet, as the two are intrinsically linked.
Posted by: Lilia | June 16, 2009 7:09 PM
ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL and POSITIVE.
Posted by: Paula Smith | June 16, 2009 7:18 PM
Wonderful. Gardens are a great way to help your budget, and everything tastes better when it is from your own garden. Thank you for the wonderful post.
Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"
Posted by: Dan and Deanna | June 17, 2009 12:49 AM
Wow, Renee Kohn, you must be further south than Baltimore, for your heirloom tomatoes to be coming in already. Mine have flowers.
Posted by: Eve | June 17, 2009 10:38 AM
I've been gardening for years and I live in the Baltimore area but how did The White House get mature veggies in 60 days?
I know beans/peas grow quickly but full heads of lettuce too? I only have a few "baby" tomatoes and peppers at this point that won't be ready to harvest until mid-late July.
Posted by: Norm | June 17, 2009 2:40 PM
I love that the spring planting has resulted in a wonderful harvest. It's great to see great ideas planted and the tangible results. Thank you Mrs. Obama for setting a wonderful example.
Posted by: Sheryl Tate | June 17, 2009 4:08 PM