White House vegetable garden: it's not organic
Associated Press photo
News flash: The White House vegetable garden isn't organic.
No kidding.
It was never meant to be.
Sam Kass, the White House chef who oversees the garden, says the staff uses only natural, not synthetic, fertilizers and pesticides. But there was never any intention to apply the strict organic standards to the garden.
“To come out and say (organic) is the one and only way, which is how this would be interpreted, doesn't make any sense,” Kass told the Associated Press during a tour of the garden.
“This is not about getting into all that. This is about kids. They've never seen what broccoli looks like or where peas come from,” Kass said.
“What's really powerful about this garden is it shows kids where food comes from,” he says. “It's captured attention around the world.”Officials from other countries call the White House to ask how it can be replicated, he said, and Michelle Obama is asked about it wherever she goes.
Categories: White House Vegetable Garden
Comments
Why isn't it organic???
I think because then the emphasis would be on "organic" and not "garden" and organic gardeners would harrass the WH over their organic methods and we'd all lose sight of the fact that this is about the vegetables. -- Susan
Posted by: Honest Organic | April 28, 2010 10:38 AM
Vegetables do not need pesticides to grow. For thousands of years, crops were grown without pesticides. If we are serious about slowing global warming then pesticides and GMO crops must not be used and we will all thrive, eat well and have beautiful bountiful gardens for change!
Posted by: Leslie Cerier | April 28, 2010 10:58 AM
A garden can be grown without pesticides, but it's good to have options. If the WH Garden gets infested with Aphids (Cabbage Aphids love Broccoli and can really make a mess of it), it's good to have the option of using a pesticide if needed. It would also be a cool thing to show kids- the aphids that is. Kids love to look at bugs!
Posted by: Jennifer Clarke | April 28, 2010 5:52 PM