White House Garden Bodes Well For All

By Greenhouse Grower staff|March 23, 2009

Twenty-six elementary schoolchildren helped First Lady Michelle Obama break ground on the produce and herb garden on the White House grounds late last week. Crops to be planted in the coming weeks are spinach, broccoli, lettuces, kale and collard greens, assorted herbs and blueberries, blackberries and raspberries.

Michelle Obama said her family talked about planning a garden since they moved to the White House in January.

Although vegetables will be sprouting in the White House vegetable garden, the news has generated positive national press for gardening of all kinds. One spot on NBC News last weekend highlighted home gardening and the ability to save money while doing it, and another showed Mrs. Obama breaking ground on the new veggie garden.

“Tons of consumer data tells us that most people’s first foray into gardening starts with vegetables, and then if they are successful and enjoy it, they then expand into flowers and other forms of gardening,” says Abe Van Wingerden of Metrolina Greenhouses. “This is a good trend no matter what product lines we carry. The attention on gardening as ‘resurgent hobby’ is a good thing for us all.