Everyone wants food reform. Parents want better school lunches. Consumer groups call to improve food-safety regulations. The Humane Society wants kinder policies towards animals. And a high-profile White House chef who cooks "delicious, local food" would be great! (Thanks Gourmet editor.)
But one person's reform is another person's tax dollar, and there aren't enough dollars to go around. As if there ever were. Even once decided, improved food policies could take years to implement.
If policy changes take years and tax dollars are tight, Ruth Reichl, the Gourmet editor, could be onto something. After all in like 2004, I read about the back-to-basics cocktail trend in Gourmet, and look where we are now! To see how Obama's personal changes could affect the way we eat, read more.
A garden in front of the White House — like a Maine-based campaign is already promoting — would be a visible commitment to eating locally. And even if a White House chef who cooked with garden ingredients only created buzz among foodies initially, it would accelerate the know-where-it-came-from movement further into the mainstream.
"It's like the hat manufacturers being furious because JFK didn't wear a hat, and suddenly everyone in America stopped wearing hats," Reichl said. "It's that simple."
Maybe it's not that simple, but could it be a simple start?
Milly
Cultbeauty
Halston
I think any way that the White House can set a good example would help, at least a little, in the long run. And how awesome would it be to have a White House kitchen garden?
1That is one silly-ass picture of Obama.
If Obama wants to have a white house garden that would be cool. If he inspires others to do the same then that would be good as well!
But backyard gardening isn't possible for a ton of people and if you are going to do it organically it can also be a lot of work.
This isn't quite so simple as stopping wearing a hat.
2I'm with Jude, a kitchen garden would be great - Washington and Jefferson definitely would approve.
3C'mon Pop - I garden in pots on the balcony, it's not that hard and the tomatoes are miraculous!
4I imagine they could get plenty of staff to do the work in the garden if they decided on a large one. Obama should totally consider this!
5I love the painting behind Obama.
I say they should do the kitchen garden, but they should really see what they can do about making the White House more enviromently friendly.
6I just noticed that painting, looks like a young him. I like the fancy goblet and the tobasco sauce.
7I loooooove the garden idea. My parents and their neighbors have a community garden and it works great. Everyone helps out, and the veggies are really yummy.
8I was thinking: the Botanic Gardens, the Department of Agriculture and even the gardens at Mount Vernon and Monticello are close enough that a White House kitchen garden could be amazing - and an incredible teaching opportunity.
9Herbs and tomatoes are one thing but most people aren't going to have the expertise and/or resources to do the kind of gardening that I'm sure would happen at the White House. I'm not saying it's a bad thing. I don't think bad things will come of it. But I also still think it's not a trend that's as simple to follow as headwear.
10It would still be a start. Nothing is better than homegrown tomatoes. Yum! And I prefer my home grown herbs to store bought herbs. pop is right... most people won't have the resources to do the type of gardening the White House would do, but still... "One small step for man..." and all that.
11And I don't blame parents for wanting better food in school. The food was AWFUL when I was in school. Greasy, nasty, oily bricks of food. The only stuff that tasted good was pizza day... cause that's healthy.
12I'm only saying this because I'm in the process of designing my new back yard and I am planning on a food-only garden with lots of fruits, veggies and herbs. But I want to do it organically as well. I'm smack in the middle of a 600 page book on organic backyard gardens and I'm totally overwhelmed by everything that I need to know to do it *right*.
I think backyard gardens are awesome. And to the extent that others can get inspired and do their part, the more power to them.
13Ahh Pop - yes it is tougher than a hat, and I envy you.
14Don't get too overwhelmed by the book though, fanatics of any kind take the pleasure out of anything. I used to love watching Eliot Coleman's gardening show - year-round, organic in Maine.
pop - Kudos for trying to do your garden organically. I'll be honest, I haven't gotten on the organic bandwagon yet because quite frankly, it overwhelms me as well. I have a few organic cotton shirts and pants, but that's about it. Maybe I should hit the bookstore and see what I can find the the DIY section.
15maybe people see him as role model figure !
16That would be so cool. I definitely want Obama to change the way that we eat and the way foods are marketed and etc. I think a good garden of vegetables and herbs planted at the white house would be a wonderful step forward. Americans are not the only people who would notice that and it might be a wonderful step forward in other avenues.
Pop, an organic garden is definitely something I want to try in the future. It seems like it would be overwhelming to me too, and I haven't even looked that much into it. Kudos and good luck.
17Definitely don't have a green thumb. I can't seem to get my herb garden off the ground. Hopefully my hop rhizomes will grow better when I plant them in March.
18Hey I'm all for local gardening. When I was young we lived on a large lot and our vegetable garden was a quarter acre. My father supplied us and the neighbors with our daily allowance of fresh veggies.
It can certainly take some work to set up a functional garden but IMO a consistently maintained garden is a piece of cake to maintain and it's therapeutic.
19Aren't there local gardens in D.C.? They have to have one in their yard? I don't see this making a big impact on the average American's diet. Also, it's time for hats to make a comeback.
20It's a campaign suggesting part of the WH lawn be turned into a garden krae, it's not like the Obama's DEMANDED a garden.
21Yes, there are a number of local gardens in DC, however what does that have to do with the White House having its own?
22Why garden when you can just pay yourself to not garden?
23I wouldn't dismiss the impact of a White House garden too much. I think this will have more of an impact on children and young adults than 30 somethings and above who already don't garden but hey it's nice to start a trend somewhere especially if it's good for you.
24I'm not saying they demanded a garden, but why not support local produce farmers, isn't that healthy and helping the economy?
25I'll have what he's having.
26Having a small garden is good. I like having a small herb garden around for cooking.
27ppl should stop eating processed meats! that would be a good start. but i know obama eats spam...:S
28I really dont give a rip about what is served at the white house.
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