Healthy Gardens

Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a weekly summer workshop at "The People’s Garden" on the National Mall. The "Healthy Garden" workshop series will show people how to grow a successful garden in any set-up by providing interactive demonstrations in the garden and teaching practical skills, from how to water your garden to choosing fertilizer.

"In many ways, USDA's 'People's Garden' is the nation's demonstration plot, showing how small steps can mean important gains in mitigating global warming and producing a safe, sustainable and nutritious food supply," Secretary Vilsack explained. "The garden concepts we're teaching this summer can be your contribution to providing healthy food, air, and water for people and communities across the country."

As we’ve told you before, the First Lady has planted her own organic garden here at the White House with the help of students from Bancroft Elementary and Secretary Vilsack. The garden is thriving, and students recently returned to help harvest the produce and enjoyed a delicious, healthy meal. Community gardens are popping up across the country, and are fun ways to bring our communities together while providing healthy and affordable food. Additionally, gardens are environmentally-friendly. As Secretary Vilsack explained, planting a garden is a small step that can lead to big improvements in our communities.

For those who will be in the area, come out to the "Healthy Garden" workshop series to learn how you can start, or improve, your own garden. The workshops will be held every Friday from noon to 12:30 from June 26 to September 25. "The People’s Garden" is located at 12th Street and Jefferson Drive, at the USDA Building.