Yesterday's post and Food cover story by Laurie Conrad, taking off from Michele Obama's influential White House kitchen garden and addressing the quesiton of what to do with all the resulting produce, was obviously seen and appreciated by President Obama.
Oh sure, I suppose you're going to tell me it's just a coincidence that yesterday afternoon the President addressed the very same issue, somewhat out of the blue at a health-care forum? Here's what he said:
So, you know, Michelle set up that garden in the White House. One of the things that we're trying to do now is to figure out, can we get a little farmer's market outside of the White House -- I'm not going to have all y'all just tromping around -- (laughter) -- but right outside the White House so that we can -- and that is a win-win situation. It gives suddenly DC more access to good, fresh food, but it also is this enormous potential revenue maker for local farmers in the area. And those kids of connections can be made all throughout the country and has to be part of how we think about health.
The statement that he and the First Lady were "trying to figure out" whether they could do this has led to a lot of debate online as to whether the whole thing was serious or not. Some are playing down the likelihood of it being a serious announcement, while others call it exactly that.
Either way, a White House farmer's market focusing on fresh, organic fruits and vegetables would be a great step forward for the message of healthy plant-based food and its importance both for our nutritional needs and for the health of the Earth. And to his credit, the President did go on to tie children's access to produce to the burgeoning debate (and upcoming legislation?) on "healthier" school lunches.
But even if Obama doesn't wind up going so far as to set up a business on the White House sidewalk (which does seem like a proposition fraught with some peril - which farmers would be included/excluded, and why?) there are other steps he can take to promote this same message.
One would be to institute a policy that all official White House meals include an entirely plant-based option. Even if Michelle doesn't want to sell the bounty from her own garden out on the street, it could be pressed into service at state dinners! Hey, "Eat the View," get on this, OK?
The experts at Philadelphia's Energy Coordinating Agency answer your energy questions in our regular feature Stay Warm, Stay Green. Send in your question or questions to energy@phillynews.com.
Look for Jenice Armstrong to supply tips on green living as well as occasional columns on the subject of Green. She also blogs at Hey Jen.
Becky Batcha stays tuned for the here-and-now practical side of conservation, alternative energy, organic foods, etc. - stuff you can do at home now. Plus odds and ends.
Laurie Conrad recycles from her ever-growing e-mailbag to pass along the latest travel deals, fashion statements, household strategies, gadgets, cool local events and other nuggets of interest to those who appreciate a clean, green world.
Vance Lehmkuhl looks at topics like eco-conscious eating, public transportation and fuel-efficient driving from his perspective as a vegetarian, a daily SEPTA bus rider and a hybrid driver, as well as noting the occasional wacky trend or product. Contact Vance with your 'green' news.
Ronnie Polaneczky sees the green movement through the eyes of her 12-year-old daughter, who calls her on every scrap of paper or glass bottle that Ronnie neglects to toss into the house recycling bins. Ronnie will blog about new or unexpected ways to go green. She also blogs at So, What Happened Was...
Sandra Shea and the DN editorial board opine on any green-related legislation or policy. And we'll pass along some of the opeds on the subject that people send us.
Jonathan Takiff will be blogging mainly about consumer electronics - those things that we love to use and that suck too much energy. He'll spotlight green-conscious gizmos made in a responsible fashion, both in terms of materials used and the energy it takes to run them.
Signe Wilkinson draws the comic strip Family Tree, which follows the Tree family as they try to live green in the face of nattering neighbors, plastic-wrapped consumer products, and the primal teenage urge to spend vast quantities of money on hair care products of dubious organic quality.
In addition to these updates from our newsroom bloggers, watch for an occasional feature, Dumpster Diver Dispatches, from Philadelphia's original "green" community of artists, the Dumpster Divers. You'll learn about creative ways to reuse and recycle while you reduce, and about the artists who are making little masterpieces from what others throw out.
Sept. 17: A head start on cold season
Oct. 8: Help with fuel bills
Oct. 29: Last-minute ways to winterize
Nov. 19: Budgeting for the big bite
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