First Lady Michelle Obama has touched off a gardening frenzy among the nation's governors.
In the backyards of executive mansions from coast to coast governors are posing for photos ops - shovel in hand - to show off their new vegetable patches.
Today Gov. Rendell joins the burgeoning governors gardening movement, announcing the groundbreaking of a garden at his official residence in Harrisburg.
Only he's not going to be there. The press release says the "governor's staff" along with students from the Future Farmers of America program will plant a vegetable and herb garden on the grounds of the governor's mansion this morning.
Also on hand will be the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association to answer questions about the garden. And executive Chef Barry Crumlich will serve up samples of foods that can be made with fresh homegrown ingredients.
One Capitol observer said he was not surprised at Rendell's absence, figuring the planting of fresh veggies were not high on his priority list. The cheesesteak-loving governor is associated with meat, he said. The idea of Rendell chowing down on a big bowl of the "green and leafys," not so much.
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Ah, but but what about the rest of the governor's mansion grounds? Are they dumping pesticides and fertilizer on the lawn, products that are ending up in the Chesapeake Bay? And how about their use of water to maintain the landscape? It's called sustainable landscaping and the media campaign GreentheGrounds.org is urging governors and the Obamas to practice it on the grounds of their official residences. Growing food is a good thing but first, do no harm.— GardenerSusan
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