White House Leads Food Trend

By Amelia Persans

Michelle Obama's organic White House garden has gotten many Americans thinking about the potential in their own backyards. Malia and Sasha's professed preference for fresh fruits and vegetables is the reported cause for this ground-breaking event, but one assumes Ms. Obama is well aware of the larger implications of her action. Due in part to Ms. Obama's initiative, an estimated 43 million households will be keeping edible gardens this season. Citizens are not only considering their diminishing budgets when they plant a garden and reduced grocery costs, but also the positive impact their action has on the eco-system. An organic garden with varied plants does wonders for the soil, and by not supporting the giant corporations deeply entrenched in monoculture farming techniques, Americans can make a contribution to changing the way we think about food.

Fresh food can in turn change the way we think about cooking. Fresh ingredients can turn a tired recipe into something marvelous - not to mention the inherent sense of pride that accompanies the preparation of a meal made from homegrown ingredients. It's a feeling of connection to our sources that has been long absent in American culture. Ms. Obama's decision to create a backyard garden is a timely one. With the failure of our previous way of life finally glaringly apparent, it's the perfect time to step back and make some dramatic changes. Fortunately, dramatic change can be as simple as planting peas.

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