This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/05/michelle-obama-plants-last-white-house-garden

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Michelle Obama plants last White House garden and invites old friends Michelle Obama plants last White House garden and invites old friends
(about 17 hours later)
There will be plenty of formal farewells and grand eulogies. But what the Obamas may miss most when they leave the White House in January are the small, intimate moments such as the annual kitchen garden planting on the south lawn.There will be plenty of formal farewells and grand eulogies. But what the Obamas may miss most when they leave the White House in January are the small, intimate moments such as the annual kitchen garden planting on the south lawn.
“I want to take this time to thank all the kids here and all the kids around the country who’ve been a part of this garden,” Michelle Obama said a little wistfully on Tuesday. “This is my baby and hopefully this will not be the last planting. Hopefully there will be other administrations who come in and they take up this project and continue to make this a part of the White House tradition.”“I want to take this time to thank all the kids here and all the kids around the country who’ve been a part of this garden,” Michelle Obama said a little wistfully on Tuesday. “This is my baby and hopefully this will not be the last planting. Hopefully there will be other administrations who come in and they take up this project and continue to make this a part of the White House tradition.”
The first lady created the garden eight years ago in a pushback against America’s scourge of obesity. Some of the children who took part in that first planting in 2009 returned to the White House on a bright but cold Tuesday to help her plant garlic, parsley, broccoli, chicory, spinach, rhubarb, turnip and other fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers. The first lady created the garden eight years ago in response to America’s scourge of obesity. Some of the children who took part in that first planting in 2009 returned to the White House on a bright but cold Tuesday to help her plant garlic, parsley, broccoli, chicory, spinach, rhubarb, turnip and other fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers.
“You guys were in fifth grade and you are now in high school and you look different!” Obama said. “You have grown up! I kind of remember a couple of faces. You guys started with us and you ended with us. You guys are pros now. We’ve come full circle.”“You guys were in fifth grade and you are now in high school and you look different!” Obama said. “You have grown up! I kind of remember a couple of faces. You guys started with us and you ended with us. You guys are pros now. We’ve come full circle.”
Wearing a shiny green jacket, trousers and trainers, Obama put on green gloves and got to work on a bed of lettuce, chatting with the children about what they had seen in Washington, their favourite subjects at school and what books they are reading. “So, are you into The Hunger Games, all that stuff?” she asked one girl. “Harry Potter – you’ve been through that?”Wearing a shiny green jacket, trousers and trainers, Obama put on green gloves and got to work on a bed of lettuce, chatting with the children about what they had seen in Washington, their favourite subjects at school and what books they are reading. “So, are you into The Hunger Games, all that stuff?” she asked one girl. “Harry Potter – you’ve been through that?”
It was the kind of informal scene where the first lady has always been at ease. Last week she joined Barack Obama at the annual Easter egg roll – again for the last time. There will be a last Thanksgiving turkey pardoning, a last Christmas tree, a last parting from the White House and its staff. The Obamas are ticking themal off. It was the kind of informal scene where the first lady has always been at ease. Last week she joined Barack Obama at the annual Easter egg roll – again for the last time. There will be a last Thanksgiving turkey pardoning, a last Christmas tree, a last parting from the White House and its staff. The Obamas are ticking them all off.
Healthy eating and lifestyles became a personal crusade for Michelle Obama and found expression in her Let’s Move! initiative, which claims to have improved the school breakfasts and lunches of more than 30 million children. Food and beverage companies have cut 6.4tn calories from their products.Healthy eating and lifestyles became a personal crusade for Michelle Obama and found expression in her Let’s Move! initiative, which claims to have improved the school breakfasts and lunches of more than 30 million children. Food and beverage companies have cut 6.4tn calories from their products.
Obama said: “It was eight years ago that we cooked up this really interesting idea that we maybe we could dig up some dirt on the south lawn – maybe somebody would let us do that – and we could plant a garden that would be a space for us to talk about the food we eat. It was always the idea that we would have kids involved in everything we do.Obama said: “It was eight years ago that we cooked up this really interesting idea that we maybe we could dig up some dirt on the south lawn – maybe somebody would let us do that – and we could plant a garden that would be a space for us to talk about the food we eat. It was always the idea that we would have kids involved in everything we do.
“It’s been really a fun tradition for us here at the White House because I think we’ve really been able to change the conversation about what you guys eat.”“It’s been really a fun tradition for us here at the White House because I think we’ve really been able to change the conversation about what you guys eat.”
It has also encouraged an increase in community gardens in local neighbourhoods, she added. The first lady will now embark on a “garden tour” around the country highlighting school gardens.It has also encouraged an increase in community gardens in local neighbourhoods, she added. The first lady will now embark on a “garden tour” around the country highlighting school gardens.
Now spanning 1,700 square feet, hers is the first major vegetable garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Garden in 1943 and has produced nearly 500 pounds of produce for homeless people in the area. Obama pointed with some pride to a composting bin nearby.Now spanning 1,700 square feet, hers is the first major vegetable garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Garden in 1943 and has produced nearly 500 pounds of produce for homeless people in the area. Obama pointed with some pride to a composting bin nearby.
Tuesday’s planting included the same variety of lettuce that has been grown on the International Space Station and involved Nasa deputy administrator Dava Newman and astronaut Candy Coleman.Tuesday’s planting included the same variety of lettuce that has been grown on the International Space Station and involved Nasa deputy administrator Dava Newman and astronaut Candy Coleman.
Impressed by the children’s handiwork, Obama exclaimed at one point: “You guys are so diligent!”Impressed by the children’s handiwork, Obama exclaimed at one point: “You guys are so diligent!”
Turning to the press, she asked jokingly: “Who wants a worm?” She gathered for a group photo at the end and got everyone to shout: “I love veggies!”Turning to the press, she asked jokingly: “Who wants a worm?” She gathered for a group photo at the end and got everyone to shout: “I love veggies!”
A moment later she asked: “Now who’s going to come back and help me harvest?”A moment later she asked: “Now who’s going to come back and help me harvest?”