Organic Foods at the White House

Michelle Obama breaks ground at White House garden. Image from People.com.

Last week, Michelle Obama began a 1,100 square foot vegetable garten at the White House lawn –with the help of DC 5th graders. In this article from USA Today, the Obamas are described as big fans of eating organic foods.

The first lady explained to the 26 students from Bancroft Elementary School that her daughters like vegetables if they taste good, and if they are involved in the growing of them

The Obamas will also grow mint, lettuces, berries, and  perennial herbs. They also plan on getting a beehive to use for honey.It is the first vegetable garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt planted a victory garden during WWI. This new garden will provide the White House with a year-round crop of veggies. They will also donate food from the garden to the soup kitchen nearby, Miriam’s Kitchen.

Organic-gardening.net has an alphabetized, easily searchable listing of how to plant almost every veggie and flower you could think of.  Here’s what they say about peas, the Obama’s first garden crop.

Peas, Sweet.—These most beautiful and profuse blooming hardy annuals will grow almost anywhere, but they prefer a dry soil that is both rich and light. The seed should be sown as early in March as practicable, and in April and May for succession. When the plants are 2 or 3 in. high a few twigs may be placed among them, to which they will cling. The flowers are produced in July, and the more liberally they are gathered the longer the plants will continue to bloom. Height, 3 ft.

A video is available here at BBC News.

Class Assignment #1 – Obama’s Stimulus Package FAQ

With all of the reports in the news about President Barack Obama’s new stimulus package, Americans, most of which are being affected by the financial crisis,  have trouble figuring out what is exactly going on and how it will effect them. After some research, I answer some questions below.

What exactly is the stimulus package?

• The $790 billion package created by Obama will, if passed, hopefully jump start the economy, create jobs for the thousands of unemployed Americans, and help Americans dig themselves out of the financial hardships they are currently facing.

Has it been passed yet? Is it likely to?

• The answer is expected tomorrow. Friday is when Democratic and Republican congressional law makers of the House will vote on the Obama’s project. The details were solidified yesterday at a meeting with congressionals. The stimulus bill passed in the Senate earlier this week. When and if the bill reaches Obama’s desk, the answer will be a solidified “yes.”

Are both the Republicans and Democrats happy about the package?

• No.  A Republican, as quoted in the earlier link,  referred to Americans as socialists. Obama continues to rally Democrats to look at this bill as a way to help their families.
  
• Obama has had trouble uniting the two parties, while trying to stay bipartisan.

Has Obama truly stayed bipartisan during this process?

• Not exactly. Although he preached about how he wanted support from both parties, only three Republicans voted for the bill in the Senate.

How else will the bill help me as an American?

• $46 billion will go to transportation construction projects to ensure better roads and bridges. Money will also go to help unemployed pay health insurance. You could deduct sales tax from the purchase of a new car. Obama is also supporting the creation of more high speed rail lines.
• There will be tax credits given to working individuals, college students, and car & home owners.
• Billions of dollars will be added to the Head Start Program and food stamp program.

Futher reading:

This article from the Associated Press breaks down the “winners & the losers” of Obama’s stimulus package.