Michelle Obama announces new funding for White House garden
First Lady Michelle Obama announced on Wednesday a $2.5 million donation on behalf of the Burpee Foundation towards her beloved White House kitchen garden long after she leaves the grounds.
At the event that kicked off her final fall harvest, Mrs. Obama spoke emotionally and nostalgically as she recounted the effort and passion of those who helped the White House kitchen garden blossom into what it is today --a “refuge,” “symbol” of healthy living, and a “labor of love” to many.
“This garden has taught us that if we have the courage to plant a seed--to be brave enough to plant it, then take care of it, water it, tend to it, invite friends to help us take care of it, weather the storms that inevitably come... if we have the courage to do that, then we never know what might grow,” she said at a dedication ceremony. “Now, that’s what this garden has taught me, to be fearless in those efforts, to try new things, to not be afraid to mess up--things we tell our kids all the time.”
The White House kitchen garden and the “Let’s Move” initiative, Mrs Obama added, created a cultural movement, inspiring future generations from all industries to transform the American way of life
“After an era of everything being supersized, who would have thought that major companies would be racing to market smaller, lower calorie versions of their snacks and beverages, from half sized candy bars to little mini soda cans? We see it everywhere we go,” she said. “Who would have thought that chain restaurants focused solely on salad would be the hottest new trend, or that those fitness bracelets would become so common that we wouldn’t even notice them any longer?”
In many ways, the White House garden, which broke ground in the spring of 2009, has served as a time capsule for the First Family. Those in the audience included staffers and participants who were part of the Let’s Move initiative from the very beginning.
And though the dedication ceremony signaled the start of Mrs. Obama’s last fall harvest at the White House, it hardly marks the end of the garden.
“And as we dedicate this garden today, I am hopeful that future first families will cherish this garden like we have and that it will become one of our enduring White House traditions.”
On Thursday, Mrs. Obama is expected to garden alongside a wide range of Let’s Move participants and sponsors, including renowned chef José Andrés, singer-songwriter Ashanti, Sesame Street’s Elmo and Rosita, just to name a few.