I know Barack Obama has got a lot on his plate right now with our fantastically failing economy, two wars and a zillion Bush era policies to reverse.  However, what is literally on his plate? Probably some really tasty stuff from the far corners of the Earth. Vegetables and animals are probably lining up, begging farmers to please let them be consumed by America’s awesome new President.

But, lurking beneath his White House china is another story. It’s the story of food shipped thousands of miles, perhaps cloaked in pesticides and not necessarily the healthiest option for our First Family.  In an era when 2/3 of all Americans are overweight or obese, we need our President to do everything possible to reverse this alarming trend, demonstrate his commitment to sustainable agriculture and guarantee healthy food access for all citizens .  Yes, there are plenty of policy changes that his Administration can implement to make sustainable agriculture and healthy food a reality for millions of Americans, but he can also set an example by starting at the nation’s White House with a garden.

Surprisingly, this isn’t so radical (or Socialist, as some people worried Obama would be) since way back in 1800, President Adams planted the first White House garden and this practice continued through the Roosevelts when Eleanor planted a Victory Garden.  takepart with Kitchen Gardeners International by signing their petition to President Obama to plant an organic Victory Garden on the White House lawn. Danny has written about this possibility extensively and you can read his blogs for more details and background information on the campaign.

What can you do if you don’t live at the White House but also want to do some gardening and eat some delicious, nutritious and local food?  As a resident of Los Angeles, I’ve had the pleasure of taking a neighborhood tour with Fallen Fruit, during which I consumed lots of juicy fruits from trees in public areas.  Fallen Fruit has mapped public access to fruit trees throughout the city.  takepart with Fallen Fruit to learn more about planting fruit trees in your community and enjoying access to public produce (yes, that does sound a bit Socialist). Now, if you happen to have a lawn, your local food options are even greater. takepart with Food Not Lawns to learn how to convert your front lawn into a food mecca. And, finally, how about really being a true Socialist with guerrilla gardening? takepart to learn how you can help to green public spaces in your community with edible plants and flowers that can be enjoyed by all. (photo: Guerrilla Gardening, Geespot1, flickr Creative Commons)