Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, has taken an important first step in helping to recognize the importance of people creating their own vegetable gardens.  The Secretary helped to tear up a driveway at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC to plant a garden.  I assume that this is a part of the 19% increase in gardens being created in 2009, as reported by the Garden Writers Association.

A special ceremony that was held on Feb. 12, 2009 for the beginning of the People’s Garden Project on the Bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC.   The plans for the garden were unveiled and the press was there to record the event.  Pictures of the event can be found on the USDA’s web site:

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=garden_pg0004.xml

According to the Collective Roots web page, “the new garden will add 612 square feet of planted space to an existing garden traditionally planted with ornamentals. The garden will showcase conservation practices that all Americans can implement in their own backyards and green spaces. The garden plot is adjacent to the site of the USDA Farmer’s Market.  Additional information can be found on the Collective Roots web site:

http://www.collectiveroots.org/usda_community_gardens

I will be sure to visit when I am in Washington and I will post pictures on this blog.  The next step is to create a Community garden on the grounds of the White House.