The Obamas Get Their Hands Dirty: Win Your Own Garden!

Our farm, Beekman 1802, is located in Sharon Springs, NY, in the very heart of what was known as “the breadbasket of the American Revolution.” The vegetable gardens here are planted with heirloom varieties that would have been available at the time that the farm was first built in 1802.

All of our seeds are purchased from the D. Landreth Seed Company. It is the oldest seed company in America and the fourth oldest corporation of any genre. So important was it in the fabric of early American life that at one point Landreth mailed a copy of their seed catalog to every single household in the United States.

This year, Landreth celebrates its 225th Anniversary. When we heard that Landreth had supplied seeds to every U.S. president from George Washington through Franklin Delano Roosevelt, we knew that this tradition had to somehow be continued and that our country had to, literally, find its roots again.

When the Obamas announced that they were installing a vegetable garden at the White House and enlisting local school children to help with the process, we were thrilled. Eleanor Roosevelt was the last such noblesse agrarian with her Victory Garden–planted with Landreth Seeds.

The Obamas’ garden is victoriously symbolic, too. Gardening is about more than better health, safer foods, and environmental stewardship. While “getting our hands dirty” may not help us overcome all of the turmoil and challenges we currently face as a country, there is something to be said for the lessons that gardening can teach us about nurturing, about patience, and about self-sufficiency. These are simple survival skills for a complex world, and ones we’ve tragically neglected to teach the last several generations of young Americans who have been well-fed by the marketing of instant gratification.

When we moved to the farm two years ago, we knew very little about farming. We learned virtually everything we know (which admittedly is still far from complete) by doing a little online research and doing a lot of talking with our neighbors. This year the farm is supporting an online social network to inspire others to get their hands dirty and to encourage the more accomplished to share their own best practices. In honor of Landreth’s anniversary, we are calling it America’s Oldest, Largest Garden Party.

To kick things off, we’ve sent a full set of Landreth heirloom seeds to the White House as a way to say “Thank You” to its current inhabitants for making the effort amidst the chaos to help America bloom again.

If you’d like to join our online gardening community, and learn more about Landreth’s and gardening (and to win monthly prizes for submitting your gardening tips!) visit Beekman1802.

WIN AN HEIRLOOM VEGETABLE GARDEN!
D. Landreth has donated one of their “Heirloom Vegetable Garden in a Sack” gift packs to a lucky Care2 reader! The bag comes filled with 12 packets of heirloom vegetables and a small book that gives you the history and description of each vegetable.

Vegetables in the bag include:Christmas Pole Lima Beans, Broccoli Calabrese, Tonda Di Parigi Carrot, Lemon Cucumber, Louisiana Long Green Eggplant, Mervielle Des Quatre Saisons Lettuce, Ananas D’Amerique A Chair Verte Melon, Chervena Chujski Peppers, Rouge Vif d’Etampes Pumpkin, Viroflay Spinach, Cocozella Di Napoli Squash, and Cherokee Purple Tomato. Fun!!!

Leave a comment in the comment field and you will be automatically entered in the contest. A winner will be randomly selected and announced on April 9, 2009.

WINNER: Kelly Vandevelde. Congratulations!!!

By Brent Ridge, MD

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

mr C.

1:07AM PDT on Jul 10, 2010

cool

send a green star

Gail T.

11:16AM PST on Jan 31, 2010

a great contest, spring is just around the corner!

deadra u.

5:07PM PST on Jan 30, 2010

I am quite late to win the seed package, but that's okay. I just think it's great that Mrs. Obama has started the garden tradition. Gardening is such an American tradition since the beginning of the country - like the days of Mom and apple pie. It's comforting and brings us closer together. Thank you, Michelle Obama.

ELIZABETH B.

11:02AM PDT on Apr 17, 2009

We are making a garden for the first time this year and sharing it with a neighbor who lives in a trailor park. I hope this is the beginning of a yearly tradition and more!

Walter Z.

6:09PM PDT on Apr 16, 2009

I've been thinking about starting a garden. Winning the seeds might be the push I need.

4:59PM PDT on Apr 16, 2009

Nothing tastes better than vegetables from your own garden. The kids learn so much from this simple yet effective way to grow your own.

C D A.

3:05PM PDT on Apr 16, 2009

heirloom and organic gardens are best for the environment...glad the OBama's are on the bandwagon...against resistance from the chemical companies

Michael P.

2:21PM PDT on Apr 16, 2009

I'm so happy it is almost time to plant my garden again this year. It is a very gratifying experience to nurture the seedlings to maturity and enjoy the fruits of my labors. My partner has helped install two rain barrels to lessen our dependence on city water when watering our gardens. While I must admit I had never before heard of the D. Landreth Seed Company, I am very interested in knowing more about it and the part it has played in American history. I wish everyone who has the space would try to grow even a small garden. What a great lesson for children and for anyone who doesn't recognize the importance of waiting for things that matter.

Patricia H.

2:04PM PDT on Apr 16, 2009

As a long-time gardener, I am delighted to see how many first-timers are tsking the plunge! I am trying to start a program of community and neighborhood gardens in my small town as a first step in relocalizing our food supply. "Digging", as my daughter used to call it, is the best work I know!

Ellen S.

8:42AM PDT on Apr 16, 2009

It's nice to know that we have a sitting president that enjoys getting dirty! I love a garden, vegetable or flower. I just moved back to the country, and our land is mostly treeless. It's pasture land and very hard to keep the crab grass from taking over. The place that I tilled last year is back to grass again. Please keep us up to date on the presidents garden!