Organic gardening has become one of the most natural ways to insure that your meals are rich in healthy, nutritious unprocessed food. While it has become wildly popular in recent years, gardening organically has been around for centuries, before chemical fertilizers ever existed. Studies show that the rate of obesity is rapidly increasing in America and I do believe that the types of food and how it is grown has a strong impact on obesity and other modern diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and even cancer. It is important now more than ever to go the natural-food route with organic and locally grown fruits and vegetables.
No one understands this more than our very own first lady, Michelle Obama, who has made it her duty to pave the way for Americans to learn how to maximize and sustain their health by creating their own organic gardens. Planted in early 2009, the Obama garden continues to thrive on the South Lawn of the White House with spinach, collards, black kale, butter lettuce, green oak leaf, Thai basil, and berries for dessert. Fruits and vegetables from the garden are regularly handpicked by the White House staff to serve as portions in formal dinners.
The now 1500 square foot garden contains 55 types of vegetables, as well as herbs, fertilized with compost from the White House. For pest control, Michelle Obama and the staff use lady bugs and praying mantis, rather than harmful pesticides.
Growing a small organic garden, even if you live in an urban area, isn’t the Herculean effort most people think it is. At Farmer’s markets you can buy pots with herb seedlings, and grow them in your house if you don’t have the land space. I personal grow basil at home, which I love to add to my organic Bolognese sauce, and fresh green onions are a treat too. There is something inherently satisfying about eating a meal grown and handled only by you, with your tender loving care, and no added pesticides or fertilizers. The fruit just tastes that much more rich, and even sweeter than store-bought produce. Go ahead, have fun and dig into your back yard- organic for life!
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