Dear Mrs. Obama,
I cannot thank you enough for your commitment to put a garden on the South Lawn. I have spent a lifetime preparing myself for a career in farming, only to find myself utterly without land or opportunity to acquire it. So, I did what I now consider an even better thing: I became an urban farmer. In short, you just saved my fledgeling business, and I am still brought to tears everytime I think about it.
Your action and the very sensible way you've presented the very real need for kids and adults alike to become reacquainted with food for the sake of their health and that of the environment, is exactly what was needed. I was laughed out of Ag school for wanting to dig up lawns and plant fruits and vegetables -- now, I've been asked to speak at a special graduate seminar on women in sustainable agriculture. That's what I'd call change!
In addition to the very legitimate arguments of education, health, environment and superior taste; I would add three important points that have been largely ignored in the debate, thus far:
1) Getting out in the sunshine, getting activity and seeing things grow is the *cure* for depression. As people loose their jobs and insurance, there will be many millions who can no longer afford their brain-pills. People off their meds are a danger to the public safety -- gardens will actually keep us safe from ourselves.
2) Gardens help you meet the neighbours. They engender the sort of neighbourhood cohesiveness that all the governmental programs in the world can't hope to foster. More gardens mean that fewer cops will be neccessary.
3) Women have been gardening the most nutritious food in the human diet (and are responsible for the domestication of most crops) for 30,000 years. The small farmers of the future are women and their partners. Our organization ( Sellwood Garden Club in Portland, Oregon -- more info at
drop.io/sellwoodgardenclub [drop.io/sellwoodgardenclub] ) is made up of two women who've been forced out of their long-term jobs in media so the men they worked with could keep theirs. I am not one to throw my hands up when things get tough, so the movement your your garden has supported has allowed at least two people to forego public assistance. But more importantly, we are showing other women (our mentors, Your Backyard Farmer, also of Portland, are also women) that we don't have to suffer the abuse and overt sexism of the agricultural "industry."
I also have two *big ideas* on this topic that might be of interest to you.
1) My farming partner and I have been working on a notion to approach local churches about farming up underutilized urban land. The idea is to split the produce with them 50/50, so they can use their share of it to feed the hungry members of their congregations. We believe it fits very well with their stated missions to minister to those who need them the most. If you like this idea, please spread it around.
Our other big idea was to plant gardens in the yards of foreclosed homes so they looked lived-in, in an effort to keep neighbourhoods from deteriorating. The logistics of this are complicated in the West because we rely upon irrigation, but there are more radical groups than ours who have begun to run with this idea, arranging water from concerned neighbours.
So, Michelle, if I may be so bold, I owe you and your beautiful family so much. May that garden bring you and yours a summer of peace, beauty, delicious food and good health. We will be planting a row for the hungry in each and every yard, and I am inspired to donate that healthful, sustainable produce in your name.
A grateful urban farmer, in your debt,
Marie Richie
Portland, Oregon
