The one visible sign of Michelle Obama's commitment to better eating is the White House organic vegetable garden. So when I went to Washington, the nation's capital, I asked myself, "Where is this visible sign?"
Well, when you visit the White House, the visible garden isn't that visible.
Admittedly, the time in between visits has been a long time, so I recognize that you can't walk up to the fence, like you used to be able to do. And if you go when it's nice, there are many others trying to get a visible sign of the White House.
But if you go to the South Lawn (the bigger lawn) and look over to the left, you see a portion — off in the distance — of what appears to be the White House organic garden.
There are no signs and no one is there on site with authenticity to answer as to whether what you think is the garden is indeed the garden. Though I did get some confirmation from the White House visitors center, east of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue.
A sign that is easier to find, though only on Thursdays, is the White House farmers market at Vermont Avenue & 15th Street near the White House. If you come up the escalator off the McPherson Square Metro stop (Blue/Orange line), you can't miss it.
Of course, I was there on a Wednesday (darn my luck), but you can see the space where the market does take place. And knowing the food was grown very close by in the White House organic garden is a beautiful, visible sign.
Washington, DC is a city filled with tourists, but when it really comes down to it, the nation's capital is a city where a bunch of people go to work and go home. For those who live there, the White House farmers market is one good place to get fresh, local food that is right off the Metro.
For tourists, the White House organic garden and the White House farmers market may not be top tourist spots, but for those who appreciate fresh, local food, those two spots symbolically are worth the time, and the trip.
Comments