Michelle Obama channels Alice Waters

The New York Times reports that there is soon to be an organic food garden at the White House.

This is Alice Waters' dream come true. On last Sunday's Sixty Minutes Lesley Stahl interviewed Waters. This was part of their exchange:

STAHL: Now she has her sights on a new project and we would like to warn President Obama that the steamroller is on its way.

"You have been pushing for a vegetable garden at the White House for years. Rose garden? Forget that. You want a broccoli garden?" Stahl asked.

"I have been talking nonstop about the symbolism of an edible landscape at the White House. I think it says everything about stewardship of the land and about the nourishment of a nation," Waters said.

Asked if she thinks she'll achieve such a garden at the White House, Waters told Stahl, "Well, I'm very hopeful. I've always liked the idea of doing press conferences at the compost heap."

I'm not sure if Waters intended something deeper with her "compost heap" remark -- but that aside, her message seems to have resonated loud and clear. Not that Mrs. Obama and her people wouldn't have come up with the notion on their own. It's a natural for this First Family.

I'm sure some Republican jerks will find a way to make a negative out of this terrifically positive news. For those of us who live midst food stands and grocery stores selling fresh-picked locally grown produce, we know what a treat such unadulterated fruits and veggies can be. We knew that the Obamas know it too, and we're thrilled that they will be giving the "locavores" a bully, er, pulp-it.

P.S. The spinach recipe that Tristero wrote about (see the post immediately below) came from the White House kitchen!