DCL
According to USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, the first step to starting a garden at home is: learn to get dirty. That's just what people were doing in front of USDA headquarters in Washington, DC, on Earth Day. The event showcased the new People's Garden and served as an opportunity for people and organizations to present information on composting and organic gardening. The message was that there are simple things everyone can do at home to have fun, get some exercise, and produce some healthy local food for our friends and family.
The site of the garden was once part of a research farm managed by the USDA. More recently, however, it was a large parking lot. Located just off the National Mall, the newly inaugurated people's garden is now a showpiece for the USDA, one that the organization hopes will motivate other offices around the country to take organic initiatives of their own. Though still in early stages of development, the People's Garden will eventually feature a pollinator garden that will attract bees, butterflies, and bats, a rain garden that will help capture rainwater and reduce runoff, and the Three Sisters Garden, which will showcase traditional Native American agricultural techniques.
For Deputy Secretary Merrigan, the choice to keep the garden organic was an obvious one. She explained that as "the Department of Agriculture, we oversee organic production in this country and the standards that farmers have to follow to claim their food is organic" and that furthermore, that the USDA cares "about those standards deeply?and wants to show that it can be done right here in our front lawn." Of course, we can all look to the People's Garden and imagine our own front lawns, making the space an inspirational one for people across the country.
Once you're inspired, and ready to get dirty, Deputy Secretary Merrigan has a few more suggestions for getting your garden started:
- Visit your local cooperative extension office to get the latest tips and advice for your area.
- Get the kids involved by signing up with a 4-H organization.
- Grab a book and catch up on your garden reading.
The most important thing, however, is to remember that "gardening is not that hard. It's work, it's a lot of maintenance, but anybody can do it if they put their heart into it." Advice and encouragement perfect for spring.
So get out there this weekend and start getting dirty. Your body, your family, and the planet will thank you for it.
