Finally! The White House is finishing preparation on the plot for the White House's first vegetable garden since Eleanor Roosevelt's victory garden during World War II. The vegetables from the garden (no beets -The President doesn't like beets) will provide for the first family’s meals and formal dinners. However, Mrs.Obama believes its most important role will be to help educate children on healthful, locally grown foods since childhood obesity has become such a major national concern. It will be a hands-on affair for children as well. Local school children will help the First Lady plant the 1,100-square-foot plot near the first daughters' swing set in a spot visible to passers-by on E Street.

The garden will be home to  55 varieties of vegetables, decided on from a wish list from the White House kitchen staff, and grown from organic seedlings started at the White House's greenhouses (who knew it had greenhouses??). Some of the vegetables you can find in the cilantro,hot peppers,red romaine,butterhead, galactic, and red leaf lettuce, plus spinach, collards, berries, and many herbs. There will also be a White House employee who dabbles in beekeeping attending two White House beehives for honey.

The raised beds containing the vegetables will be fertilized with compost from the White House, crab meal from the Cheasapeake, lime and green sand. Helpful insects like ladybugs and praying mantises will help keep unwanted bugs away. 

Sounds like an expensive venture, no? No is right. The cost for the seeds, mulch, and other needs, as reported by the New York Times is a mere $200. Hopefully this will show American that growing your own foods can be cheap but yield large amounts of food!

Mrs.Obama, can I please get a tour? 

-Jess

How awesome is this? An event in Seattle tonight combines two of my favorite things - local foods and local music. Seattle Soundbite will feature 6 local bands (possibly the next Death Cab for Cutie, Pearl Jam or Nirvana?) and 13 local restaurants serving up "street style" dishes, all to benefit charity.

Tickets are $15 but does not include food and beverage prices.

If you're in the area, check it out and let us know how it is!

-Jess 

Charlottesville and our surrounding areas have lots of great local foods and artisans of all varieties, but I can't help to be envious of little places like San Francisco. San Francisco and the surrounding Bay area is one of the best places in the country to be if you love living a locally supported lifestyle, and its evident by the numerous events going on this weekend alone in the area. If you're in Bay area this weekend you can hit up:

-The 3rd Annual California Artisan Cheese Festival in Petaluma. The festival celebrates handcrafted cheeses, foods, wines and beers from California and beyond. Learn how to taste, buy, serve and enjoy distinctive artisan cheeses from the experts at educational seminars and tastings. These seminars and tastings  are led by cheese experts, cheesemakers, chefs and fromagiers from across the country.

-For even more decadent treats, head to the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon. Also in its third year, the Salon will take place on Saturday and will have the finest in artisan, gourmet and premium chocolates from over 50 chocolatiers, confectioners, wineries and other culinary artisans.

- And for brides and grooms, check out Heath Ceramics Wedding Lounge on Sunday from 3-6. At the Lounge you can sip on wine while checking out local vendors such as Mulberry Photography, A Day in May, and La Fleuriste, while getting 20% off all Heath Ceramics at the event.
The Wedding Lounge will be held at Heath's factory store at 400 Gate 5 Rd., at Coloma St., Sausalito.

R.S.V.P. to 415-332-3732 or mail at heathceramics dot com. 

Maybe I should hop a quick flight??

-Jess 

In Chicago with nothing to do this weekend? Check out the Maple Syrup festival on Saturday and Sunday (from 10 am to 3 pm). It's going to be held at North Park Village Nature Center,  and this family friendly event will allow you to see how maple syrup is made, as well as to make crafts and hear story tellers. A great event to learn about a wonderful product that you can find in almost anyone's home...and that you should be able to buy locally in many places in the US!

-Jess