News Update (7/14/09): Georgia Governor's Mansion Has Vegetable Garden but No One I Know Has Seen It

The governor's mansion has a vegetable garden! See here for details! It is supposedly "transitioning to organic" yet no one I know involved in organics in Georgia has heard a word about it. I've spoken several times with media relations. I've had a brief phone conversation with the chef. I am currently trying to get an interview with the groundskeeper and to tour the garden. I want to share the good news about this garden on my blog, but I have not been able to gain access yet. Our tax dollars pay for this garden, and I respectfully request that it be promoted to the citizens of Georgia to demonstrate the importance of locally grown, healthy food.

UPDATE: February 15, 2010: Still no public outreach from the Governor's mansion re: its organic garden.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Dear First Lady of Georgia Mary Perdue


In Michael's Pollan's now-famous New York Times Magazine article titled Farmer-in-Chief, he calls for a return to "sun-food agriculture" that relies on the way nature intended food to grow.

Well, if there is one thing we have in the great Southeastern state of Georgia, it is an abundance of sun. We also have a heritage of agricultural strength. As we watch our nation's families, schoolchildren and communities embrace the benefits of growing their own "solar food," we stand together as citizens of the ninth largest state (in population) in the United States and ask you, as our First Lady of Georgia, to hear the calling of this moment in history.

First Lady Mary Perdue, please follow the leadership of our nation's first lady and plant an organic vegetable garden at the governor's mansion. Invite schoolchildren to dig in. Teach our younger generation about healthy food and about harnessing the power of our abundant sun to create something good for our bodies, our communities and our country. Reap the rewards of a harvest whose time has come, and leave the legacy of a positive step forward for the agricultural leadership of our region.

Signed,

The Following Citizens of Georgia

Citizens of Georgia: Please click on the comments below and then add your name and your city at the end of the comments where it says "Post a comment"

42 comments:

  1. Glenn Baker, Dunwoody

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  2. Amie Inman, Dunwoody

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  3. Lisa Bregitzer, Dunwoody

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  4. Thanks for writing the letter to Georgia's First Lady. I plan to put a link on the GFA blog. I feel silly as I could not figure out how to sign the letter. Please either put my name as signed or tell me how to do so.

    Have fun!

    Holly Elmore, Atlanta
    Green Foodservice Alliance

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  5. ooooohhhhh yeah!!!! Let's do it Georgia!!

    ~Robin Fosdick
    Peachtree Corners (Norcross) GA
    www.sustainablepeachtreecorners.com

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  6. Planting a garden at the Governor's Home is a good example for all citizens of Georgia.

    Peace

    K. Rashid Nuri
    Truly Living Well Natural Urban Farms

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  7. Lets go Mary and Sonny and join the gardening revolution! Its a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors and get yummy food.
    Happy Planting! Mim Harris, Peactree Corners, GA

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  8. Bindu, Johns Creek

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  9. Thanks Patti for following that "bug in your bonnet" and getting this going. This is a fantastic idea!!!

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  10. I forgot to write where I live. Sorry. Tom Flerming, Lawrenceville, Ga

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  11. Kenna Laslavic, Atlanta, GA

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  12. Sarah, Sandy Springs

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  13. Food gardens are a beautiful future we can all enjoy :)
    Judy Knight, Norcross, GA

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  14. Justine Lynch
    Lawrenceville, GA

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  15. Jody
    Johns Creek, GA

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  16. Yes!
    Melanie
    Dunwoody GA

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  17. YUMMY VEGGIES !!!

    Chuck
    Dallas, Ga.

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  18. Carissa Cason Stone Mountain

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  19. Beth Bond of SoutheastGreen.com just bought blueberry bushes and hopes Mrs. Perdue will follow suit.

    Decatur, GA

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  20. Paige Witherington
    Chattahoochee Hills, GA

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  21. Stay tuned, all! I just heard from a reporter who interviewed me last week that a spokesperson for the Governor has confirmed that there IS a veggie garden at the Governor's Mansion currently and that it is transitioning to organic. I will do a story on this as soon as I get more details! If anyone has any details, please email me at freshbakedcopy@mindspring.com. Thanks!

    --Pattie Baker

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  22. Samantha Keyes-Blumer
    Snellville, GA

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  23. Rochelle Gerding, Atlanta, GA

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  24. Elaine Bolton, Griffin, GA

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  25. This is an idea that is long overdue. Be an inspiration for Georgia families and plant a veggie garden.

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  26. Please follow the fine leadership of our First Family in DC and be an equally outstanding first family in Georgia

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  27. Melissa DeLara, Atlanta GA

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  28. Michelle Parker, Villa Rica, GA

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  29. Sue Osier from Decatur says....
    This is a great idea and if the garden designer wants to practice, she can come
    to my house!

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  30. Julia Speer , East Point Ga 30344

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  31. Thanks for forwarding the movement! Kristina Lefever in Marietta

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  32. Hey, this is great but how about also asking that they adopt sustainable landscaping practices - like getting their lawn off drugs, or conserving water, or providing habitat, etc etc. Check out GreentheGrounds.org - our only info about GA is to link to this campaign - tell us more! See whaat other governors are doing to address environmental issues and promote responsible land management. (Ohio, Maryland, NY, South Carolina, etc.)

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  33. Susan: Love your site! Thanks for the link. Let me dig for details re: the rest of the grounds.

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  34. Mrs. Purdue, you would make a great contribution to the health of fellow Georgians if you create and promote a public organic garden at the mansion. Thanks for your consideration.
    Angela Minyard

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