Victory for Gardeners

This exchange from “Being There,” in which Peters Sellers plays Chance the Gardener, reminds me a lot of what you hear of CNBC these days:

President "Bobby": Mr. Gardner, do you agree with Ben, or do you think that we can stimulate growth through temporary incentives? [Long pause] Chance the Gardener: As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden. President "Bobby": In the garden. Chance the Gardener: Yes. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again. President "Bobby": Spring and summer. Chance the Gardener: Yes. President "Bobby": Then fall and winter. Chance the Gardener: Yes. Benjamin Rand: I think what our insightful young friend is saying is that we welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, but we're upset by the seasons of our economy. Chance the Gardener: Yes! There will be growth in the spring! Benjamin Rand: Hmm! Chance the Gardener: Hmm! President "Bobby": Hmm. Well, Mr. Gardner, I must admit that is one of the most refreshing and optimistic statements I've heard in a very, very long time. [Benjamin Rand applauds] President "Bobby": I admire your good, solid sense. That's precisely what we lack on Capitol Hill.

On the White House South Lawn, on today, the first day of spring, Michelle Obama and a bunch of fifth-graders broke ground for a vegetable garden. This story on the front page of today’s New York Times gave me hope.

After the debacle that was the 2000 Presidential Election Re-Count, I became completely disenchanted with national politics. In the intervening years, a great many of our worst fears have, indeed, come true. President Al Gore would have started us on a path towards greatly needed environmental and agricultural reform, but it was not to be. I believe that it was at that time that many individuals did the same thing that I did. They started asking themselves “Despite what’s happened at the national level, what actions can I take at a personal level that may begin to make some small difference in continuing on the right path?” The concerns I’d heard Alice Waters, among others, voice about the importance of local food began to resonate. I’ve made small efforts since then to learn about, promote when I can, and get involved in local food issues. It kept me sane through two terms of GWB, and today, well-- I never thought the day would come that the South Lawn would be dug up to plant an organic vegetable garden! Let’s just call it the “Non-Toxic Assets Relief Program.” I think it's reason to hope because it's a sign that other efforts that started at the grassroots will soon come to the national stage after such a long wait. As Chance might say, "The garden will weather all types of hardship, but it will eventually produce!" Even after 8 years...

Let's keep the momentum going, because now that we've got their attention, we can do even more. I want to challenge each of you to grow something edible at your own house. Pot or plot, it doesn’t matter. Experience the joy of growing something (particularly since it doesn’t look as if our investments are going to be doing that anytime soon), and marvel at the wonder and sense of accomplishment you’ll feel. Just don’t sever the roots.

Here’s a great planner to get you started. And here's further inspiration from the past.