Vegetable Gardening for Presidents

The Obamas are digging up a lawn at the White House and planting vegetables. Considering they are a pair of urban lawyers from Chicago, Barack and Michelle are going to need a book about vegetable gardening.

First lady Michelle Obama intends to roll up her sleeves (oh yeah, they always are rolled up) and do the digging, planting and weeding, although local school children will be roped in to help. Barack Obama and his family are planning to grow spinach, chard, collard greens and black kale, as well various herbs and lettuces.

They are not the first White House residents to embrace vegetable gardening. In 1800, John Adams planted a garden, Eleanor Roosevelt grew vegetables during the World War II and the Clintons had a roof-top garden for vegetables and herbs.

Clearly, the Obamas have been reading The 100-Mile Diet books by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon, and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.

Creative Vegetable Gardening: Accenting Your Vegetables With Flowers
Joy Larkcom

The Book of Vegetable Cookery, Usual and Unusual
Erroll Henry Stuart Sherson

The Gourmet Gardener: Growing Choice Fruits and Vegetables with Spectacular Results
E. Annie Proulx (yes,that E. Annie Proulx)

The Complete Book of Fruits and Vegetables
Francesco Bianchini & Francesco Corbetta

A Kid's Guide to How Vegetables Grow
Patricia Ayers

Vegetable Harvest: Vegetables at the Center of the Plate
Patricia Wells

I'll Never Marry a Farmer
Lois Hole

Growing Unusual Vegetables: Weird And Wonderful Vegetables And How To Grow Them
Simon Hickmott

Urban Eden: Grow Delicious Fruit, Vegetables and Herbs in a Really Small Space
Adam Caplin & James Caplin

Four-season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long
Eliot Coleman