Re: WHITE HOUSE GARDEN

**M* S* <m*@gmail.com>**

On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 10:40 AM, caroline dewilde <cdewilde@frontiernet.net
> wrote:

I THINK IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO TOTAL UP WHat this organic garden
is going to cost and find out what the cost to produce the vegetables
is going to be,
----------------------------------------

Hi,

Were residents of the White House to continue to garden in that spot, costs
would decrease substantially over the years. A lot of the costs associated
with their garden are first-time costs. The longer you manage an organic
garden, the less expensive it gets. Once the soil develops a balanced
system, pests and diseases decrease dramatically--along with pesticide
costs. If they cover crop it and it's big enough for a rotational
scheme--they might have to enlarge it for that to be true--costs of
amendments go down. If they compost the wastes from that enormous kitchen,
that will also cut the cost of amendments. Given they are in DC, they may
need fairly steady inputs of lime for a number of years, and maybe some mag
and boron every few years. But even so, it would be great to keep track of
the costs for that garden on a year-by-year basis because it would show the
real economic advantages of organic gardening.

It's important to remember that the value of gardening goes far beyond
economics. Although you can't quantify it, its educational and emotional
value is worth a great deal. The activity itself can take the place of other
kinds of recreation and the exercise has to be worth at least one gym
membership.

Miranda

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