American Grown
The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America
#1 New York Times Bestseller
Since its first planting, the White House Kitchen Garden has sparked a new conversation about nutrition and our children’s health. In American Grown, Mrs. Obama tells the story of the White House Kitchen Garden, celebrates the bounty of gardens across our nation, and reminds us all of what we can grow together.
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About the Book
In April 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama planted a kitchen garden on the White House’s South Lawn. As fresh vegetables, fruit, and herbs sprouted from the ground, this White House Kitchen Garden inspired a new conversation all across the country about the food we feed our families and the impact it has on the health and well-being of our children.
Now, in her first-ever book, American Grown, Mrs. Obama invites you inside the White House Kitchen Garden and shares its inspiring story, from the first planting to the latest harvest. Hear about her worries as a novice gardener – would the new plants even grow? Learn about her struggles and her joys as lettuce, corn, tomatoes, collards and kale, sweet potatoes and rhubarb flourished in the freshly tilled soil. Get an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at every season of the garden’s growth, with striking original photographs that bring its story to life. Try the unique recipes created by White House chefs and made with ingredients just picked from the White House Garden. And learn from the White House Garden team about how you can help plant your own backyard, school, or community garden.
Mrs. Obama’s journey continues across the nation as she shares the stories of other gardens that have moved and inspired her: Houston office workers who make the sidewalk bloom; a New York City school that created a scented garden for the visually impaired; a North Carolina garden that devotes its entire harvest to those in need; and other stories of communities that are transforming the lives and health of their citizens.
In American Grown, Mrs. Obama tells the story of the White House Kitchen Garden, celebrates the bounty of gardens across our nation, and reminds us all of what we can grow together.
Michelle Obama is the First Lady of the United States and the mother of two daughters. In February 2010, she launched Let’s Move!, a nationwide initiative to address the epidemic of childhood obesity by bringing healthier food into schools and communities, and encouraging kids to be more active. American Grown is her first book.
Explore the Book
Stories, Inspiration, and Recipes for Every Season
Spring: A Season of Hope and New Beginnings
For me, spring has always been a season of hope and a time for new beginnings. Such was the case with our White House Kitchen Garden, which marked the beginning of a learning process for all who planted and tended it. Our garden also helped us begin a national conversation about the food we eat and the impact it has on our children’s health. Ultimately, the White House Kitchen Garden is an expression of my hopes for them: Just as each seed we plant has the potential to become something extraordinary, so does every child.
Summer: Growing Gardens and Stronger Communities
In our garden, summer is a season of growth, with tiny seedlings sprouting into lush plants and new vegetables ripening every day. But gardens also grow so much more. They bring people together—family, friends, neighbors, even strangers united by their desire for a successful harvest. And they give us a chance to work with, and learn from, each other, reminding us of all we have in common and helping us grow stronger, more connected communities.
Fall: Harvesting and Sharing the Fruits (and Vegetables) of Our Labors
For us, fall is the main harvest season, a time when we reap the fruits (and vegetables) of all those months of hard work. But our gardens yield far more than fresh, delicious food. Individuals and organizations across our country are also using their harvests to help others by feeding the hungry, bringing fresh food into underserved neighborhoods, educating our children, and inspiring the next generation of gardeners.
Winter: Getting Creative and Building a Foundation for Seasons to Come
Winter is a time for reflection, when we look back at the past year and marvel at how the tiny seeds we planted all those months ago blossomed into a thriving garden.
Plummeting temperatures and drifting snow make gardening a challenge, but with ingenuity and hard work, we’ve been able to grow in ways we never thought possible.
The same can be said of our work to build a healthier future for our children. Those first seeds we planted in our garden helped start a conversation that grew into a nationwide movement as people across this country united to address the challenge of childhood obesity. And together, with determination and creativity, we have begun building the foundation for a healthier generation and a healthier nation.
Official White House Photograph by Lawrence Jackson
Official White House Photograph by Samantha Appleton
Official White House Photograph by Samantha Appleton
Quentin Bacon Photography
Quentin Bacon Photography
Quentin Bacon Photography
Quentin Bacon Photography
Quentin Bacon Photography
Quentin Bacon Photography
Quentin Bacon Photography
Quentin Bacon Photography
Quentin Bacon Photography
The eBook
Since its first planting, the White House Kitchen Garden has sparked a new conversation about nutrition and our children’s health. In American Grown, First Lady Michelle Obama tells the story of the White House Kitchen Garden, celebrates the bounty of gardens across our nation, and reminds us all of what we can grow together.
Setting a new standard for illustrated eBooks, American Grown offers a beautifully designed and screen-optimized layout for color devices that takes advantage of the best features of each device.
This eBook offers new ways to experience more of the White House Kitchen Garden with features that include:
Even more lush photography and historical images
Timeline of the White House grounds through the years
Delicious recipes not found in the physical book
Tips for healthy living, including information on creating nutritious meals on a budget and ways to increase the fruits and veggies in your diet
Helpful tips for gardeners, including composting, a starter kit, and seasonal to-do lists
A satellite view of the White House Garden
A section for families with a bio of Bo, additional photographs, details on easy plants for kids to grow, and great snacks
The cutting-edge experience provided by the iBooks edition of the American Grown eBook also includes:
Exclusive video of First Lady Michelle Obama
Bonus information on the White House honey harvest
An interactive satellite view of the White House Garden
Interactive seasonal garden plans that show what is growing in each bed
A special section for families, including a “Bo’s Vegetable Quiz” game and a puzzle game
Note: There may be differences in the reading experience depending on your eReading device. Please note the interactive elements of the extra content and videos are only supported by the iPad in iBooks 2.
Screenshots from the eBook
