User:Docseuss

What's Happening

History

Controversy Involved -Front lawn is ideal American Dream, White picket fence with lawn -Organic garden not traditional American way -lawns are a big business and take a lot of money to upkeep... gardens won't. http://slowfoodportland.com/blog/?p=315 http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE52J62H20090320 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/dining/20garden.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss http://www.american-lawns.com/history/history_lawn.html http://phonienews.com/join-the-eco-revolution-and-convert-your-garden-farm-or-lawn-to-organic/ http://books.google.com/books?id=dGrDXNGvUUQC&pg=PA53&lpg=PA53&dq=lawn+industry&source=bl&ots=DdyjGaXDG9&sig=OxCmtDp6v_SaFbccMiodlUBW89U&hl=en&ei=9IEISsSDBJeWswOZmZyAAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10#PPA53,M1

The front lawn has been a large part of the great American Dream since the late 1800's. The White House front lawn has been the idealized form of that American Dream, representing what all lawns in our American society should model themselves after. For this reason the Obama's choice to tear a 1,100 sq. ft. section of the South Lawn to start an organic vegetable garden has encountered a lot of controversy. The White House front lawn (arguably the most beautiful lawn in the world) has been a defining characteristic of the White House since its construction. Thousands of dollars every year are funneled into the up-keep and beautification of this American icon, supporting a multi-billion dollar front lawn industry that last year grossed over 17 billion dollars. Because of this the Obama's lawn conversion to a vegetable garden is causing major waves in the lawn supporter community. Inserting a vegetable garden in the stead of the classic American lawn demonstrates the core of the front yard coup. As more and more people are learning about the organic movement and becoming more interested