Compost powers USDA’s organic People’s Garden (despite Chemical Ag’s
concerns)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – About the time that Chemical Ag spokespeople were
chiding Michelle Obama for promoting home-grown organic food with her
White House garden, compost from the Rodale Institute farm was landing
on a new organic garden right in front of U.S. Department of
Agriculture headquarters.
Since he jackhammered an asphalt walkway just off the National Mall in
Washington , D.C. , in front the USDA’s Whitten building, USDA
Secretary Tom Vilsack has taken a personal interest in developing the
new People’s Garden.
Delivering the compost was Jeff Moyer, farm director for Rodale
Institute, Kutztown , PA. “Compost is a big part of what makes organic
farming work so well,” he said. “We’re happy to donate a truckload of
high-quality compost to biologically jump-start this welcome change in
the USDA’s front lawn. The Secretary wanted the garden to be certified
organic, so all the inputs—including compost—need to conform to the
National Organic Program standards.” Moyer chairs the USDA’s National
Organic Standards Board, which provides input from the organic sector
to the department’s organic program.
Full story, with online photo link: http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/press_room
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Greg Bowman
Communications manager
Rodale Institute
611 Siegfriedale Road, Kutztown PA 19530
610.683.1470 fax 610.683.8548
greg.bowman@rodaleinst.org
rafter t. sass
The Liberation Ecology Project
liberationecology.org
518-567-7407
skype: raughter