The New Victory Garden

America is a diverse country. We have been for years. But for some, we can never be diverse enough, nor governed enough. Now there's a push for a new White House position--farmer. It's apparently a movement with a mission. Sun Times:

Another nominee, David Perkins, said he sees the job as an opportunity to educate people about kohlrabi and other relatively unknown vegetables.

“What’s been part of the problem with agriculture is sort of the narrowing down of diversity and the lack of it,” said Perkins, 51, who runs a 35-acre farm in Vermont, Wis., with his wife, Barbara.

Well, I can understand that--I've thought about planting some heirloom tomatoes in my garden next year. But do we need this level of attention at the White House? Isn't this why we have the Dept. of Agriculture? Did this idea start out in the heartland? Nope:

Brockman’s family launched the Web site in mid-November after reading a New York Times Magazine article in which journalist Michael Pollan called for the appointment of a White House farmer to complement the White House chef. Pollan suggested replacing five acres of the White House’s South Lawn with an organic fruit and vegetable garden.

Maybe this would be therapeutic for President I Won Obama--tending his own personal Victory Garden.

P.S. Here's a recipe for kohlrabi pickles--as the author says, be brave, try something new!