American Grown

The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America

By: Michelle Obama

Narrated by: Michelle Obama, Jim Adams, Charlie Brandts, Christeta Comerford, Sam Kass, Bill Yosses, Various

Length: 4 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

In April 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama planted a kitchen garden on the White House's South Lawn. It is a garden with roots in the American past, stretching back to George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, but it is also a garden very much designed for America's future. 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 top White House chefs and made with ingredients freshly 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, sharing the stories of other gardens that have moved and inspired her. Here are the tales of a modern-day vegetable truck that brings fresh produce to underserved communities in Chicago, of Houston office workers who make the sidewalk bloom, of a New York City School that created a scented garden for the visually impaired, of a North Carolina garden that devotes its entire harvest to those less fortunate, and other stories of communities that are transforming the lives and health of their citizens.

With American Grown, Mrs. Obama tells the story of the White House Kitchen Garden, celebrates the bounty of our nation, and reminds us all of what we can grow together.

©2012 Michelle Obama (P)2012 Random House Audio

Excellent book!

As a historian and a gardener, I enjoyed the book! I have read it several times. Each time I learn something new.

EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AND SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE A GARDEN

Would you listen to American Grown again? Why?

YES.
I WILL USE THE BOOK TO HELP ME GROW MY OWN GARDEN.
SINCE READING THE BOOK, I TRY TO WORK IN MY GARDEN AT LEAST 1 HOUR A DAY.

What other book might you compare American Grown to and why?

THIS BOOK IS AT THE TOP OF MY LIST.
GREAT INFORMATION.
MANY PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEERS GIVE THEIR PERSONAL OPINIONS AND EXPERIENCES.
COLOR PICTURES HELP GIVE VISUAL EXAMPLES.
LEARN FROM OTHER GARDENERS AND OUR FUTURE GARDENS WILL KEEP GROWING AND BLOOMING WITH COMMITMENT TO JUST TRY.

What does Michelle Obama bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

FAMILY HISTORY.
MICHELLE OBAMA'S COMMITMENT AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT GATHERED AROUND HER TO CREATE THE WHITE HOUSE GARDEN.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

THIS BOOK MADE ME ORDER SEEDS AND GO TO MY LOCAL NURSERIES AND BY ITEMS TO ENLARGE MY GARDEN.
I AM VOLUNTEERING AT A CHURCH THIS SUMMER, TO HELP TEACH 5-15 YEAR OLDS, HOW TO PLANT SEEDS AND START THEIR OWN GARDENS.

Any additional comments?

I AM GIVING THE BOOK TO PEOPLE I KNOW ARE INTERESTED IN EATING HEALTHY.
THIS CAN BE THE FIRST DAY OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CREAT A HEALTHIER DAILY DIET.

Educational and Inspirational

There is so much information about gardening and using fruits and vegetables in a healthy meal in this book that it makes me want to go out and get the hardback version. this book is well written with extensive information that every Gardner and cook should know about vegetables. I highly recommend this book, the be ready to take notes.

A how to fix the Health and fitness of our Nation

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I recommend this book to my friends because it is a book not just about the White House Gardon which, is important but a book about the health and fitness of our nation and how we get back there.She remined me how my mother liked to Garden, but didn't like worms, lol. I learned a lot about gardening. I am now committed to assist the green thumb queen mother of my children plant something.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the fact that the White House garden was not just symbolic but a practical useful cool in the improvement of the health of those that eat at the White House. Like the victory Gardens of World War II it sets an example of what each of us can do at home to improve the health and fitness of ourselves and our family.

Which character – as performed by Michelle Obama – was your favorite?

I like the fact that the First Lady narrated the book herself and allowed those who participated in the garden to narrate the sections about their participation, quite well done.The experience for me was very personal like actually spending time with the First Lady, remarkable book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

A couple things surprised me and move me about this book. I was surprised by how widespread local gardens and the notion of bringing fresh fruits and vegetables back into the lives of people and especially our children is spreading in our Nation.Healthier school lunches means children who do better in school. For our country to win the future we need children to maximize their education. The garden and Healthy food is tied to the first ladies national Let's Move Project. The stories of real people are great examples of how health and fitness go together.Last but not least, I was most impressed by the innovative entrepreneur who developed a fresh produce home delivery service that is spreading nationwide.

Any additional comments?

Hetep and respect to Michelle Obama a fine example of brains, beauty and effectiveness as her book and work for our Nation demonstrate. She and her husban are leading the way in both cultural health and physical health for our Nation. American Grown illustrates that the First Lady is the Auset of our time. Every American should be reading this book and puting it's lessons to work.

A fantastic and perfect book

A wonderful book that I found perfected me and was developmental and maturative as a young man coming of age. I found incredible relation with the protagonist and I further highly recommend this book.

Inspirational

The First Lady brings important issues to the attention of Americans in her book, "American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America." We all need to embrace healthier eating and activities to ensure a stronger America.

Mrs. Obama has proven to be an elegant, intelligent, and graceful First Lady and I am happy that she represents our nation in this position. May God bless and keep her!

I hope this is not her last book and hopefully the next will be UNabridged.

Great information

Would you consider the audio edition of American Grown to be better than the print version?

The audio version is excellent.

What other book might you compare American Grown to and why?

There is no other book out there like this one.

Have you listened to any of Michelle Obama’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes I have and this one is great.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The whole book.

Any additional comments?

Everyone should buy this book.

Great Book

Loved listening to the Frist Lady and those that contributed to the making the book