In Photos: Celebrating Eight Years of the White House Kitchen Garden Spring Plantings
The First Lady welcomed students and guests from across the country to plant the White House Kitchen Garden for the eighth year in a row, and final time as First Lady. This annual springtime tradition of planting the vegetable garden began in 2009 when the First Lady first broke ground on the South Lawn. The start of this tradition initiated a national conversation around the health and well-being of our nation — a conversation that evolved into her Let’s Move! initiative.
Follow the White House Kitchen Garden at @WHKitchenGarden on Instagram.
First Lady Michelle Obama introduces Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Bancroft Elementary students prior to the first White House Kitchen Garden planting, April 9, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
A student helps the First Lady plant herbs, April 9, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
The First Lady and White House Chef Sam Kass teach students about planting a garden, April 9, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
A student waters after the new plants are in the ground, April 9, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
Bancroft Elementary and Hollin Meadows Elementary students from Washington, D.C., help Mrs. Obama with the 2010 planting, March 31, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
The First Lady and Sam Kass help students encourage new plants to grow, March 31, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
The First Lady is assisted by local school children during the 2011 Spring planting, March 16, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
Mrs. Obama teaches local students about garden planting, March 16, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
Girl Scouts from New York and students from Pennsylvania, Iowa, North Carolina and Washington, D.C., help the First Lady plant the 2012 garden, March 26, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
The First Lady distributes seeds to Girls Scouts, March 26, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)
Students help the First Lady with a row of vegetables during the 2013 planting, April 4, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
The First Lady helps students water newly planted vegetables in the 2014 garden, April 2, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)
Mrs. Obama teams up with a local student, April 2, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)
Mrs. Obama takes questions from students before the start of the 2015 planting, April 15, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
Students prepare seeds with the First Lady April 15, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
The First Lady addresses student helpers before planting the 2016 garden, April 5, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)
Mrs. Obama joins students for the garden planting, April 5, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
The First Lady works with students and guests, April 5, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
A student waters a row of freshly planted vegetables, April 5, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)
