Leave it to the Russians to understand the value of gardening.  For decades the then Soviet Union public-at-large spent their summers in their “dachas” (basic summer cabins with a small plot of land attached) toiling the earth, planting vegetables and most notably, potatoes and cabbage, staples in their diet, to load up the shelves with food that was mostly then pickled, in order to remain edible throughout the harsh Russian winters.  These individual gardens kept a whole population alive and were depended upon for sheer survival.

So it came as no surprise that, during the Obama family’s visit to Russia last week, while President Obama held high level meetings surrounding diplomacy issues, Michelle Obama did her own thing, meeting with a Russian audience that, according to a report by Robin Givhan of the Washington Post, “were more enamored of her gardening skills than of anything else on her résumé,” referring to her recently planted White House vegetable garden.  Apparently a headline on a weekly Russian magazine had a cover line that read, “The Queen of the Fields: Michelle Obama And Her Husband Can Overturn Our Understanding Of America.”  Well, maybe that was a moment of effusive enthusiasm, but it’s clear that the First Lady’s love of gardening resonated with people that understood that, per the article, “tomatoes, can serve as tools for diplomacy.”

Not in the real sense, of course — but still, the gardening “world moment” happily happened and, with it, comes hope of elevating the traditions of American localism, a growing spirit of American environmentalism.

Photo Courtesy of WhiteHouse.gov

The symbolic importance for the American public of an organic garden on the South Lawn of the White House has blossomed in ways no one could have expected. For one thing, it has already spurred many to have home gardens of their own.  For another, just consider the warmth of the coupling of kids, gardens, seeds and a “meeting over the fence” to discuss compost or lettuce, and the sense of old fashioned neighborliness that can be re-ignited.  And then there is the simple economic truth – growing your own vegetables helps constrained budgets.  And how about the word “pride” in just the creation of a garden that flourishes?

OK, altruistic and old fashioned concepts, maybe, but timely in an era where arguably, electronic communications have overtaken live discussions.  A new focus and interest in neighborhood or community gardens could prompt renewed “live” connectivity between people.

I do know first hand the value of it all, for I once walked through the back streets of a string of “dacha” villages in the hot humid days of summer outside Moscow, and found something that felt strangely wonderful.  Throughout the winding dirt street, there was a sense of togetherness among the people — a single shared purpose in prodding the earth into becoming bountiful coupled with a common pride in making it happen.

I believe that Michelle Obama’s vegetable garden can go well beyond simply growing vegetables for White House meals. It can be a trigger for a renewed sense of neighborhood involvement, or a heightened awareness of our roots in our America of 2009.