Vegetable Garden Thrives on U.S. Embassy Grounds

The first vegetable garden on White House grounds since Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Garden more than 60 years ago inspired Facilities Manager Dale Kerksiek to do the same at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz.

“If First Lady Michelle Obama can find room for a garden on the White House lawn, we can certainly find room on our compound,” Kerksiek said. “She set the example for us.”

Kerksiek and his staff broke ground on September 20, 2009. They’ve planted lettuce, zucchini, pumpkins, radishes, cucumbers, spinach, and other vegetables. They’ve also installed feeders and planted flowers to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees to the area.

“This is not only an area to create produce for our cafeteria and for employees to take home, but it’s also a nice, relaxing place for people to congregate,” Kerksiek said. “People coming in through the back gate like to stop by to see how the plants are growing. It’s therapeutic.”

Customer Service Representative Jimena Daroca, who has also been instrumental in the garden’s development, added: “This is a great spot to come to relax and de-stress. You can see birds and butterflies… it’s for everybody.”

Although the garden is flourishing now, Kerksiek conceded that it has not been easy. “We actually failed in the beginning here. When we planted the seeds, we had some hailstorms and rainstorms, then the birds came and ate all the seeds. Some little areas were growing, and Carlos [Kuno] and Mario [Callisaya] transplanted plants from the areas that were growing into other areas. They made it look like how it looks today.”

Gardeners Kuno and Callisaya, singled out by Kerksiek for their hard work, expressed great pride in the garden’s appearance. “It gives life to this area,” Kuno remarked.

Kerksiek encouraged others to develop vegetable gardens. “All you need is a nice spot of place with plenty of sunshine. The most important thing is to get the seed in the ground and then the miracle takes place. Trying a garden is the most relaxing thing you can do.”

For a look at the First Lady’s vegetable garden, please click here.