Secretary Vilsack began the People’s Garden Initiative – named in honor of President Lincoln’s description of USDA as the “People’s Department” – in 2009 as an effort to challenge employees to create gardens at USDA facilities. It has since grown into a collaborative effort of over 700 local and national organizations all working together to establish community and school gardens across the country. The simple act of planting a garden can help unite neighborhoods in a common effort and inspire locally-led solutions to challenges facing our country – from hunger to the environment.
The People’s Garden
