With her first-ever post, we welcome our new California-based contributor, Frances Ho, a senior at UCSD, majoring in Environmental Systems & Urban Studies and Planning.

The First Lady keeps getting better.  She’s been promoting her “Let’s Move!” campaign to solve childhood obesity, and decided to make a stop at a community garden in City Heights of San Diego last month.

The garden is a project started by the International Rescue Committee in June 2009 that gives jobs and fresh, organic produce to the international refugees and their families that work on the 2.3 acre farm.  Extra produce is sold at farmers markets or to local restaurants for a little extra income. It’s a source of income and food, but the garden also plays a role as a haven for the refugees to reconnect with their native countries that they have had to leave behind.

Michelle Obama along with The California Endowment, are trying to get people – especially children – to eat and live healthy by promoting farmers markets, community gardens, and walkable neighborhoods.

What can you do? Start your own garden in your backyard or right on your kitchen counter.  Fresh herbs and veggies have never been easier to grow (and eat)!

Related:  previously on altCon – gardening