First Lady to plant White House garden Wednesday

First Lady Michelle Obama will take part in the third annual planting of the White House Kitchen Garden on Wednesday March 16, according to a statement Friday from the East Wing.

The 1,500 square foot vegetable garden was one of Obama's first initiatives as first lady, and she has since employed it repeatedly to help encourage healthy eating on a national and international scale.

The first lady (shown here in 2009) will be joined at the White House by local school children for Wednesday's planting.

During the past two years the garden has produced more than 2,000 pounds of fruit and vegetables, many of which have been incorporated into the menus at state dinners, Obama family meals, and throughout the White House kitchen operation.

Leftover produce has been donated to Miriam's Kitchen, a Washington area food shelter which President Obama and his family have visited multiple times.