Author: Kasie Coccaro

Ed. Note: This is a cross post from the blog of LetsMove.gov. You can find the original post here.

First Lady Michelle Obama harvests vegetables with students in the White House Kitchen Garden on the South Lawn,

May 28, 2013.

(Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Today, a group of student helpers joined First Lady Michelle Obama for the summer White House kitchen garden harvest. For this harvest, the First Lady invited children from two New Jersey communities that were affected by Hurricane Sandy and invited back all the children who helped plant the garden in April so they could see the fruits of their labors. First Lady Michelle Obama and the students got their hands dirty picking produce from the garden.

So we’re here to harvest and we’re going to clear this out, right?  Right, Sam?  I know I’m going to be pulling up some radishes and doing some lettuce, but you guys are going to help harvest everything that’s over there.  

After they were done harvesting they had a chance to try some of the vegetables they picked — on a grilled garden pizza. 

We’re going to actually get to eat what we harvest today.  So in addition to doing some harvesting, you guys are going to help — we’re going to do some veggie flatbread pizzas with the vegetables from the garden.  You guys up for a little cooking, too?

Watch a video of the planting below or on youtube:

Want to plant your own garden? Check out the Let's Move gardening guides:

• How to plant a kitchen garden
• How to plant a school garden
• How to plant a community garden

Watch this video on YouTube

Yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden hosted a special Mother's Day tea to honor military mothers and show their appreciation and thanks for all the important work they do as well as the sacrifices their families have made in service of our country.

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Ed. Note: This is a cross post from the blog of LetsMove.gov. You can find the original post here.

We're excited to announce that our next White House Social will be a Let's Move! Social here, at the White House. On Monday, April 1st, 2013, the First Family will host the 135th annual White House Easter Egg Roll with the theme "Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You!" We are inviting Let's Move! followers on Twitter and Facebook and their children, ages 5 – 13, to join the fun on the South Lawn and of course to share their experience with their followers! The day's activities — which will include sports and cooking demonstrations — will help educate families on smart ways to incorporate healthy eating and exercise choices into their daily routines, key pillars of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative.

Interested in joining? Sign up for your chance to join other @LetsMove followers for the White House Easter Egg Roll at WhiteHouse.gov/Social

In order to apply, you must follow @LetsMove on Twitter or Facebook and you must have children ages five to thirteen. After you sign up for your chance to attend, spread the word! Let your followers know that you submitted your entry for the #WHSocial and tell us @LetsMove. Be sure to sign up soon! Registration closes on Friday, March 22nd at 12:00 p.m. EST.

Last April, President Obama called on the public to help identify outstanding Americans for the 2012 Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor. After receiving more than 6,000 submissions from the public, the President has selected 18 outstanding Americans to receive the award for performing "exemplary deeds of service for their country and their fellow citizens." 

Each winner is called, and told that the President has personally selected them to receive the Citizens Medal: 

Watch this video on YouTube

On Friday, February 15, 2013, President Obama will welcome the recipients of the 2012 Citizens Medal to the White House for a special ceremony to recognize their efforts to serve their communities, and inspire others to do the same. 

Take a moment to read the incredible stories of this year’s Citizens Medal recipients. If you know someone like the recipients below, please take a moment to nominate him or her by Sunday, March 31, 2013. 

read more

On Tuesday, February 12th, President Obama will deliver his fourth State of the Union Address from the Capitol. Over at the White House, we’ll be hosting our second State of the Union Social event. The White House Social program invites people that engage with us online to attend in-person events, and then share their experience with their own online networks in real time.

We’re excited to announce that the first White House Social of the second term will be a unique opportunity for our followers on social media to watch President Obama’s State of the Union Address live from the White House, and then participate in a panel discussion with Administration officials about the vision and policies presented during the speech. 

Interested in joining? Apply for the White House social today! Registration closes at 6:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 6th at http://www.wh.gov/social. After you sign up, spread the word. Let your followers know that you signed up for a #WHSocial.

If you plan on watching from home, we will be streaming an enhanced version of the speech on WhiteHouse.gov that features graphics, data and charts that help explain policies and the issues. You can also tune in live on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and through our mobile apps. 

After the speech, stay tuned for a chance to ask White House officials your questions about the issues that were highlighted in President’s address. Before, during and after the speech, you can submit your questions for the panel here, or on Twitter using the hashtags (#WHChat & #SOTU).

Take a look back at the 2012 State of the Union:

• Watch the enhanced version of the 2012 State of the Union
• Go behind the scenes as the President prepared his 2012 State of the Union speech
• View scenes from the 2012 State of the Union