Michelle Obama orders up a White House garden

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House is getting a new garden.

First lady Michelle Obama is breaking ground Friday for a garden on the South Lawn that will provide produce for the White House kitchen. The White House says she will be joined by local elementary school students who will help with the planting and harvesting the crops later in the year.

Such a garden has been a dream of noted California chef Alice Waters.

Waters is considered a leader in the movement to encourage consumption of locally grown, organic foods. And she has discussed her idea for a White House garden with Mrs. Obama.

Waters organized a Washington dinner before President Barack Obama’s inauguration that served foods bought from local producers at an area farmer’s market.