STACY A. ANDERSON

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michelle Obama isn’t afraid of a little dirt.

The first lady, clad in dirt-stained black pants and sneakers, was joined by school children Tuesday to harvest squash, lettuce, sweet potatoes and tomatoes in the White House Kitchen Garden.

The children from Arizona, California, Ohio and the District of Columbia attend schools that have school gardens, teach nutrition education or have “farm to table” programs that use local food in school meals.

After the hard labor and a change into new slacks, Mrs. Obama toasted the students — with a glass of water– before they dined on pumpkin soup and chicken with ratatouille.

The first lady planted the vegetable garden in 2009, a year before she began her Let’s Move! initiative to encourage children and families to eat healthier and exercise.

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