Dig Up Your Patriotism with a Victory Garden
Gardening might be the last thing you think would bring people together during war times. However, in World War II, almost 20 million Americans stepped up to the plate to grow fresh produce to reduce shortages. At the time, the government was rationing common foods like butter, cheese, eggs, coffee and meat — items readily available today — so there was a dire need for increasing productivity. As a result, the victory gardens symbolized unity and patriotism.
Conditions might not be as drastic today, but the threat of compromising weather and even war still exist. Planting a victory garden of your own in the backyard is a way to create some independence for your family. If the produce at your local market is contaminated or killed off by early frost, you’re out of luck. At least with a garden of your own, you can rely less on others and build a pantry of canned goods, which can prepare you for emergencies and save you money too.
Gardening for the Wars
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that victory gardens produced 9-10 million tons of fresh vegetables, which significantly helped make a difference for civilians and troops. Citizens definitely took pride in the home front effort.
One World War II victory garden poster from 1943 read, “Our Food is Fighting: A garden will make your rations go further,” and with the encouragement from the government, people were dedicated to plowing and caring for vegetable plots in parks, schoolyards and baseball fields. In 1917, Charles Lathrop Pack organized the war gardens, and in World War I, five million gardens were thriving and bringing in approximately $1.2 billion. By World War II, the victory gardens were supplying about 40% of the nation’s vegetable produce.
Although these patriotic gardens had a positive impact, the government stopped promoting them after the wars and civilians halted their efforts by the spring of 1946, which resulted in more food shortages.
Present Day Victory Gardens
The idea of a war garden might be a thing of the past, but one of America’s oldest victory gardens from 1942 is still flourishing and spans 7 acres. The Fenway Victory Gardens located in Boston, Mass. is one of the last remaining ones from World War II, and Richard D. Parker was a key person in the garden’s organizing committee. This garden has over 500 plots of green heaven.
Another more recently talked about garden is First Lady Michele Obama’s “Kitchen Garden” on the White House lawn. Eleanor Roosevelt was the first to plant a garden at the presidential offices, and Obama’s attempt was aimed at raising awareness about healthy food choices.
Green Your Backyard
Designing your own victory garden can be a freeing experience. In addition to reducing your food costs, you can unite your family in a sustainable activity. There are some helpful supplies to have on hand, but after you sow your plots, you can beautify your garden space.
Along with a set of garden tools, it’s also convenient to have some planters and potting tables. You can grow herbs separate from your vegetables in a planter box and store it right on your patio or deck, which makes cooking with herbs easy. If you’re planning on building your garden over the years, a worm farm or composter can help you maintain the rich, quality of the soil. For some, a green thumb is second nature, but with patience and consistency, you can achieve the results you desire.
Once you get a handle on planting and maintaining your vegetables and herbs, you can enhance your garden space with decorative and functional accessories. A garden bench is perfect for lounging and admiring your work, and solar garden lights will create a magical ambiance during the evening. Lastly, an outdoor fountain incorporates the water element, which can provide a sense of tranquility.
Victory gardens have a heart-warming history, and you can bring a little of that into your home. Start a family tradition you can be proud to share with others!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marina Hanes is a writer and owner of Cat’s Eye Editing, LLC. She received a B.A. in Professional Writing & Editing from Youngstown State University, and her professional area of focus is Environmental Studies.
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