The term “Victory Garden” was used during World War I and World War II to describe vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens grown by people in the United States. These gardens made it possible for commercially grown vegetables to be fed to the troops here and abroad without leaving citizens to starve.
Push For Gardens
In addition to helping with food supplies, the gardens were considered a morale booster that would allow people to feel they were doing something to help the war effort. The gardens were pushed heavily with posters, radio spots, and other advertisements.
WWI
The National War Garden Commission was established in 1917 to help with the food effort. In 1917, there were 3.5 million garden plots. By 1918, that had increased to 5.2 million garden plots. After the war, the commission was disbanded and plots on public land were put to other uses.
WWII
The War Food Administration restarted victory gardens. Led by US Agriculture Secretary Claude Wickard, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent out pamphlets on what to grow in that area, how to grow it, and how to use it when it was harvested. The USDA also included information on crop pests and diseases and how to combat them.
Everyone Together
People not only grew victory gardens in their yards, but parks, vacant lots, and other places were cultivated by people who did not have any land at home, such as apartment dwellers. Local committees were formed to distribute the plots and make sure they were used. Tool libraries were developed because anything with metal in it was melted down for use in munitions, ships, and other war machines. Growing local also freed up trains normally used to ship canned goods for use in the war effort.
Results Were Impressive
Once they got going, victory gardens provided 40 percent of the vegetables consumed in the United States. In addition to eating the vegetables fresh, many were canned. Home economics educators taught everyone who wanted to can how to do so safely. Since most commercially canned vegetables were sent to the troops, this was especially important to ensure adequate supplies of vegetables during the winter at home.
A Revival
Barak Obama was elected president and took office in 2008, at the height of the Great Recession. Many people were unemployed or otherwise hurting. Michelle Obama, the First Lady, started a push for reviving victory gardens to help more people afford fresh vegetables. While there was a small kitchen garden at the White House, Ms.Obama started a much larger victory garden on part of the White House lawn. She encouraged people to involve their children in gardening because research has shown that children are more likely to eat vegetables they grow themselves.
COVID-19 Gardens
Covid caused supply chain issues and cooped people up in lockdown. Many people took to their yards to garden. Those who grew fresh vegetables not only got exercise but ate well without having to venture out to the grocery store.
Resources to Help
There are many resources for beginning gardeners, including this blog. You can even buy seeds and vegetable plants with food stamps, now known as SNAP. Cooperative Extension Agencies were established by the USDA to make sure you have the information you need to grow healthy food. The information is free and easily accessable.
