This Tuesday I am posting about Victory Garden – history and how they became popular now.
History of Victory Gardens :
Victory Gardens, also called “war gardens” or “food gardens for defense”, were gardens planted both at private residences and on public land during World War I and World War II to reduce the pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort. In addition to indirectly aiding the war effort these gardens were also considered a civil “morale booster” — in that gardeners could feel empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown. These gardens produced up to 41 percent of all the vegetable produce that was consumed in the nation.
In 1941, America went to war. At home the war effort touched everyone. Throughout the country, at home in the States, people plowed front yards, lawns, back yards, flower gardens and vacant lots to grow their own vegetables. Even public land was put to use, from the lawn at San Francisco City Hall to the Boston Commons to portions of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. San Francisco’s victory program became one of the best in the country. There were over 800 gardens in Golden Gate Park. Every park in the city had gardens and many vacant lots were used for growing vegetables.
Drawing from the rich history of World War II Victory Gardens, Victory Gardens 2007+ puts a new spin on the meaning of “victory”. In this program, “victory” is:
– independence from corporate food systems
– community involvement
– getting people closer to the natural environment.
Today’s Victory Gardens :
The food supply and state of health in our country are once again facing new challenges. As a nation, we do not consume enough fruits and vegetables. A large portion of our food makes la long journey before even hitting our tables, losing nutrients along the way. A sizable percentage of our food is grown with pesticides. And rising food prices (especially for organic food) only exacerbates the problem. Today, because many have concerns about the quality of our food, home gardening is making a resurgence.
Grow Your Own Food
Not only is gardening an excellent way to reduce your grocery bill, but it is also a great way to bring your family (and neighborhood) together.
Here are some compelling reasons why you should consider starting your own victory garden this year:
- Growing your own fresh fruits and vegetables is a great way to stretch your food budget.
- Homegrown vegetables provide readily-available nutrition (every day a vegetable is off the vine it loses its health benefits).
- No harmful chemicals are sprayed on your veggies.
- It would provide fresh air and outdoor exercise for the whole family.
- Forges bonding experiences for family and community members.
- Allows you to control your food supply and be more self-sufficient.
- Gardening is a great activity to help relieve stress and improve sleep quality.
- Reduces your carbon footprint.
- Statistically, gardeners live longer!
What to grow in your victory garden
- Beans. There’s a reason why kindergarten teachers choose beans to demonstrate the life cycle of plants: beans are one of the simplest vegetables to grow while being some of the most prolific. …
- Beets. …
- Cabbage. …
- Cucumbers. …
- Kale. …
- Lettuce. …
- Peas. …
- Potatoes.
Lisa s Everyday Life