I first learned about "Victory Gardens" last year. A close friend, who just happens to be a history whiz, told me that during World War I and World War II, the United States government asked its citizens to plant gardens to support the war effort. After researching, I learned that over 20 million such gardens were planted in 1943. The harvest from those gardens supplied a third of all the vegetables consumed in our country that year. AMAZING! The Victory Garden became a family or community effort...drawing everyone together as a team...It wasn't a drudgery or a national duty...It was a pastime!
Anyone can have a Victory Garden because a large space is not required. A small area for an outdoor garden or a few containers for patio gardening can supply a large quantity of food. In addition to the fresh vegetables, there are other benefits from growing a Victory Garden. Tilling the soil and tending the plants provide solitary time to enjoy nature or family time to "connect." Also, a renewed sense of optimism abounds when we watch the "fruits" of our labor grow.
I walked into the Smith-Hawkens store a few Saturdays ago. There was a sign greeting me that the sales clerk would be glad to give customers more information on planting a Victory Garden. So, information is readily available for the novice. I am a novice, so I did a bit more research. You can check out the how-to's for starting seeds in the previous post! So, what are you planting in your Victory Garden?
4 comments:
Funny you should mention this, my hubby and I were just talking about planting a few vegtable plants...tomatoes, maybe some herbs in pots. I think it is a wonderful thing to do.
For years my grandfather had a small garden in his yard that was meticulously weeded and he had the best tomatoes I ever tasted. They canned everything beans, tomatoes,corn, just about everything they grew. They did this during the depression and kept on doing it until he could no longer take care of it.
Kris
Hi Marilyn ..
We decided to grow our stuff this year too , march is the busiest time to plant things - we have lettuce / tomatoes / onions and carrots .chilli plants too .
I`m hoping they`ll grow - flourish and they`l taste so much better too !
I've never heard of this either! Where have I been? Well, I know why...I dont' plant things because I kill them so quickly. :(
I am so glad you are growing some of your food. If you ever taste a tomato you have grown, you will never again eat one from the produce section of any store! Home grown vegetables have a far superior taste and oh, the great feeling it gives, something as tiny as a seed has allowed us to experience nature, to see a living plant come through the soil and begin to grow. I could never tell you with words, but it is pure, unadultered joy!! Take care and happy planting.
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