Victory Gardens

Growing. The nature of it is evolution. Grandma Myrtle planted a large garden every summer up until she died. Her garden took up an entire small town lot right next to her house. She caught the rainwater from her roof in 50 gallon drum placed under the eaves and used it to water the garden. With loving care she grew and harvested peas, tomatoes, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, and a variety of kitchen herbs. With a great big pressure cooker, Grandma preserved the food from the garden and stored it in her root cellar in the basement. She made sauerkraut and the most amazing dill pickles. Her garden fed seven children that grew into adults that grew seven more abundant gardens. Some of her grandchildren continue to grow gardens. 

Grandma Myrtle grew a Victory garden. 

She was born in 1921. As a young housewife, the U.S. Government directed her to grow a large garden. During the World Wars, food production was diverted to munitions production (bullets, guns, tanks, etc…). This left the families on the home front hungry. So Grandma Myrtle, along with millions of other housewives in America and Europe, grew gardens.

The Victory Garden campaign extended beyond homes, out into the community. Public lands, boulevards, roadsides, abandoned lots, and rooftops were turned into gardens. Women and children planted them and tended them. The food was distributed to all members of the community. 

Victory gardens radically transformed food production and distribution during the World Wars. Seeds were given away freely. Food was no longer shipped from afar. People, as a radical act of patriotism, grew their own food and food for their neighbors. 

What happened? 

The war ended and it was back to business as usual. 

Food was shipped from California then Mexico then Chile. People went to work and gardens shriveled. Agribusiness boomed and now, most people do not grow any of their own food. They go to store and buy prepackaged, plastic wrapped, genetically modified produce shipped from around the world. 

Who wins?

Grandma was the big winner. She never stopped planting her Victory Garden. She died at 93 and still had a great pantry filled with delicious food she grew. 

The Green Revolution is on. Plant your Victory Garden today!