Victory Garden

Victory gardens were vegetable gardens planted at private residences and public parks during World War I and World War II to make up for gaps in the public food supply brought on by the war effort. A combination of sending food to the troops and a lack of people to work the farms brought on food rationing in many countries and a victory garden was a good way to make up the shortfall at the family dinner table.

I wrote about victory gardens last spring when I first learned out town had them and posted a few other posts as we worked it over the summer.

The renewal form just came and I am going to sign up again. The two primary lessons learned were to bury the fence deep to keep out the rodents and to visit the site often to make sure the plants are getting enough water.

Although the current war hasn't caused food shortages like those in the past, having a home garden still helps the war effort. By reducing the amount of food trucked from far away, we reduce the amount of oil needed to maintain the food supply which in turn reduces our dependencies on many of the unstable countries of the world.

Call your local parks department or town hall to find out what is offered near you.