by Kathryn Dinardo

Created on: March 15, 2009

Resurrecting the concept of the "Victory Garden"

During World War II, there was a great patriotic promotion encouraging citizens to grow their own produce in what was termed "victory gardens" in an effort to promote success in conserving resources during the war. The concept not only involved growing the produce in backyard gardens, but also preserving the bounty through home canning, in glass containers as metals needed for commercial production were in short supply. It was a small, manageable task in which families and neighborhoods could participate.

Today, the great "war" effort is needs to be focused on conserving our resources, energy in particular, in order to reduce dependence on foreign oil, green house gasses and the most obvious individual benefit, stretching the dollar. Much of the produce sold in the United States travels some 1500 miles on average to reach the local grocery. Some of this is actually grown outside of U.S. boarders and the importation of such produce from foreign counties in North America will and has increased under NAFTA (The North American Free Trade Act). Also, if we truly desire to recover from the economic recession, increasing the Gross National Product is of more importance than increasing spending; but buying more U.S. goods is a key component to benefiting our economy.

Home gardening is an easy, enjoyable endeavor. All that is really required is a tool for turning the earth and preparing the ground for planting, some seedings and/or seeds and a little time to weed, fertilize and harvest. Most chain stores in the area have garden sections completely devoted to supplying the necessary items to have a successful home vegetable garden. If this is a first time adventure, start small. a few tomatoes, perhaps some peppers and vine plants such as zucchini and pumpkins are a safe bet to have a measurable degree of success at harvest time.
If, as many families and neighborhoods as possible planted, tended and harvested, even a portion of their produce, from local gardens, a savings in food costs, gasoline consumption and an increase in what is produced on U.S. soil would be realized. We too often forget that it is not the huge efforts that truly make a difference. It is more so the combined small efforts of a large number of people that cumulatively brings about change. This philosophy was very apparent during the Second World War when citizens did not look to big government to solve all of their problems. But, rather looked to small, quiet and constructive actions the citizenry could initiate and participle in as solutions to the challenges before them. Our current times require the resurrection of that ideology and the so called "Victory Garden" is an excellent place to start.

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