During both World Wars, citizens were encouraged to plant kitchen gardens at home and in their communities. Not only did they go a long way towards relieving food shortages, they also acted as morale boosters that allowed civilians to feel empowered by their contributions to the war effort. In the process, people discovered that they had more success when they made these gardens a group effort. By working together to achieve a common goal, close-knit communities were formed.
In recent years, grass roots campaigns promoting the revival of such gardens have sprung up around the country. We are beginning to realize that the packaging and processing of food, which then travels an average of 1500 miles before it reaches our tables, uses a great deal of energy and is a major contributor to pollution and global warming. If more people were to begin growing some of their own food, they would not only decrease their carbon footprint, they would also gain more control over their food's safety, nutrition, freshness, flavor and cost.
It is not necessary to live on acreage to grow a bit of food. Much can be done in just one or two raised beds in an average-sized backyard. Edibles can also be mixed in with the flowers in your front yard, or grown in containers on your patio, balcony or roof. If you have none of these spaces, you could look for a plot in a community garden, or offer to do the work and share the spoils, if allowed to borrow a corner of someone else's property.
The important thing is to start off slowly, gathering as much information as you can before diving in: contact your county's agricultural extension agent and ask about your garden zone, average first and last freeze dates, and recommended fruit and vegetable varieties and their planting times; if planting in existing beds, have a soil test done, and study the recommendations for improving it that you will receive; find a good, basic, organic gardening book, written by someone in your general area and climate zone; join an organic gardening club; make friends with someone who can act as your mentor, such as a Master Gardener, an older neighbor or relative, or a local garden center employee who has experience growing food; go on-line, and visit some of the many gardening blogs and websites that are concerned with Victory gardening.
The next step is to think about where and what you are going to plant. Most vegetables require at least five hours of steady sunlight per day, good soil with excellent drainage, and plenty of moisture, so you'll want a nearby source of water. If you are using raised beds or containers, you can fill them with whatever soil blend is recommended in your book or by your mentor, and begin planting right away. If you are dealing with existing soil, regardless of what kind or how poor, you can transform it into excellent soil over time. Just add compost and organic matter to your beds each year, along with a few amendments to compensate for what is lacking (the reason for the soil test mentioned previously), and you will have healthy plants that are more resistant to pests and disease.
Most novice gardeners run into problems when they bite off more than they can chew, so start small. Make a list of all the vegetables and herbs that your family eats throughout the year, then consult your book, and eliminate anything from your list that won't thrive in your particular climate, or in the particular season in which you wish to begin. Next, go back through your list and eliminate all those that are described as somewhat difficult to grow, or which require too much space. Finally, narrow your list down to six or eight items, by eliminating any that are fairly inexpensive to buy at the store, or which are not high on your family's list of favorites. You now have a manageable list for a beginner.
Once you have accomplished all of this, you can finally think about planting. Most experienced gardeners plant from seed, to save money and to have more varieties to choose from, but a novice may have better luck with healthy, purchased seedlings from a reputable nursery. Either way, once you have consulted your book and seed packets concerning when to plant; the spacing, thinning, water and fertilization requirements of; and which pests you are likely to encounter on, each plant on your list, you may finally place them gently in the ground.
A Victory garden is a celebration of one's independence and self-reliance. It can also be a celebration of community, for if even one family begins, others will surely follow. You will learn from your mistakes, add more beds and plants each season, and before you know it, you will be the mentor that others come to for advice. According to Robert Arbor, author of the book Joie de Vivre, many people are afraid to grow food because they think it will be too much work. His advice? Grow one tiny thing that pleases you, and enjoy that tiny thing for all it's worth!