Actually the gardens were more successful than you might think. Here are some small tidbits about them you might not know.
Victory Gardens
During both World War I and II, many countries strictly rationed foods such as meat, sugar, butter and canned goods. To supplement their diets, citizens were encouraged to plant so-called “Victory Gardens” and grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables. The United States’ campaign began at the start of World War I, when timber tycoon Charles Lathrop Pack organized the National War Garden Commission with the goal of reducing strain on the food supply and shipping more produce to war-ravaged Europe. The “Grow Your Own” movement later became even more popular during World War II. Spurred on by propaganda posters urging them to “Grow Vitamins at Your Kitchen Door,” Americans planted 20 million gardens and cultivated nearly half the nation’s vegetables in their backyards. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt even promoted the cause by planting a Victory Garden at the White House.
Been a long time since we, as a country, got behind something like the Victory Gardens, hasn't it? We sure could use a good common cause again, don't you think?
Coffee out on the patio this morning.
7 comments:
remember one of my professors saying his father had a victory garden. must have been ww1. said the corrupt railroad companies somehow gypped people by taking the veg and charging shipping but rr then said there were problems of some sort so the growers were stiffed. that was more than 50 yrs ago so forgive memory lapse about specifics.
it could have been ww 2 due to age of people involved but i cannot remember.
Hey Deborah...
I reckon there will always be folks around to take advantage when they can. Some companies seem to thrive on it!
Thanks for coming over today!
My grandparents always talked about the Victory Gardens. We still have something "similar" here where I live, in that the City rents people plots of land on the County Grounds to grow vegetable gardens. To me there is nothing better than home grown vegetables. That must be why Farmer's Markets (where local farmers bring in goods and sell them) are so popular around here. Almost every town has one.
My parents had one ever after the war - I remember all the rhubarb. My Dad loved it!
Hear so much about these gardens. I would love to garden but here it takes way to much water. When I would spend the spring thru early fall in the mountains I grew some veggies. Don't you plant a garden Jim?
It is so beautiful this morning every window is open. Great day for the patio
Hey Linda...
I think that it's great when cities do that. Houston will never do it, I'll bet.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Hey Phyllis...
So many of our parents used to do stuff like that. Too bad that so many don't anymore.
Thanks for coming by today!
Hey Jo...
I used to grow a garden, but I really don't have the energy anymore. Too many other things seem to be taking up my time.
Thanks sweetie, for coming over this morning!
Gardens are great way to supplement your store bought stuff and of course, a source of food for hard times.
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